PAOK Fans Mobilise Against Konstantelias Transfer to Borussia Dortmund
Discontent simmers at PAOK as Giannis Konstantelias prepares to join Borussia Dortmund, echoing previous successful interventions by supporters that halted a move to Stuttgart.
Giannis Konstantelias arrived in Germany on Sunday morning to undergo a medical examination, marking a critical step in his transfer from Greek club PAOK to Borussia Dortmund. The move has triggered an immediate and organised response from the club’s supporter base, with the ultras group Gate 4 leading protests against the departure.
Demonstrators gathered outside the stadium and converged on the club president’s office, where they demanded direct talks regarding the player’s future. Local reports indicate that the intensity of the opposition mirrors the unrest seen last year, when a similar transfer agreement with Stuttgart was ultimately cancelled by PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis following significant fan pressure.
The current unrest follows a pattern of high-stakes negotiations for the attacker, who signed a contract with PAOK last summer that runs until 2029. Prior to this agreement, Konstantelias had only left the club for a five-month loan spell with KAS Eupen. His recent form has been notable, having scored three goals for PAOK during the Europa League qualifying rounds this season.
Reports suggest that some supporters travelled to Dortmund in an attempt to persuade the player to remain in Greece upon his arrival. However, these efforts appear to be overshadowed by the institutional momentum of the transfer. Borussia Dortmund has already integrated another Greek international, Konstantinos Karetsas, signing him from Genk, and had previously targeted Said El Mala from Köln before shifting focus to Konstantelias.
While the immediate outcome of the fans’ demands for talks with the club president remains unclear, the protest highlights the volatile relationship between the supporter base and the club’s sporting direction. The situation stands in contrast to the previous year’s outcome, where owner intervention successfully blocked a transfer, allowing Konstantelias to extend his stay at PAOK.
