Barcelona sign Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund in €29m deal

Barcelona have completed the signing of German forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to €29m, as the Catalan club continues a major attacking rebuild.

The 22-year-old has signed a contract at Camp Nou until 2031, becoming Barca’s second high-profile attacking recruit of the summer following the arrival of England winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.

According to reports in Spain and Germany, Barcelona will pay an initial €22m to Dortmund, with a further €7m linked to performance-related bonuses.

Long-term bet on pace and versatility

Adeyemi, who can operate both as a winger and a central striker, adds blistering speed and direct running to Barcelona’s forward line.

The Germany international of Nigerian descent joined Borussia Dortmund from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in 2022 for a reported €30m fee.

During his time with the Bundesliga club, Adeyemi made 146 appearances in all competitions, scoring 36 goals and providing 25 assists for the black-and-yellow side – but he did not win a major trophy with Dortmund.

Barcelona highlighted his explosive style in their social media unveiling, posting a short clip captioned: “Don’t blink. Welcome, Adeyemi 💙❤️”.

Dortmund had earlier teased his departure with a video labelled: “Now you see him.”

Proven record across Europe

Across his professional career to date, Adeyemi has played 312 matches, scoring 107 goals and contributing 66 assists in all competitions for club and country.

He first made his name at Salzburg, where his performances in the Austrian Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League drew attention from Europe’s elite clubs, ultimately leading to his move to Germany.

In the 2022-23 season, Adeyemi was named the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the Season, underlining his status as one of the most promising young forwards in European football.

That same campaign, he played a key role in Dortmund’s run to the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, where the German side were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid.

One of Bundesliga’s fastest ever players

Adeyemi is regarded not only for his goal threat but also for his exceptional pace.

He is officially recorded as the sixth-fastest player in Bundesliga history, having been clocked at a top speed of 36.65 km/h.

That acceleration and ability to attack space in behind defences are thought to be central reasons why Barcelona moved to secure his services as they look to add more verticality and counter-attacking threat to their attack.

Barcelona’s evolving attacking options

Adeyemi’s arrival follows the signing of Anthony Gordon and is expected to intensify competition for forward places at Camp Nou.

The club have been reshaping their squad after an inconsistent season domestically and in Europe, with the focus on bringing in young, high-upside players who can contribute immediately while also developing over the long term.

With Adeyemi tied to the club until 2031, Barcelona have made a significant long-term investment in a player they believe can be a central figure in their next generation of attacking talent.