Barcelona have reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of forward Karim Adeyemi, according to Fabrizio Romano. The LaLiga champions will pay an initial €22 million for the 24-year-old, with a further €7 million due in performance-related bonuses, bringing the total fee to €29 million.
The deal represents a significant bargain for Barcelona, given Adeyemi was previously linked with a move to the Premier League for a reported €85 million just months ago. The German international will sign a five-year contract with the Catalan club after already agreeing personal terms earlier this week.
This transfer likely ends Barcelona’s pursuit of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. Despite previously exploring a €30 million bid for the England forward, the arrival of both Anthony Gordon and now Adeyemi makes a move for Rashford increasingly improbable. Barcelona recently agreed an €80 million deal with Newcastle for Gordon.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was instrumental in the pursuit of Adeyemi, having previously handed the player his senior Germany debut and included him in the 2022 World Cup squad. Flick will be hoping to unleash Adeyemi’s considerable pace alongside Gordon, potentially forming one of the fastest attacking lines in world football.
Dortmund will likely view the outcome with mixed emotions. While Adeyemi’s four years at the club failed to fully deliver on his initial promise, the financial return represents a loss on the €30 million they paid RB Salzburg for his services in 2022. The club were unable to agree a contract extension with Adeyemi and his agent, Jorge Mendes, with disagreements over salary and a release clause proving insurmountable.
Negotiations stalled due to Mendes’ demands, which included a high salary and a release clause that Dortmund were reluctant to concede. With only one year remaining on his current deal, Dortmund’s negotiating position weakened, ultimately allowing Barcelona to secure Adeyemi for a reduced fee. The player’s desire for a move also contributed to the club’s willingness to sell.
