Konstantinos Karestas has began his career in Dortmund, but what is the story behind the Greek starlet?
Stuttgart, Germany – September 19: Konstantinos Karetsas of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga 2026/27 match between VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund at MHPArena on September 19, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Born on November 19, 2007, in Genk, Belgium, Konstantinos Karetsas is a fourth-generation member of the Greek diaspora in Belgium. In 1970, his great-grandfather left Dimitritsi, in the Serres region of northern Greece, and moved with his family to Belgium. Karetsas maintained his Greek identity, following his heart and choosing to represent the Hellenes. You may have first heard of Karetsas after his team’s 3–0 win over Scotland in the second leg of their Nations League playoff, when he scored a goal and received praise from Sir Alex Ferguson. According to Kathimerini, Ferguson said that Karetsas and his now-BVB teammate Giannis Konstantelias could play in any of his teams. If you thought that was where the praise would end… then you were wrong.
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Karetsas joined the Genk academy at just eight, emerging as one of the brightest stars in all of Belgium. Six years ago, Konstantinos made an immense decision, not just for a footballer but for a young boy as well. He made the switch from Genk to Anderlecht, leaving behind his father, Vaios; his mother, Eirini; and his younger brother, Giorgos. The move to Anderlecht proved difficult: he had left his family behind and gone from starboy to sometimes finding himself on the bench, but things began to take a turn for Karestas. By November 2022, Karetsas was making waves for Belgium, earning Player of the Tournament honors at the Val-de-Marne international tournament, which featured Belgium, England, France, and Italy.
By January 2023, at age 15, Karetsas was back at Genk, which was a dream come true for him; as a child, he had always talked about becoming an icon at the club. With Belgian rules changing, 15-year-olds were now allowed to take part in professional football, and Genk didn’t hesitate to give Karetsas his chance. To put this into perspective, at 15 years old, I weighed roughly 110 pounds, was about 5′5″, and dreamed of even getting a sniff of what it felt like to play for Borussia Dortmund II. Konstantinos Karetsas, on the other hand, was debuting for Jong Genk at age 15. He made his debut against SK Beveren, becoming the youngest player ever to be involved in a goal in the Challenger Pro League. Just weeks later, Konstantinos was back to breaking records, becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in Belgian professional football. He would make 20 appearances for Jong Genk before making his senior debut.
Giannis Konstantelias and Konstantinos Karetsas of Borussia Dortmund celebrate the second goal for Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga 2026/27 match between Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, on August 29, 2026. (Photo by Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
His official debut for Genk came on May 4, 2024, when he came on against Cercle Brugge. Later that month, he made his first start for Genk against Royal Antwerp and assisted the game’s only goal. During this time, you have to remember that Karetsas was still a student; his parents even said that just 13 hours after the Antwerp game, he was back in school. That same boy would later fulfill one of his biggest dreams, scoring his first-ever Genk goal against Anderlecht. This made him Genk’s youngest-ever first-team goalscorer, making December 22, 2024, one of the most notable days of his life so far.
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In 2024, The Guardian selected Karetsas for its Next Generation feature on 60 outstanding players born in 2007. Konstantinos added to his highlight reel by scoring the Belgian Pro League’s 2024/25 Goal of the Season against Gent in the opening match of the 2025 championship playoffs. Another major decision faced Karetsas: would it be Greece or Belgium? Karetsas called it a “choice of the heart,” and it filled the hearts of so many Greek fans around the world when it was announced that he would represent the Hellenes. As we touched on earlier, his first start for Greece was when he stood out to everyone. He became the youngest-ever scorer in the history of the Greek national team, and it couldn’t have happened more perfectly. Greece was not just a nationality he chose; it is his identity, his language, and his people. That goal encompassed everything it means to be Greek to Konstantinos Karetsas.
After recording 3 goals and 16 assists for Genk in the 2025/26 season, it was evident that he had to take his talents elsewhere. That was when his new chapter began: August 3, 2026, was the day Konstantinos Karetsas began his chapter at the Westfalenstadion. I believe I speak for all BVB fans when I say the story is just beginning.
