Borussia Dortmund Completes €30m Signing of Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk

Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund has officially completed the signing of highly-rated Greek international Konstantinos KaretsasPlayer·Konstantinos Karetsas from Belgian side KRC Genk. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder and right winger has committed his future to BVB, penning a long-term contract that extends until June 2031. The transfer fee for Karetsas is reported to be €30 million, with potential add-ons that could see the figure rise to €32 million. KRC Genk will also retain a ten-percent share of any future transfer profit, making this acquisition Dortmund's second most expensive signing in club history.

Karetsas, a left-footed player standing at 171 cm, wore the number 20 during his tenure at GenkTeam·Genk. His playing style has drawn comparisons to Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich's Jamal MusialaPlayer·Jamal Musiala, recognized for his agility, exceptional vision, and innate ability to locate space and deliver incisive passes. He is also noted for his proficiency from dead-ball situations, adding another dimension to his offensive toolkit.

During the 2025/26 Pro League season, Konstantinos KaretsasPlayer·Konstantinos Karetsas made 34 league appearances, contributing 10 assists and 68 key passes. Another source indicates he provided 11 assists in the Jupiler Pro League. His impact extended to the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League campaign, where he registered two goals and five assists across 11 appearances, playing a significant role in GenkTeam·Genk reaching the round of 16. Across all competitions in the 2025/26 season, he recorded three goals and 18 assists in 49 competitive appearances. His Sofascore rating in the league stood at 6.91, underpinned by 59 successful dribbles and the creation of 13 big chances. He maintained an 82.16% passing accuracy, completing 815 accurate passes, with 372 of those delivered in the final third.

Dortmund's managing director of sports, Lars Ricken, expressed his enthusiasm for the new arrival. "With Kos, we're adding a player to Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund who, at just 18 years old, already possesses tremendous talent," Ricken stated. "We're thrilled that we were able to get him excited about our vision, and from the very first moment of our discussions, we could tell that Kos is eager to join BVB."

Karetsas himself shared his excitement about the move. "Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund is a special club, and I'm incredibly proud to now be able to wear the Black and Yellow jersey," he commented. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know my players and soon playing in front of our fans in this impressive stadium. I want to do my part to ensure that we're successful together." He further noted that Dortmund has consistently been one of his favorite clubs, offering a clear pathway for player development.

Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund concluded the 2025/26 BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga season in 2nd place, securing qualification for the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League. Throughout the BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga campaign, Dortmund won 64.71% of their matches, averaging 2.1 goals scored per game while conceding 1.00 goals on average. They maintained a clean sheet in 44% of their matches. In other competitions, Dortmund reached the knockout phase play-offs in the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League and the Round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal. Serhou GuirassyPlayer·Serhou Guirassy led the team's scoring efforts with 17 goals in the league and 22 across all competitions.

The acquisition of Konstantinos KaretsasPlayer·Konstantinos Karetsas is strategically significant, expected to address the creative void left by Julian BrandtPlayer·Julian Brandt's departure to AjaxTeam·Ajax and provide additional attacking impetus following Karim AdeyemiPlayer·Karim Adeyemi's move to BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona. Karetsas's versatility, comfortable as both an attacking midfielder and a right winger, offers a profile previously lacking in the squad. He is set to join his new teammates for pre-season friendlies before the 2026/27 season officially commences with the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich on August 22.