Kyriakos Papadopoulos has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a one year loan deal from fellow Bundesliga side FC Schalke. The player completed his medical today (Sunday) and will meet up with teammates in the coming days.
The injury stricken centre half was restricted to just five appearances last season in all competitions and his recurring knee injuries cost him his place at the World Cup with Greece.
Papadopoulos, formerly of Greek outfit Olympiakos, has struggled with injuries throughout his four year spell at Schalke and has only had one 20+ league appearance season while at the club. News of a possible agreement to a permanent move after the loan spell hasn't been disclosed.
His first season, at 18 years old saw him make an impressive 18 Bundesliga appearances which could have ultimately been more had he not been injured twice in the second half of the season. His second season saw him make 29 appearances and in the past two seasons just 14 appearances combined in the league.
If he can put fitness issues behind him and stay injury costless, he'll be a more than adequate player to step into the side and most likely partner Omer Toprak at the heart of the defence.
Papadopoulos now 22, has missed over a quarter of his Schalke career so far sitting on the treatment table time and time again.
This loan-move will kill of the alleged interest from Liverpool who seemed keen on the defender despite being warned about his injury problems. Manchester United and Arsenal are believed to have weighed up moves for him in the not so distant past also.