Borussia Dortmund Targets South American Talent Giovanni Baroni

Borussia Dortmund’s youth revolution is gathering pace, and the next target may already be lined up in South America.

The club, fresh from tying down teenage talents Justin Lerma and Kauã Prates, have now been linked with Argentine prospect Giovanni Baroni, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, already on the radar of Chelsea and Fiorentina, is the latest name to surface as Dortmund lean hard into a long-term recruitment strategy built around emerging stars.

Baroni, who holds an Italian passport, reportedly has a €25 million release clause. Di Marzio reports that the figure could drop to around €15 million plus bonuses — a price range that suddenly drags him firmly into the sights of clubs who specialise in polishing raw talent into elite performers. That profile fits Dortmund perfectly.

This is not a one-off flirtation with the South American market. It is a pattern.

Lerma, signed from Independiente for around €4 million, and Prates, brought in from Cruzeiro for roughly €7 million, were both secured earlier but only allowed to join once they turned 18. Their arrivals underline a clear shift: identify high-ceiling teenagers early, pay relatively modest fees, and trust the club’s development structure to do the rest.

The strategy stretches beyond South America. The appointment of Ole Book as sporting director has already been followed by a significant outlay on Joane Gadou from RB Salzburg, with the defender joining for €19.5 million. It is a substantial investment for a player still in the early stages of his career, and another sign that Dortmund are happy to bet big on upside rather than short-term stopgaps.

Evidence of that philosophy has already been visible on the pitch. Samuele Inácio and Luca Reggiani both played prominent roles in the latter stages of the season, forcing their way into the conversation not as future prospects, but as real options in the here and now. Their emergence offers a glimpse of what Dortmund’s next core could look like.

Now the question is whether Baroni becomes part of that picture.

With competition from Chelsea and Fiorentina, Dortmund will not have a free run at the teenager. But if the release clause really can be negotiated down to €15 million plus bonuses, the race for his signature will test just how committed the club are to doubling down on this aggressive youth-first rebuild — and how confident they are that the next wave of talent can carry them where they want to go.