Borussia Dortmund's latest signing Konstantinos Karetsas has admitted that he's always been a fan of the club, prompting him to join them.
The 18-year-old completed a €30 million transfer from Belgian side Genk and after competing a medical, penned a five-year contract until June 2031.
Earlier today, he was officially unveiled as the new BVB player alongside managing director Lars Ricken and sporting director Nils-Ole Book.
In his first interview with the club since joining, Karetsas revealed the primary reason for him for joining Dortmund while also being enticed by their ability to develop world beaters.
"“Because the club has always been one of my favorites. That’s the main reason. I also think the path here is a great one. There are plenty of examples of players who’ve come here and taken a huge leap forward in their careers. I believe I’ll be able to develop very well here and learn a lot. That’s why I came here.”"
A midfielder by trade, the Greek international burst into limelight with his talismanic displays last season, assisting 11 times from 28 games in the Belgian top-flight. He also struck twice and made five more assists from 11 appearances in the Europa League as the Smurfs reached the Round of 16.
Karetsas will likely fill the void of a talismanic playmaker left behind by now Ajax-bound Julian Brandt, with the young Greek gun possessing many similar attributes. Ole Book even highlighted some of them as he welcomed the teenager to the club:
""(Karetsas) will enrich our team with his creativity and intelligence. He is technically very skilled and possesses the ability to find quick solutions in tight spaces, especially in the final third.""
Fans could get to see the first glimpse of him as early as this weekend when Die Borussen face Arsenal in the 2026 Emirates Cup in London. As head coach Niko Kovac aims to nail down his preferred XI with the German Supercup showdown against Bayern Munich fast approaching, the objective here will be to try and integrate into the first-team squad as soon as possible.
Second most expensive player in BVB history
Konstantinos Karetsas is officially the club's second most expensive purchase, with only French star Ousmane Dembele ranking higher. While it's a matter of great pride for the 18-year-old, it also comes with plenty of expectations as Karetsas will have the Herculean task of justifying his fee or face the ignominy of being labeled an expensive flop like a few last season.
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