Borussia Dortmund's latest youth arrivals have not waited long to show up in the conversation. Konstantinos Karetsas played 74 minutes on his Bundesliga debut, finished with one goal contribution, and was involved in Serhou Guirassy's opener against Hamburger SV. Joane Gadou also made an immediate impression, bringing 6'5" of height and the kind of physical presence Dortmund wanted from Salzburg.
Karetsas' debut for Dortmund
Karetsas' first league outing was not a brief introduction. He stayed on for 74 minutes, which tells you Dortmund were comfortable using him straight away in a competitive match rather than easing him in for a token spell.
The performance was not just about time on the pitch either. Karetsas rated 7.7 in the game and produced one goal contribution, with his work helping set up Guirassy's opener against Hamburger SV. He also said after the match: "I should have scored, but apart from that I'm very happy with my performance." That sounds about right. There was end product, and there was also a missed chance that he clearly knew he should have taken.
His second quote pointed to the same mindset: "The most important thing is the three points. No match is easy in the Bundesliga." For a teenager on debut, that is the right priority order.
Gadou gives Dortmund another defensive option
Gadou's first impression was different, but no less relevant. At 19, he arrives with a frame that stands out immediately, and the 6'5" detail is not cosmetic when Dortmund are looking for another option at the back.
The club's long habit of bringing young players through has usually been discussed through attacking talent, from Mario Götze to Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham. Karetsas and Gadou fit a newer version of that story, where the promise is not just technical ability but early usefulness in different areas of the pitch.
Dortmund finished second in the 2025 Bundesliga season with 73 points in 34 matches, so these teenagers are stepping into a side that is still expected to compete at the top end. Karetsas' debut already gave them a creator who can influence a goal. Gadou gives them size and another defensive profile to work with, which is exactly the kind of blend that keeps Dortmund interesting.
The important detail is simple enough: both teenagers have already done more than just arrive. Karetsas made 74 minutes count on debut, and Gadou has given Dortmund a new 19-year-old option before the season has properly settled.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
