After Konstantelias injury, Dortmund loan Arsenal prospect Nwaneri

Borussia Dortmund have moved quickly to replace the injured Giannis Konstantelias, signing Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri on loan for one year.

The German Bundesliga club said the 19-year-old Englishman would join the runners-up after Konstantelias suffered a serious knee injury. Reports said Dortmund would cover Nwaneri’s full salary.

“Because of Giannis Konstantelias’s extended absence, it was important for us to strengthen our squad at short notice. For us, signing Ethan was now the best sporting solution,” sporting director Lars Ricken said. He described Nwaneri as a “technically extremely gifted midfielder.”

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Because of Giannis Konstantelias’s extended absence, it was important for us to strengthen our squad at short notice. For us, signing Ethan was now the best sporting solution.

Nwaneri came through Arsenal’s academy and made his senior debut at 15 years and 181 days, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history. He has made 51 appearances for Arsenal’s first team, scoring 10 goals and setting up two more. Last season, he spent time on loan at French top-flight club Olympique Marseille.

Konstantelias was substituted in the second half of Dortmund’s 2-0 win over Hamburg on Saturday after appearing to hurt his knee. An MRI later confirmed a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee. The 23-year-old Greek had joined Dortmund from PAOK Salonika in the summer and had scored the team’s second goal in the match.

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technically extremely gifted midfielder