Borussia Dortmund signs Greek teen Karetsas for €33m, club's second-most expensive transfer

Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund has finalized its next summer transfer. According to multiple media reports, which BILD can also confirm, Dortmund is signing Greek talent Konstantinos Karetsas (18). On Monday, Sports Director Ole Book (40) achieved a breakthrough in negotiations in Belgium. He agreed with Genk's management on a total package of €33 million, plus a sell-on clause.

Karetsas Costs €33 Million

With a fee of €33 million, Karetsas becomes the second most expensive transfer in the club's history. Only Ousmane Dembélé commanded a higher fee in 2016, when the future world footballer arrived from French club Rennes for €35 million. If the Greek international follows a similar career trajectory, everyone at BVB would certainly be satisfied.

Karetsas is expected to take over the role of ex-star Julian Brandt (30) in attacking midfield. With his creativity and agility, he is anticipated to pose significantly more goal threat than his predecessor. It is a position that the Greek will also need to grow into, and it will likely take several weeks for him to adapt to the pace of the Bundesliga.

BVB Already Agreed with Karetsas for Some Time

As BILD previously reported, BVB had been in agreement with Karetsas for weeks. He had signaled his willingness to move to Dortmund, and the basic contract terms were coordinated. This prevented any other club from torpedoing the deal. Recently, other clubs expressed interest in Karetsas, but none mounted a serious challenge because he had already committed to BVB.

After Joane Gadau (19) from RB Salzburg, Dortmund's squad architects—led by Sports Boss Lars Ricken (40) and Book—are finalizing the second major summer transfer. However, this may not be the last. Said El Mala (19) from 1. FC Köln is also expected to join. As BILD previously reported, the player has been offered a five-year contract. The clubs now still need to reach an agreement.