Cruciate ligament tear confirmed for Dortmund recruit Konstantelias

Greek midfielder Giannis Konstantelias suffered a cruciate ligament tear on his Bundesliga debut on Saturday and will be out for several months, the German club has announced.

He scored in the season-opening 2-0 home win over SV Hamburg and combined superbly with Serhou Guirassy and fellow new Greek signing Konstantinos Karetsas.

But he overextended in the second half and fell to the turf clutching his knee.

“The whole Dortmund family is behind you, Giannis. You will come back stronger,” an X post from the club said on Sunday after his diagnosis was confirmed following tests.

His injury is a big blow to last season’s Bundesliga runners-up after just two appearances in the German Cup and the league opener since his move from PAOK.

They only have a day before the August transfer window shuts to bring in a replacement for the 23-year-old.

“We have to think about it,” coach Niko Kovač said after the Hamburg game.

“We do have to see what might still be possible. We do not know whether we will do anything. But at least we will consider it. That is clear.”