Gladbach’s pre‑season hopes dim as Konoplya faces weeks out

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s pre‑season plans have been hit by a blow as newly signed right‑back Yukhym Konoplya suffered an inner ligament tear in his knee during his unofficial debut for the Foals, meaning the 26‑year‑old Ukrainian international will miss the start of the Bundesliga season.

Konoplya arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported fee between €3.5 million and €4.5 million. He brings Champions League and Europa League experience to the Lower Rhine region, adding European pedigree to the Borussia side.

The Ukrainian was recruited to finally solve Gladbach’s long‑standing issues on the right flank. His dynamic overlapping runs and sharp crossing were expected to pressure inconsistent starter Joe Scally and provide a more defensive option than Stefan Lainer.

Konoplya was introduced in a pre‑season friendly against third‑division side Rot‑Weiss Essen to collect his first minutes in Borussia colours. He was forced off after only a few minutes following an awkward movement with no opponent contact.

Detailed examinations ruled out a complete ligament rupture, confirming instead a partial inner ligament tear. The diagnosis indicates a less severe injury but still requires several weeks of recovery.

The injury will keep him sidelined for several weeks, ruling him out of the DFB‑Pokal opening round and the Bundesliga kickoff. Gladbach now faces the opening fixtures without their new right‑back.

For manager Gerardo Seoane, the timing is a massive blow as Gladbach must now reshape their backline for the opening weeks of the campaign. The club hopes Konoplya’s recovery stays on track so he can contribute later in the season.