Who Is Konstantinos Karetsas? Arsenal-Linked Greek Wonderkid Making Headlines in Europe

Since the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta, Arsenal have been actively shaping their squad for the future, with Greek prodigy Konstantinos Karetsas emerging as the latest target for a summer transfer.

The Gunners are also poised to finalize the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, a key acquisition as Mikel Arteta’s side looks to strengthen its core this crucial summer. Following that, Arsenal will face a decision between Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko to bolster their striking options.

With the transfer window heating up, Berta is making significant progress on multiple fronts. Among these, the pursuit of Karetsas, a promising young talent currently at Genk, stands out. Reports from Greek media suggest Arsenal and the Belgian club are nearing an agreement around a £38 million deal.

The plan, according to these sources, is for Karetsas to join Arsenal next summer before being loaned back to Genk for the 2025–2026 season — allowing him to gain valuable experience before making his mark at the Emirates Stadium.

How did Konstantinos Karetsas evolve into a talented player?

Born to Greek parents in Genk on November 19, 2007, Karetsas rose through the ranks of his hometown club before spending three formative years at Belgian giants Anderlecht from 2020 to 2023.

In January 2023, the highly promising talent made a much-anticipated return to Genk. At just 15 years old, he made his professional debut in the Challenger Pro League with Jong Genk at the start of the following season.

Karetsas quickly made an impact, debuting in a 1-0 victory over SK Beveren where he played a crucial role by setting up the game’s only goal. He then scored his first goal for Jong Genk in a 1-1 draw against RSCA Futures. Building on this momentum, he added strikes against KV Oostende and FCV Dender EH, tallying three goals and one assist in just seven league appearances — a remarkable achievement for such a young player.

The 2024–25 season marked a significant turning point for Karetsas. Promoted to Genk’s first team squad in February 2024, he quickly made an impact by featuring in four of the remaining matches that season.

Given his young age, it’s understandable that Karetsas has occasionally rotated in and out of Thorsten Fink’s starting lineup. Nonetheless, he has showcased his potential with an impressive contribution of three goals and four assists across 39 appearances in all competitions.

In a key development for his international career, FIFA approved Karetsas’ change of national association in March, allowing him to switch allegiance from Belgium to Greece. Although he represented Belgium at various youth levels—including the Under-21s just last season—he ultimately chose to honor his roots by playing for the country of his parents.

Karetsas made his senior debut for Greece during a UEFA Nations League play-off against Scotland in March. Initially starting on the bench, he earned a starting spot in the second leg at Hampden Park, where he scored a vital goal, helping Greece secure a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Karetsas’ playing style

The teenage phenom, naturally left-footed and equally comfortable driving forward from the middle or wide areas, primarily operates as an attacking midfielder. Although his main role is in the attacking midfield, he has also been deployed on the left wing and even as a central midfielder on occasion. Despite his talent, many have only known Karetsas on the domestic stage.

Karetsas’ football intelligence and unpredictable style on the ball make him a constant challenge for defenders. His exceptional skill set, combined with an instinctive ability to deliver incisive passes, makes him a formidable presence in attack. If he continues to develop at this pace, there’s little doubt he will cement himself as a standout player on a much bigger stage.

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