Konstantinos Karetsas rejected interest from several Premier League clubs to complete his dream move to Borussia Dortmund, with the teenager's family believing England would have come too early in his career.
The 18-year-old midfielder finalised his transfer from KRC Genk earlier this summer, and his father, Vaios Karetsas, has now revealed why Dortmund stood out ahead of Europe's biggest clubs.
Dortmund always the preferred destination
According to Karetsas' father, Borussia Dortmund had tracked the midfielder for several years before completing the transfer.
"We're incredibly happy it went through because Dortmund was really the number one club he wanted to join. They have been following him for three years and already had scouting reports from 2023."
Although interest arrived from across Europe, the German club's long-term vision proved decisive.
Vaios explained that Dortmund's belief in his son's potential, combined with a willingness to give him time to develop, convinced the family to move forward with negotiations.
Premier League clubs turned away
Despite receiving interest from several English clubs, the family deliberately ruled out a move to the Premier League.
"Several English clubs, from the top to the middle of the table, were following Kos. We deliberately kept that market at a distance. At his age, we didn't think the Premier League was the right step."
Instead, they felt Dortmund offered the ideal environment for the attacking midfielder to continue his development.
Gratitude towards Genk
Vaios Karetsas also praised KRC Genk for the role the Belgian club played in his son's rise.
He highlighted the support of sporting director Dimitri de Condé, Erik Gerits and agent Stijn Francis, insisting promises made throughout the youngster's development were honoured.
The family believes Karetsas leaves Genk on excellent terms after progressing through one of Europe's most respected youth academies.
An additional detail emerged regarding the teenager's squad number at Dortmund. Despite the iconic No. 10 shirt being available, Karetsas chose to wear No. 19, believing it was too early in his career to take on the famous number.
Key Points
- Konstantinos Karetsas rejected interest from several Premier League clubs.
- Borussia Dortmund had monitored the midfielder for three years.
- The family believed England would have been too big a step at 18.
- KRC Genk received praise for the player's development.
- Karetsas chose the No. 19 shirt despite the No. 10 being available.
What's next?
Karetsas will now focus on adapting to life at Borussia Dortmund as he prepares for his first Bundesliga campaign. The German club are expected to integrate the teenager gradually, although they reportedly believe he has the potential to establish himself in the first team sooner rather than later.
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