Barcelona Pursues Karim Adeyemi to Reshape Attack
Barcelona’s summer rebuild has a new name at the top of the whiteboard: Karim Adeyemi.
The Spanish champions have lodged an offer with Borussia Dortmund for the 24-year-old forward, a source told ESPN, as they accelerate plans to reshape Hansi Flick’s attack for next season. The move is bold, but also calculated. Adeyemi is under contract until 2027, yet Barça believe there is an opportunity to prise him away for a reduced fee in this window.
They have already done the groundwork with the player. A loose agreement over personal terms is in place, according to the same source, but this is no done deal. Talks with Dortmund are ongoing, the proposal is still being worked through, and the message from inside the negotiations is clear: “not imminent” and “nothing has been signed.”
This is not the hunt for a No. 9. That is a separate operation entirely.
Adeyemi part of wider attacking reset
Flick arrived with a clear instruction for the club’s hierarchy: refresh the front line. Two LaLiga titles in a row have not dulled his appetite for change, and Barcelona’s attack already looks very different from the one that started last season.
Robert Lewandowski has gone, leaving on a free to join Chicago Fire. Marcus Rashford’s loan spell ended with his return to Manchester United. Ferran Torres is now into the final year of his contract, a situation that inevitably invites speculation. Roony Bardghji could also be on the move.
The exits have created both gaps and possibilities. Barcelona have already struck one major deal to fill them, landing England forward Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United in a €70 million move. Gordon adds thrust, goals, and a direct edge from wide, but the club’s recruitment drive is not stopping there.
President Joan Laporta has publicly confirmed a bid for Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, who has himself made it clear he wants to leave. Álvarez remains the priority to lead the line as a central striker. Around him, though, Flick wants variety, pace, and depth in the wide areas. That is where Adeyemi comes in.
A different profile for Flick’s front three
Adeyemi offers something slightly different to what Barça already have. Comfortable across the front line, he can stretch defences with his speed, dart into central spaces, or stay wide and attack full-backs. His profile contrasts with the left-footed craft of Lamine Yamal, the more orthodox wing play of Raphinha, and the power-running of Gordon.
For a coach like Flick, who thrives on vertical football and quick transitions, that blend matters. Adeyemi’s movement and willingness to attack space could complement the more technical creators around him, rather than replicate them.
Barcelona’s interest is not a sudden whim. Adeyemi’s trajectory has been closely tracked since his breakout at Red Bull Salzburg, where he built his reputation as one of Europe’s most explosive young forwards. His move to Dortmund in 2022 was the natural next step, a platform to test himself at Champions League level and in the Bundesliga spotlight.
Since then, he has put together 146 appearances for the German club, scoring 36 goals. Last season he hit 10 in 39 games across all competitions, numbers that hint at room for growth but also underline his consistency in a demanding environment.
Dortmund hold the cards – for now
Dortmund, of course, know his value. With three years left on his deal, they are under no pressure to sell, which is why Barcelona are hoping to exploit timing and market dynamics to secure a cut-price agreement rather than pay a premium.
The Catalan club are walking a familiar tightrope: ambitious in the market, yet constantly aware of financial constraints. That makes Adeyemi’s situation particularly intriguing. A player entering his prime, proven in Europe, versatile enough to plug several gaps in Flick’s system – but only if the numbers work.
For now, the two clubs remain locked in negotiation, each aware that the summer is long and other deals are in motion. Barcelona still have Álvarez in their sights. They still need clarity on outgoing players. They still have to balance books and ambitions.
But the shape of Flick’s new front line is slowly emerging. Gordon is already in the door. Álvarez is the chosen No. 9. And somewhere between Dortmund and Barcelona, the future of Karim Adeyemi is being decided – a decision that could define the edge, speed, and unpredictability of Barça’s attack for years to come.
