Karim Adeyemi says joining Barcelona has fulfilled ‘dream’ and credits Hansi Flick for move

Karim Adeyemi has described his transfer to Barcelona as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and says new head coach Hansi Flick was the decisive factor in his decision to move to the Camp Nou.

The Germany forward has signed a contract with the Catalan club running until 2031, completing a permanent move from Borussia Dortmund.

Although Barcelona have not disclosed the financial details, reports in Spain and Germany say the deal is worth €22m, with a further €7m potentially payable in bonuses.

Adeyemi, who was born in Germany and is of Nigerian descent, told Barcelona’s official website that joining the club represents the high point of his career to date.

“I have achieved everything I dream of by joining the best club in the world,” he said. “Wearing this shirt is a great honour for me and my family, and I want to prove that on the pitch.”

Flick ‘main reason’ behind Barcelona switch

Adeyemi made clear that his relationship with Flick, who was appointed Barcelona coach earlier this summer, played a central role in his move to La Liga.

“Our goals are aligned,” Adeyemi said of Flick. “Everyone here wants to win every competition and show the club’s true stature, because it has some of the best players in the world. My desire is to bring something extra to the team.”

He added: “Flick was a main reason for my transfer to the club, and I feel very grateful for what he has done for me over the years.”

The 22-year-old credited Flick not only for his development at club level, but also for helping him break into the Germany national team during the coach’s spell in charge of the national side.

“Flick helped me get into the national team, but this time he played an even bigger role by giving me the chance to move to a club he described as unique and the biggest in the world,” Adeyemi said.

“I will show this appreciation every day through my performances and my commitment on the pitch.”

Dortmund spell without silverware

Adeyemi joined Borussia Dortmund in 2022 from Austrian club Salzburg in a deal worth €30m, having built a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young attacking players in the Austrian Bundesliga and UEFA competitions.

During his two seasons with the Bundesliga side, Adeyemi made 146 appearances in all competitions, scoring 36 goals and providing 25 assists in the famous black-and-yellow colours.

Despite his individual contributions, he did not win a trophy with Dortmund, who narrowly missed out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the 2022-23 season and also fell short in domestic and European cup competitions during his time at the club.

Adeyemi now moves to a Barcelona side seeking to reassert themselves in Spain and Europe under Flick, following a period of transition on and off the pitch.

The forward will compete for a place in a frontline already featuring several established international players, as Barcelona look to challenge again for major honours in La Liga and the Champions League.