Genk's Kos Karetsas Joins Borussia Dortmund in Record-Breaking Transfer

Genk’s latest gem is heading to Germany, and the deal is big enough to rewrite the club’s record books.

According to Bob Faesen of HLN, Genk and Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement for the transfer of Greek prodigy Kos Karetsas, with the fee set to break Genk’s record for an outgoing player. The exact number remains under wraps, but Genk had been pushing for around €35m, underlining just how highly the 18-year-old is valued.

For Karetsas, there was only one destination. From the clubs circling, he picked Dortmund as the ideal place to grow, a choice that fits neatly with the Bundesliga side’s reputation as a finishing school for elite young talent. He is now expected to sign a five-year contract and make the jump to the Bundesliga this summer.

This move is another powerful endorsement of Genk’s academy. Karetsas follows the path of Bilal El Khannous and others who have stepped straight from the youth ranks into the first team as teenagers. Genk spotted him early, trusted him early, and he repaid that faith quickly.

He made his senior debut at just 16 during the 2023/2024 season. The following campaign, still a teenager, he became a regular: 39 appearances, three goals, three assists. The numbers alone don’t tell the full story, but they signposted a player growing in influence.

Then came the real leap.

In the 2025/2026 season, while Genk struggled collectively, Karetsas exploded individually. The 18-year-old featured 49 times in all competitions, again scoring three goals but this time supplying a remarkable 14 assists. In a difficult year for the club, he emerged as the bright, reliable outlet, the teenager shaping attacks rather than just surviving in them.

For Genk, the transfer is both vindication and wrench. They lose a homegrown star just as he establishes himself as a leader on the pitch, but they bank a record-breaking fee that underlines the strength of their talent pipeline.

For Dortmund, it is another calculated bet on youth: an 18-year-old with nearly 90 senior games already behind him, ready to test himself in one of Europe’s most demanding environments.

The next question is not whether Karetsas can handle the step up. It is how quickly he can turn potential into impact in a club built to fast-track players exactly like him.