Charles De Ketelaere facts for kids
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De Ketelaere with Belgium in 2026
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Charles Marc S. De Ketelaere | ||
| Date of birth | 10 March 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Bruges, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Atalanta | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2019 | Club Brugge | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Club Brugge | 90 | (19) |
| 2022–2024 | AC Milan | 32 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Atalanta (loan) | 35 | (10) |
| 2024– | Atalanta | 67 | (10) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017 | Belgium U16 | 4 | (1) |
| 2018 | Belgium U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019 | Belgium U19 | 6 | (3) |
| 2020–2023 | Belgium U21 | 10 | (1) |
| 2020– | Belgium | 35 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:07, 22 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:05, 10 July 2026 (UTC) |
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Charles Marc S. De Ketelaere, born on March 10, 2001, is a talented Belgian professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder or forward. Charles currently plays for the Atalanta club in Italy and is also a key player for the Belgium national team.
Contents
His Football Journey
Charles De Ketelaere started his football adventure at a very young age. He joined Club Brugge when he was just seven years old. He even worked as a ball boy for the club, which means he helped retrieve balls during games. Besides football, he also played tennis as a child. However, he chose to focus on football, a decision that led him to a professional career.
Starting with Club Brugge
Charles made his first appearance in a senior game on September 25, 2019. He played the entire match in a Belgian Cup game. Soon after, on October 22, 2019, he played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time against Paris Saint-Germain. This was a huge step for a young player.
He scored his first important goal on February 5, 2020. This goal helped Club Brugge win 2–1 against Zulte Waregem. This victory allowed his team to reach the Belgian Cup final. A year later, on October 20, 2020, Charles scored a winning goal in the 93rd minute against Zenit St. Petersburg. This exciting goal secured a 2–1 win in the Champions League group stage.
A New Challenge at AC Milan
On August 2, 2022, Charles moved to Italy to join Serie A club AC Milan. He signed a contract that would last until June 30, 2027. This was a big move for him, with reports suggesting a transfer fee of around €35 million. However, his first season at AC Milan was challenging. He did not score any goals and started only nine league games. This can happen in football, and it was a period of learning and growth for him.
Finding Success at Atalanta
After his time at AC Milan, Charles joined Atalanta on August 16, 2023. This was a loan move, meaning he played for Atalanta for a season with an option for them to buy him later. He made an immediate impact! On August 20, 2023, in his very first Serie A match for Atalanta, he scored a precise header. This goal helped Atalanta win 2–0 against Sassuolo.
He continued to shine, scoring his first UEFA Europa League goal on September 21. This goal contributed to Atalanta's 2–0 victory in a group stage match. During his first season at Atalanta, Charles scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions. Because of his great performance, Atalanta made his move permanent on June 15, 2024. Later that year, on November 26, he had an amazing game in the Champions League. He scored two goals and helped set up three others in a big 6–1 away win against Young Boys.
Playing for Belgium
Charles De Ketelaere also represents his country, Belgium, on the international stage. In November 2020, he made his debut for the Belgian senior squad. He came on as a substitute in a game against Switzerland.
He scored his first goal for Belgium on October 10, 2021. This goal came in a match against Italy during the Nations League. Charles also played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the 2022 World Cup, he came on as a substitute in a match against Morocco.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Charles had an outstanding tournament. He scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4–1 victory against the host nation, the United States. He was even named Man of the Match for his performance in that round of 16 game. Later, in the quarter-final against Spain, he scored an important equalizing goal. Although Belgium lost that game 2–1, Charles's three goals in the knockout stage equaled a record set by Romelu Lukaku for Belgian players in World Cup history.
Trophies and Awards
Charles De Ketelaere has won several important trophies and individual awards throughout his career:
Club Brugge
- Belgian First Division A: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Belgian Super Cup: 2021
Atalanta
- UEFA Europa League: 2023–24
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2023–24
Individual Awards
- Belgian Promising Talent of the Year: 2020
- Best Youngster of the Belgian Pro League: 2020, 2021
- Dominique D'Onofrio Award: 2020
- Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2021–22
- Golden Shoe Best Belgian Abroad: 2024
