Rising Star Konstantinos Karetsas: The €45M Greek Prodigy Taking European Football by Storm

A New Star Emerges

Konstantinos Karetsas, born on November 19, 2007, is a professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Racing Genk. Though born in Belgium, he represents the Greece national team.

According to Belgian football expert Bart Tamsyn, “He is a playmaker in the purest sense of the word.” His vision and left-foot technique are considered rare in Belgian football, and he’s described as a player who relies more on intuition than tactical instruction.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Karetsas made his international debut for Greece against Scotland in March 2025 during the Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs. Three days later, he etched his name in the history books by becoming both Greece’s youngest scorer and the Nations League’s youngest goalscorer at 17 years and 124 days in a 3-0 victory.

This season, the young midfielder has impressed with 30 appearances across all competitions for Genk, contributing two goals and four assists. His performances have caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs.

Transfer Speculation and Future Prospects

Recent reports from Greece suggest Arsenal are ‘very close’ to securing Karetsas’s signature in a potential €45 million deal, which would make him the most expensive 17-year-old signing in football history.

Newcastle United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest have all shown interest in the teenager. However, his family recently declined an approach from Manchester City, believing it wasn’t the right opportunity for his development.

According to industry experts, Genk won’t accept less than €30 million for their prized asset, with €35 million considered realistic. The club is eager to break the current Belgian transfer record of €33 million, set by Igor Thiago’s move to Brentford last summer.