With the headline "Welcome Sokratis", the official website of AC Milan confirmed on Tuesday noon the acquisition of Greece central defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos in one of the biggest ever transfers for a Greek footballer.

Milan spent some 4.5 million euros to buy the player from Genoa, according to reports while the "Rossoneri" confirmed that three players will head to the opposite direction: Nnamdi Oduamadi, Rodney Strasser and Gianmarco Zigoni.

The 22-year-old, who started his career at AEK, has earned himself a five-year contract for some 1.3 million euros per season.

AEK stands to get some 600,000 euros from the transfer, according to the contract they had signed with Genoa in 2008.

Papastathopoulos was quite impressive during Greece's game with Argentina last month for the World Cup in South Africa as he managed to contain to a great extent the threat of Lionel Messi.

The Milan website wrote on Tuesday: "Today Papastathopoulos begins his experience with the Milan shirt. Welcome Sokratis and good luck with your adventure in the red and black colours."

Greece central defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is about to take a step up in his career as AC Milan is reportedly courting him.

The Genoa central defender is a target for the Italian giant, whose vice-president and executive director Adriano Galliani stated on Thursday at Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport that Papastathopoulos is on his way to the San Siro.

"Papastathopoulos is coming to Milan. His transfer is not complete yet but we are on the way there," said president Silvio Berlusconi's right-hand man, although there has also been some interest in the Greek international by fellow Campionato sides Inter and Lazio.

The tall central defender impressed during the World Cup especially with his dogged man-marking of Lionel Messi in the 2-0 defeat by Argentina.

Reports suggest that Papastathopoulos would be going to Milan in the next few days to sign a five-year contract that will earn him 1.5 million euros per yer.

There is a possibility that the 22-year-old will move to Milan on loan although other reports say they may have to stump seven million euros for him.

Kalamata-born Papastathopoulos joined AEK Athens from Apollon Petalidiou for 30,000 euros in 2005. He played 38 times for the Yellows before moving to Genoa in August 2008. He has played 51 times and scored twice, becoming a favourite of the supporters.

Papastathopoulos was captain of the Greece Under 19 side that came second to Spain in the 2007 European Championships. He made his full international debut against the Czech Republic in February 2008 and has gone on to play 12 times.

He is set to be officially presented by Milan next week.