Borussia Dortmund have firmly rejected a €20million offer from Barcelona for their versatile forward, Karim Adeyemi. The bid, equating to approximately $22.8million, was deemed considerably below Dortmund’s valuation of the 24-year-old German international.
Adeyemi, who has just one year remaining on his current contract with the Bundesliga club, has established himself as a key attacker, scoring 36 goals across his four seasons at Dortmund.
Barcelona’s Rebuilding of the Attack
The attempt to sign Adeyemi signals Barcelona’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their frontline ahead of the upcoming season. The La Liga champions have already been active in the transfer market this summer, making a notable acquisition for their attack.
Anthony Gordon has joined Barcelona in a significant €80million deal from Newcastle. This transfer, equivalent to £68.2million or $91.4million, represents a substantial investment in the Catalan club’s offensive capabilities.
Despite Gordon’s arrival, there remains clear space for Barcelona to further bolster their attacking options. This need has been accentuated by several recent high-profile departures and contract decisions at the Nou Camp.
Ansu Fati, for instance, has completed a permanent move away from the club, joining Monaco. His departure opens up one of the attacking berths.
Further reshaping the squad, veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has also exited, signing with Chicago Fire. This move creates another vacancy within Barcelona’s forward line.
Additionally, Barcelona opted against activating their €30million buy option for Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United forward had spent time at the club on a loan agreement.
These collective changes mean the Spanish champions are actively seeking new talent to reinforce their offensive unit, with Adeyemi evidently a target.
Adeyemi’s Dortmund Record and Premier League Aspiration
Karim Adeyemi has been a consistent fixture for Borussia Dortmund since his transfer from Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in July 2022. Over his 146 appearances for the German side, the forward has amassed a total of 36 goals and provided 25 assists.
During the most recent campaign, Adeyemi demonstrated his effectiveness by scoring 10 goals and registering six assists for Dortmund. These contributions came across 39 appearances in all competitions.
In the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, Adeyemi was a regular feature, starting in 15 of Dortmund’s 34 league matches. He also made an additional 13 appearances from the substitutes’ bench.
Dortmund ultimately finished second in the Bundesliga that season, trailing champions Bayern Munich by a margin of 16 points.
Adeyemi is highly valued for his versatility in attack. He is capable of operating in various roles, including playing behind the main striker, on either wing, or as a central forward. Last season, he was predominantly deployed down the middle for Dortmund, showcasing his ability in a central role.
The 24-year-old faced a disappointment on the international stage this summer, being omitted from Germany’s 26-man squad for the World Cup. This exclusion followed his involvement in their qualification campaign, but was attributed to struggles with both injury and form towards the close of the season.
He also played a significant part in Dortmund’s memorable run to the Champions League final in the 2023-24 season. Adeyemi started in eight of their 12 matches during that European campaign, including the final encounter itself.
Dortmund’s Champions League journey concluded with a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the final.
Reports from The Athletic last month indicated that Adeyemi is understood to be open to the prospect of departing Dortmund this summer. Furthermore, the Premier League has been identified as his preferred destination.
Among the English clubs, Aston Villa have held a long-term interest in the German attacker. This sustained interest positions the Premier League as a potential future home for Adeyemi.
With Karim Adeyemi entering the final year of his contract at Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona actively seeking to reinforce their attack, the situation surrounding the versatile forward is likely to attract continued attention in the transfer window.