By George Georgakopoulos

Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll has moved from OFI Crete to Olympiakos after the 34-year-old player signed an 18-month contract with the champion on Thursday.

Olympiakos was desperate to find a goalkeeper to replace outgoing Franco Costanzo, who was disappointing in the six months he played for the Piraeus club. He has now been released after agreeing on compensation.

Carroll had a decent first half of the Super League with OFI and Olympiakos needed an experienced keeper as a back-up to 22-year-old Balazs Megyeri.

His transfer has set the Reds back by 330,000 euros, according to reports.

"I am very happy to be coming to such a club,» said Carroll on the Olympiakos official website.

"It is a great honor for me to play in Greece's biggest club. I am looking forward to the Europa League games and my own return to European competition.

"I am hoping next year we will be playing in the Champions League, as everybody wants to play at the top level, but in order to be able to do so we must win the league,» said the former Rangers, Wigan, West Ham and Hull City keeper.