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Playmaker, dribbling artist, early bloomer: That’s Konstantinos Karetsas
Konstantinos Karetsas was born in Genk, Belgium, to Greek parents. At the age of eight, he joined the KRC Genk youth academy, where he completed his entire training, with the exception of a brief stint at Anderlecht.
Karetsas was recognized as an exceptional talent early on and made his debut in August 2023 at the age of 15 in the Belgian second division. That same season, he made his first appearance for KRC Genk’s first team in the Jupiler Pro League.
Under German head coach Thorsten Fink—a native of Dortmund—he quickly became a key player and regular starter for his club during the 2024–25 season. Fink recently described the attacking player as “a technically outstanding player who has good dribbling skills and can deliver the final pass.” He also noted that Karetsas is “still a true number 10, the kind we used to see in the past.”
Karetsas feels most comfortable as an attacking midfielder, but has also been deployed on the right wing. The 1.73-m player’s greatest strengths lie in one-on-one situations, dribbling in tight spaces, and his exceptional ability to spot teammates. His 15 assists in the past competitive season are impressive proof of this.
In addition to his keen understanding of the game, he possesses a remarkable composure on the ball, which has quickly made Karetsas one of the most consistent midfielders in the Belgian league.
Record Goal Scorer for Greece
The attacking midfielder also quickly made a name for himself on the international stage. Although he could have played for Belgium, he chose his parents’ homeland and established himself on the Greek national team last year. He has now made ten appearances for Greece, scoring three goals in the process.
Karetsas made soccer history for Greece in March 2025: During Greece’s 3-0 away victory over Scotland in the UEFA Nations League, he scored his first international goal in Glasgow and, at 17 years, four months, and four days, became his country’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
At BVB, the creative midfielder now aims to take the next step in his development. He will be available to the Black and Yellows immediately and, in his first interview in Dortmund, emphasized his great ambitions with BVB: “My personal goals are to continue developing as much as possible, to take the next step in my career, to score more goals, and to contribute to the team. And from the team’s perspective, my goal is, of course, to win titles—and not just one. Yes, that’s my plan: to win titles and help the team as much as possible.”
Konstantinos Karetsas will now wear the number 19 for BVB, a number previously worn by players such as Kevin Großkreutz and Julian Brandt while playing for the Black and Yellows.
The new signing’s first interview: Why Konstantinos Karetsas chose BVB