Karetsas recently became Greece’s youngest goalscorer in the UEFA Nations League.
After the new sporting director Andrea Berta took over, Greek star Konstantinos Karetsas is the most recent player to be considered for a summer transfer to Arsenal.
Martin Zubimendi is expected to join the Gunners from Real Sociedad during this crucial summer for the football team. The team will then look to choose between Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko for a new striker.
As it becomes more apparent who is entering the market, Berta is advancing discussions and working on several fronts. In light of the necessity to bolster Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team, Karetsas, a young player from Genk, has been linked to a £38 million move to the Emirates Stadium.
The Belgian club and Arsenal are reportedly in talks and are close to reaching an agreement on the aforementioned amount, according to Greek media. According to the rumour, Karetsas will return to north London next summer, then will be loaned back to Genk for the 2025–2026 campaign.
How did the Greek superstar evolve into a talented player?
Karetsas, who was born to Greek parents in Genk on November 19, 2007, progressed through the ranks of his hometown club before spending three years at Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht from 2020 to 2023.
But in January 2023, the wonderkid was scheduled to return to Genk. At the young age of 15, he made his Challenger Pro League debut for Jong Genk at the start of the following campaign.
Karetsas made his debut in a 1-0 victory over SK Beveren, helping to set up the game’s lone goal. After scoring his maiden goal for Jong Genk in a 1-1 draw at RSCA Futures, the youthful player added goals against KV Oostende and FCV Dender EH to bring his total to three goals and one assist in his first seven league outings.
The 2024–25 season would turn out to be a turning point for Karetsas, who was promoted to the Genk first squad in February 2024 and made four appearances in the remaining games of the season.
Although it is not surprising, considering his age, that he occasionally finds himself in and out of Thorsten Fink’s starting lineup. However, he has still produced three goals and four assists in his 39 games across all competitions.
FIFA authorised the player’s change of association back in March, allowing him to play for Greece instead of Belgium. As a child, Karetsas represented Belgium at several age groups, including the Under-21s the previous season, but he chose to play for his parents’ native Greece instead.
In a UEFA Nations League play-off match against Scotland in March, he made his debut for his country. Karetsas began that match on the bench. But a few days later, when they travelled to Hampden Park for the rematch, he would be in the starting lineup. He scored a goal as Greece beat Scotland 3-1 on aggregate.
Karetsas’ playing style
The teenage phenom, who is left-footed and more than at home rushing forward with the ball from the middle or out wide, primarily plays attacking midfield, though he did line up on the left wing once and as a central midfielder. But many people were only aware of Karetsas on a domestic level.
Karetsas’ football acumen and unpredictable style on the ball make him a headache for opponents. Karetsas is an incredibly skilled player with a knack for passing who intimidates opponents with his attacking skills. If he keeps up his current pace, he should be able to establish himself as a major player.
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