Transfers
Plan B pays off: Dortmund secure Konstantelias and Veerman
After the El Mala-Transfer fell through, Plan B has been activated as Borussia Dortmund (BVB) confirm the arrivals of Greek offensive player Giannis Konstantelias and Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman, with the deals sealed on Stand: 17.08.2026. The club expects the new signings to strengthen the squad immediately.
The club had been targeting Kölns Said El Mala, but after Köln rejected the Angebot and withdrew from the Transfer-Poker, Dortmund were left with a clear vacancy in attack. Nach the collapse of that deal, the management announced that several Spieler are already being considered to fill the gap, prompting the double signing. The club expects the new signings to integrate within the next Tagen.
Der Wechsel des Offensivspielers Giannis Konstantelias to Borussia Dortmund is already perfect, securing the 23‑year‑old on a five‑year contract until June 2031. The BVB will pay roughly 30 Millionen Euro to PAOK Thessaloniki for the transfer of the versatile Offensivspieler, who logged 186 Spiele and scored 41 Tore for the Greek side. Konstantelias arrived from PAOK’s youth system, winning the Greek championship in 2024 and the Greek cup in 2021, and has already earned 18 caps and scored vier Tore for the national team. The scouting team also has a shortlist of other Offensivspielers for future reinforcement.
Joey Veerman, a central midfielder, is set to be presented on Dienstag after unanimous Medienberichten confirmed the move. Für Veerman, the BVB has set a release clause of about 22 Millionen Euro, the 27‑year‑old who recorded 31 Tore and 67 assists in 198 Pflichtspielen for PSV Eindhoven.
Financial impact of double signing
Mit dem Doppelschlag investiert der BVB knapp 50 Millionen Euro, the sum that had been earmarked for Kölns Said El Mala only days before. The combined expenditure reflects the club’s willingness to spend the allocated budget despite the recent rejection of the Angebot by Köln. Die BVB leadership confirmed the spending plan publicly. The Transfer was completed ahead of the summer window deadline.
"Wir haben einige Spieler im Kopf, die uns noch verstärken können", said sporting director Ole Book, emphasizing the club’s proactive recruitment. "Wir freuen uns sehr, dass wir mit Giannis einen talentierten Offensivspieler von uns begeistert haben", added sporting director Lars Ricken, noting the 23‑year‑old’s experience and thanking PAOK for constructive talks. Both contracts feature incentives linked to the number of Spielers each player registers for the BVB.
Veerman’s official introduction is scheduled for the coming Tage, while Konstantelias will need to address the Fanproteste that greeted his arrival at Dortmund airport, where he reportedly justified his move via a Video‑Call with angry supporters. Nach these introductions, the two newcomers will join training, but the club remains aware of the pressure to deliver results after the high‑profile El Mala-Transfer collapse.