Giannis Konstantelias, a 23-year-old star of PAOK Thessaloniki and one of Greece’s top talents, left for Borussia Dortmund early Sunday morning after completing his transfer to the German giants. Greek sources indicate the deal entered its final stages following intense pressure from Dortmund in recent days. The transfer fee is expected to be around €30 million, with Konstantelias set to earn approximately €3 million annually in Germany. The situation surrounding Konstantelias's departure has drawn particular attention due to his relationship with PAOK fans. His initial move to Stuttgart last year was nearly finalized before fan protests forced the club to halt the transfer. This time, however, the reaction from supporters appears unlikely to prevent the move. Konstantelias departed for Germany, and Greek media suggest the deal will proceed smoothly. Konstantelias had previously been close to joining Stuttgart last summer. Clubs reached a written agreement, and he even traveled to Germany for medical tests before PAOK called him back amid fierce opposition from fans over the sale of one of their greatest talents. That transfer ultimately collapsed, and Konstantelias remained with PAOK. Similar scenes have unfolded this time as it became clear Dortmund was seriously pursuing him. The most prominent PAOK supporter group, Gate 4, publicly demanded the club not sell Konstantelias. In their statement, they referred to him as the greatest player to wear the PAOK jersey since legendary Giorgos Koudas and emphasized their sole request: that he continue playing for the club. They concluded with a direct message: “Keep your hands off Konstantelias.” This time, however, it seems the fans’ reaction will not stop the transfer. Konstantelias departed for Germany on Sunday, and Greek media report that everything points toward him signing with Dortmund. Dortmund has been tracking Konstantelias for some time, and after the failed attempt to sign Said El Malah, the PAOK forward became one of the main options for strengthening the attacking line. He is technically very skilled and versatile, capable of playing both centrally and on the wings. Konstantelias would join another major Greek talent in Dortmund’s squad, Konstantinos Karetsas, whom Dortmund signed from Genk this summer. Kovač could thus field two of the best young Greek forwards in the same team. For PAOK, his departure will be a significant blow, but it also represents a substantial financial gain. For the fans, it is more painful, especially a year after they successfully stopped his move to Stuttgart. This time, it seems their favorite son is leaving Salonika. Naval fans intercepted Konstantelias at the airport in Dortmund due to his transfer to Borussia. The deal with PAOK was agreed upon, which caused a storm of reactions among fans who tried to prevent it. After failing to reach PAOK president Ivan Savvidis, they decided on a radical move. Konstantelias went to Dortmund for medical examinations, but there he was surprised. A group of PAOK fans followed him to Germany and met him at the airport. They forced him to establish a video call with leaders of the fan group in Greece to explain his decision to leave. Fans were particularly angry because he had previously promised them he would not leave the club. A similar situation occurred last year. Konstantelias had a deal to go to Stuttgart, but fans opposed it. Chaos erupted in Salonika, and after pressure from fans on the president and board, the transfer was eventually halted. This time, the deal was handled more carefully, but fans still managed to find him in Dortmund and ask for explanations for his departure. Konstantelias joined PAOK from the academy. He returned to the club in 2022 after a brief stay in Belgium’s Eupen. For the black-and-white team, he played a total of 190 matches, scoring 44 goals and recording 26 assists. The transfer of this 23-year-old will bring PAOK revenue between €25 and €30 million. Kovač wanted to build a team around him, but now he must look for other solutions. Borussia is weakened in the attacking department due to Julian Brandt’s move to Ajax. El Mala was supposed to be Brandt’s successor. Kovač and the yellow-black team will now try to find a new attacker on the market, and the next move from Cologne is yet to come. It will be very difficult to retain the young player valued at €45 million. It is possible that by the end of the transfer window, they will receive an offer exceeding Borussia’s. If not, El Mala will spend another season in the club before likely being sold for a huge sum next summer. Dortmund has started shopping. They activated the exit clause for Joey Veerman and paid PSV around €22 million. The Dutch international is expected to undergo medical tests on Monday, after which a contract until 2031 is anticipated. At the same time, Konstantelias has already arrived in Dortmund. Bild reports that the 23-year-old Greek international is undergoing medical checks and that BVB expects the transfer to be completed. The deal causes real chaos in Salonika. PAOK fans publicly demand the management to reject the sale of their favorite player, and similar pressure from fans last year helped stop his transfer to Stuttgart. Arsenal is getting rid of two stars. City has started looking for Neto. Aston Villa has reached an agreement with Parma for the transfer of Zion Suzuki for €35 million. The Japanese international is expected to complete the move to the Premier League after almost reaching an agreement with PSG. Suzuki’s arrival once again raises questions about the future of Emiliano Martinez. Juventus sent a bid worth €10 million for the Argentine goalkeeper, but Villa rejected it. Sky reports that the Italians have cooled down their interest. Martinez has been one of Juventus’s main targets for the position of first-choice goalkeeper all summer. Romano: Almost done! Rodri goes to Barcelona. Barcelona and Manchester City have reached an agreement on the transfer of Rodri. The total value of the deal is around €76.5 million. An agreement with the 30-year-old Spanish midfielder has already been reached, and in the coming days, he is expected to undergo medical tests and complete documentation. Rodri has one more year left on his contract with City, and Barcelona has increased its offer several times during the summer. His departure immediately triggers a new big deal for City. Lille coach Davide Ancelotti has already confirmed that the English club is negotiating for Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old midfielder he sees as a potential successor to Rodri. Arsenal is getting rid of two stars. City has started looking for Neto.
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