- The move makes Karetsas one of the most expensive teenage signings.
- Although born in Belgium, Karetsas is eligible to represent Greece through his parents.
- Karetsas is expected to add flair and attacking invention to the squad.
Borussia Dortmund have once again highlighted their reputation as one of Europe's best clubs for developing young talent by signing highly-rated Greek teenager Konstantinos Karetsas.
After helping shape the careers of stars such as Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, the Bundesliga giants have invested heavily in another exciting prospect.
The 18-year-old joins Dortmund from Belgian side Genk on a reported five-year contract, with the transfer believed to be worth around €30 million plus performance-related bonuses.
The move makes Karetsas one of the most expensive teenage signings in Belgian football history.
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Who is Konstantinos Karetsas?
Konstantinos Karetsas was born in Belgium to Greek parents and began his football journey in the youth academy of hometown club Genk. Widely regarded as one of Belgium's brightest prospects from a young age, he spent three years in Anderlecht's renowned academy before returning to Genk in January 2023.
The attacking midfielder quickly established himself as one of the club's standout youngsters. His technical ability, close control, vision and composure on the ball drew praise from across Europe, and he enjoyed a breakthrough during the opening months of the 2024-25 season despite being only 16 years old.
International Career
Although born in Belgium, Karetsas is eligible to represent Greece through his parents. He initially featured for Belgium at youth level and was even called up to the Belgian Under-21 squad for the UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Scotland and Hungary in October 2024, making his debut against Hungary.
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However, the talented midfielder decided his international future lay with Greece. FIFA approved his change of association in March 2025, allowing him to represent the Greek national team.
Karetsas made his senior debut for Greece as a substitute against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League play-off on March 20, 2025.
Just three days later, he announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion. The teenager scored in Greece's 3-0 victory over Scotland, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Greece's history at just 17 years and 124 days.
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Why did Borussia Dortmund Spent Big On Karetsas?
Borussia Dortmund's decision to invest around €30 million in an 18-year-old shows both Karetsas' current quality and his long-term potential.
The Bundesliga club have built a reputation for identifying elite young talent before they become global stars, and Karetsas fits that model perfectly. His creativity, intelligence between the lines, dribbling ability and confidence in possession have made him one of Europe's most sought-after attacking midfielders.
Dortmund were also in the market for greater creativity following the departure of long-serving playmaker Julian Brandt. Karetsas is expected to add flair and attacking invention to the squad while developing under the club's proven youth-focused system.