As Karim Adeyemi's move to Barcelona heads towards its conclusion, Dortmund bosses have reflected on this deal and suggest that it is a job well done.
Should Borussia Dortmund Have Tried Harder To Keep Karim Adeyemi?
Karim Adeyemi looks very likely to have played his final game for Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season, coming off the bench to get an assist away to Werder Bremen on the final day of the league season. This was due to ongoing contract conversations not progressing and eventually reaching a stalemate, and with his current deal up in 2027, it appeared that Adeyemi's departure from the club was highly probable this summer.
So now a transfer has materialised and is seemingly heading towards a conclusion of this chapter for all parties, as Karim Adeyemi is set to join Barcelona in a deal worth around €31 million (£26.4 million), including add-ons and future clauses. But how do the club reflect on this business, and have they got the most out of this deal?
Mark Smith-Imagn ImagesBorussia Dortmund Happy With The Terms Of The Adeyemi Deal
According to SportsBild, Borussia Dortmund are said to be pleased with the end outcome when it comes to the transfer of Karim Adeyemi to Barcelona, especially given the contract length remaining on Adeyemi's deal at the Signal Iduna Park. The goal of this transfer was to try to recoup as much of the €30 million the club spent on Adeyemi four years ago as possible. The club were aware that in these negotiations, Barcelona held the strong position, as not only was Adeyemi's contract up in 2027, but also the player himself had told and requested Dortmund to let him leave to go to Barcelona, and he wouldn't under any circumstances accept a new deal at the club as he only wanted a move to Barcelona. Furthermore, the report goes on to say that the add-ons in this deal, worth around €9 million (£7.7 million), are easily achievable and should, in theory, be a guaranteed payment to Borussia Dortmund.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesA Transfer That Solves Some Key Issues For Dortmund
The sale of Adeyemi also solves some key issues for Borussia Dortmund as well. The club needed a sale of a major player this summer, and there have been fears that that major player would have had to have been Serhou Guirassy, given the interest in him and the need for Dortmund to sell to improve the squad, with the likes of Konstantinos Karetsas a player Dortmund have been linked highly with. But now with the imminent departure of Karim Adeyemi, it will increase the chances of Borussia Dortmund keeping hold of their talismanic striker going into the new season. Additionally, the past controversies surrounding Karim Adeyemi (e.g., the Mystery Box Saga in 2025 that Adeyemi was fined €450,000, among other issues) had become a headache for Dortmund that they didn't need going into the new season.
Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesAuthor's Verdict
In conclusion, I believe this is a good move for all involved. Unfortunately, after four years at Dortmund, Karim Adeyemi failed to deliver on the promise he had shown at RB Salzburg before his move to Germany. The transfer allows Dortmund to recruit someone younger and hungrier to prove themselves at a high level. And for Adeyemi, it allows for a new start in a new league where he will hope to have more success in Spain compared to his time in Germany.
