Dortmund's Karetsas, 18, stretchered off and hospitalised with circulation problem in Champions League clash

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas was stretchered off and rushed to hospital during the club’s Champions League match against Villarreal after suffering what the German side described as a “circulation problem”. The 18-year-old Greek international went down without any contact from an opponent, having completed a dribble and a pass moments earlier.

Karetsas raised his arm to signal for medical attention before sitting down on the turf. Medical staff attended to him on the pitch, and he was subsequently carried off on a stretcher and taken directly to hospital for further examinations.

Dortmund moved quickly to release a statement addressing the alarming scenes. “Konstantinos Karetsas had to leave the pitch in the game against Villarreal due to circulation problems,” it read. “Kosta is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances, and he is on his way to the hospital for further examinations.”

The incident drew an emotional response from former Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, who was working as a pundit at the game. “When the doctors did not look at his legs at all and were only focused on his upper body, it sent a shiver down my spine,” Hummels said. “We would not wish something like that on anyone. Those are really horrible scenes we had to see there.”

Karetsas joined Dortmund from Belgian club Genk in the summer and was making his fifth appearance for the club when the incident occurred. The Greece youth international had been one of the more promising young talents to emerge at Signal Iduna Park this season.

Dortmund did not provide further medical details beyond the initial statement, but indicated the player was stable given the circumstances. Updates on his condition are expected once examinations at the hospital are complete.