Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of winger Karim Adeyemi, according to reports from Sport. The initial fee is set at €22 million, with a potential €7 million in add-ons, and Dortmund will retain a 20% sell-on clause. Adeyemi is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Catalan club.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly confirmed the agreement while speaking to the media in Dallas, praising Adeyemi’s speed and danger and highlighting the work of Deco in securing the signing. The move for the 24-year-old German international provides Barcelona with another attacking option as they look to defend their La Liga title.
Adeyemi has gained attention for his exceptional pace, reportedly clocking a faster 30-metre sprint time than Usain Bolt, recording 3.60 seconds compared to Bolt’s 3.78 seconds during his 100-metre world record run. The player himself confidently stated, “I think I'm the fastest player in football. I'm pretty sure of it.”
During the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, Adeyemi was recorded reaching a top speed of 36.65km/h while playing for Borussia Dortmund against Freiburg. Internal analysis at Dortmund suggests he has even surpassed this, reaching 37.28km/h during a Champions League match against Real Madrid in December 2024. However, this speed is not the fastest recorded in professional football.
Interestingly, fellow Barcelona new signing Anthony Gordon has been clocked at a higher speed of 37.92km/h during a Champions League game with Newcastle last season, according to the CIES Football Observatory. Other players like Micky van de Ven of Tottenham (37.38km/h) and Kyle Walker of Manchester City (37.31km/h) have also recorded faster speeds in recent Premier League matches. While Adeyemi’s 30-metre sprint may be quicker than Bolt’s, he doesn’t currently hold the title of fastest footballer.
Claims of speeds reached by players from previous generations, such as Thierry Henry, are difficult to verify due to the lack of standardised tracking systems. Despite not being the absolute fastest, Adeyemi’s arrival at Barcelona adds significant pace to their attacking lineup and provides a dynamic threat for opponents. His signing allows Xavi Hernandez more tactical flexibility in wide areas.
The addition of Adeyemi strengthens Barcelona’s squad depth and provides competition for places in the forward line, potentially allowing them to challenge on multiple fronts next season.
