A tireless playmaker: this is BVB new signing Konstantelias | OneFootball

BVB have signed their second Greek player this summer, bringing Giannis Konstantelias from PAOK Thessaloniki to Dortmund. The attacking player has signed a contract until 2031.

Just like his compatriot Konstantinos Karetsas, he will now try to add more spark to Dortmund’s attack and make the most of his creativity.

“With Giannis, we are gaining a player who will strengthen us with his qualities. We see a lot of potential in him and are convinced that he fits our team very well,” explained Ole Book.

But what exactly are Konstantelias’ qualities? And how does he fit in at Dortmund?

Konstantelias’ path to the Bundesliga

It became clear early on that the Greek had what it takes to make it in professional football. Konstantelias joined PAOK at the age of ten and then came through the club’s youth academy. At 17, the attacking player made his debut for the first team and was also called up early to Greece’s youth national teams.

He made his breakthrough in Greece in 2023/24. In 2024/25, he was even voted the best Greek player in the Super League. Since then, he has also become an established figure in the Greek national team and already has a number of appearances under his belt. Last summer, he came close to joining Stuttgart, but protests from the ultras led to even the club president stepping in.

Photo: IMAGO

Now his path has indeed led him to the Bundesliga, to Dortmund instead of Stuttgart. The expectations are there, and the player will of course now want to make sure they are matched by performances.

A broad range of qualities

Borussia Dortmund initially wanted to sign Said El Mala, but talks with 1. FC Köln could not be successfully concluded. That is why Konstantelias moved into focus. He is not a like-for-like replacement for El Mala, but a different type of player. While El Mala primarily stands out through his acceleration, speed and directness, Konstantelias is more of a technically gifted attacking player who operates in creative areas, while also possessing a very good finish.

One factor stands out: Konstantelias learned early on the importance of contributing defensively. He is the type of player who can work hard off the ball and knows exactly that he also has to support the defense. He often manages the balancing act of working without the ball while still driving the attack forward tirelessly. Added to that, with his creativity and strong passing in transition, he is capable of playing precise passes and speeding up the game, while also feeling comfortable in tight spaces.

BVB are therefore getting a player who never gives up, who can play an important role in Dortmund’s 3-4-2-1 system and complement his compatriot Karetsas well. Accordingly, he also fits into the attack, even if the original profile they were looking for was a different one. Depending on further deals, especially for a right-sided wing-back, the overall picture of the squad could still be very coherent. And if Konstantelias does not need much time to settle in, he could become very important for BVB early on.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.