Borussia Dortmund needed a replacement, and quickly. Three days after Giannis Konstantelias went down clutching his left knee against Hamburg, the German club landed Ethan Nwaneri on a season-long loan from Arsenal, confirmed by both clubs late on Tuesday’s deadline day.
There is no purchase option attached to the deal, and Nwaneri remains under contract at Arsenal through 2030. Dortmund will cover his salary in full for the 2026/27 season.
Dortmund cover full salary, deal has no buy option
Managing director for sport Lars Ricken cast the deal as a short-notice fix for a squad that had just lost its new attacking midfielder.
“With the loan signing of Ethan, we have managed to bring in a very talented and technically highly accomplished midfielder,” Ricken said.
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“Due to the longer-term absence of Giannis Konstantelias, it was important for us to strengthen our squad again at short notice. For us, signing Ethan was now the best possible sporting solution. We are delighted that we were able to complete this shortly before the end of the transfer window.”
Konstantelias’s debut ended in the 52nd minute
Konstantelias had arrived at Dortmund during the summer, and his first Bundesliga appearance began in fairy-tale fashion. The 23-year-old Greek international turned in a Maximilian Beier delivery, deflected past the goalkeeper by Hamburg defender Sebastiaan Bornauw, in first-half stoppage time to double Dortmund’s 2-0 win on Saturday.
Seven minutes into the second half he pulled up and was substituted. The torn cruciate ligament was confirmed by the club shortly after, ruling him out for several months.
“The news hits us hard because Giannis had shown in a very short time why we regard him as a great player here at Dortmund,” Ricken said at the time.
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Second consecutive loan for the teenager
Nwaneri returned to Arsenal in July after spending the second half of last season on loan at Olympique Marseille, where he scored twice in nine Ligue 1 appearances. The England Under-21 international has 10 goals in 51 competitive appearances for Arsenal.
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano first broke the agreement overnight, saying Nwaneri had “said yes to this possibility overnight” and that Dortmund sources had confirmed the salary arrangement.
Head coach Niko Kovac gains a player who can operate centrally or on either flank, adding options behind Serhou Guirassy in Dortmund’s 3-4-2-1. Dortmund travel to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
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