Genk (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 21, 2026 – Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has reacquired an authentic match jersey from his early professional career with Belgian club KRC Genk after discovering it listed on a second-hand marketplace website by a long-time supporter. The fan, who purchased the shirt at an official charity auction as a teenager in 2010, agreed to return the item directly to the international goalkeeper. In return for handing over the historic piece of memorabilia, the supporter received a fresh replacement jersey and was provided with an all-expenses-arranged trip to Madrid to watch Courtois compete live at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
The transaction originated when Stef Jacobs, a lifelong supporter of Belgian Pro League team KRC Genk, listed a early-career Courtois match jersey on 2dehands.be, a Belgian classifieds website. Jacobs had acquired the goalkeeper’s shirt sixteen years earlier in 2010 during an official Pro League charity auction featuring match-worn and player items. At the time of the auction, Jacobs was 13 years old and had been attending Genk matches since the age of seven.
The jersey remained hanging in Jacobs’s bedroom for sixteen years as a prized personal keepsake. However, after wondering whether the shirt had accumulated significant financial value over the years following Courtois’s international achievements, Jacobs decided to test the market by placing the item up for online bidding.
An Unexpected Bidder on Second-Hand Platform
Shortly after the advertisement was published online, bids began appearing on the platform under the username “Thibaut Courtois”. Initial skepticism led Jacobs to believe that the account was an online prankster using the elite athlete’s identity.
To verify the legitimacy of the user, contact was established with connections linked to the football club. Confirmation soon followed that the individual placing bids on the second-hand portal was indeed the 34-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper searching for his early career memorabilia. Courtois had been tracking down original gear from his developmental years at KRC Genk, where he made his professional debut before moving to European top-flight clubs.
Upon confirming the bidder’s true identity, Jacobs promptly withdrew the jersey from the classifieds website to halt further public bidding. Rather than completing a standard financial transaction over the online platform, direct communications were opened to arrange an alternative handover.
Exchange and Trip to Madrid
Arrangements were coordinated between the two parties, resulting in an invitation for Jacobs to travel to Spain. Courtois provided the supporter with match tickets and accommodations to attend a Real Madrid fixture in Spain, allowing Jacobs to watch the UEFA Champions League winner perform live.
During the visit, Jacobs presented Courtois with the preserved 2010 Genk goalkeeper shirt. In exchange, Courtois presented the supporter with a brand new signed jersey as a replacement item.
Following the personal meeting, Courtois publicly documented the exchange across his official social media channels, acknowledging the return of his early match kit. Jacobs noted that while he was aware the footballer was pleased to recover the early career item, the public social media statement was an unexpected gesture that highlighted the connection established through the shirt’s return.
Deep Ties to KRC Genk
The gesture comes amid Courtois’s continued involvement with his boyhood club. Having risen through the youth academy ranks at KRC Genk to win the Belgian Pro League title in 2011, the goalkeeper has maintained formal links with the team throughout his professional career. In June 2026, Courtois expanded his connection to the Limburg-based club by officially becoming an investor in KRC Genk.
