Barcelona submit official bid for Karim Adeyemi as Hansi Flick rekindles longstanding interest

FC Barcelona have accelerated their summer transfer drive with a formal bid for Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi, according to multiple reports confirmed by transfer journalists Gerard Romero and Fabrizio Romano. The Blaugrana have already reached a verbal agreement with the 24-year-old German international and are now locked in negotiations with BVB over the final transfer fee.

Flick’s Personal Request

The operation carries a deeply personal touch: Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has been the driving force behind the move. The German tactician attempted to bring Adeyemi to Bayern Munich back in 2022, only to lose out to Borussia Dortmund. Now, reunited with the player’s compatriot at the Camp Nou, Flick has formally requested the signing from sporting director Deco.

Flick views Adeyemi as a perfect tactical fit—his blistering pace, ability to attack space, and positional versatility across the front line align precisely with the coach’s philosophy.

Adeyemi’s Sole Focus: Barcelona

The player’s stance has proven decisive. Adeyemi has communicated internally and externally that Barcelona is the only club he wishes to join this summer, dismissing all other European options. Sources close to the operation indicate that the forward has no interest in renewing his Dortmund contract, which expires on June 30, 2027.

This contractual reality places Borussia Dortmund in a precarious negotiating position. With Adeyemi entering the final year of his deal next season, the German club faces the risk of losing him on a free transfer if they do not cash in now.

The Numbers and the Season Behind Them

Adeyemi’s market value is currently estimated at €40 million, though the final fee is expected to be negotiated below that figure given his contract situation. He arrives off a notable 2025/26 campaign, recording 10 goals and six assists in 39 official appearances for Dortmund.

However, his role diminished under head coach Niko Kovac in the second half of the season, with only sporadic usage that ultimately cost him a place in Germany’s World Cup squad.

A History of Near-Misses

Barcelona’s interest in Adeyemi is not new. The club first explored his signing in 2021 during his breakout at Red Bull Salzburg, but the player opted for Dortmund to continue his development in the Bundesliga. Ironically, Adeyemi admitted that same year that he could envision himself wearing the Blaugrana shirt “in the future”—a possibility now on the verge of becoming reality.

What Adeyemi Would Bring

At 24, the left-footed forward is entering an ideal stage of maturity to take on the challenge of La Liga. His pace, natural dribbling, and capacity to break defensive lines would provide Barcelona with a potent attacking weapon for both domestic and European competitions. Capable of playing on either wing or as a center-forward, he would offer much-needed depth and variety in the final third.

If the deal is completed, Adeyemi would become Barcelona’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim. The operation is being handled with maximum secrecy—mirroring the strategy employed during the Gordon negotiations—and is entirely independent of other potential offensive reinforcements the club may pursue before the window closes.

All eyes now turn to Dortmund’s response as Barcelona await the final decision on their formal proposal.