Giannis Konstantelias transfers from PAOK to Borussia Dortmund

Giannis Konstantelias has completed a transfer from PAOK to Borussia Dortmund following the collapse of Dortmund's pursuit of Said El Mala. The 23-year-old Greek midfielder traveled to Germany on August 16, 2026, to undergo medical examinations and sign a four-year contract. The deal is valued at approximately 30 million euros in total, consisting of 28 million euros in guaranteed fees plus 2 million euros in performance-based bonuses, with PAOK also retaining a 17.5% resale clause. The player’s annual salary is reported to be over 3 million euros.

The transfer process moved rapidly after Dortmund scouts, including David Blaha, monitored the player during PAOK's match against Anderlecht. The move has triggered significant tension among PAOK supporters, who held a symbolic occupation of the club's offices in Toumba to protest the management's decision to sell their star player shortly before crucial European fixtures. Konstantelias briefly returned to Thessaloniki on August 17 to attend to personal matters before returning to Germany to join his new teammates permanently.

While multiple sources including Goal News and OmegaLive confirm the signing and medical completion, others like Sky Sport's Patrick Berger had initially reported that final negotiations were ongoing while the player was in transit. The transfer marks a significant financial milestone for the Greek club, though it remains a controversial point among the fanbase.