FC Barcelona: Why was Hansi Flick so determined to sign Karim Adeyemi?

After Anthony Gordon, FC Barcelona continues to overhaul its attack with the arrival of Karim Adeyemi, signed until June 2031.

FC Barcelona has secured its second attacking signing of the summer. The Spanish champions have officially announced the arrival of Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old German international has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, tying him to the club until June 2031.

"FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement for the transfer of striker Karim Adeyemi, who signs a contract until 2031," announced the Catalan club. According to the German press, the deal includes a fixed fee of 22 million euros, with up to an additional seven million euros in bonuses.

A perfectly exploited market opportunity

With just a year left on his contract, Adeyemi represented an opportunity too good to pass up. After making his breakthrough at RB Salzburg before joining Dortmund in 2022, the striker leaves the German club with 146 appearances and 36 goals across all competitions. Last season, he registered ten goals and six assists in 39 outings.

Impressive stats, but not enough to convince Julian Nagelsmann to take him to the 2026 World Cup. However, missing out on the tournament does nothing to diminish his main assets: blistering pace, explosive dribbling, and the versatility to play on either flank or through the middle.

An ideal profile for Hansi Flick

Above all, this move allows Adeyemi to reunite with Hansi Flick, the coach who gave him his Germany debut in 2021. In a system built on pressing, rapid transitions, and runs into space, his skillset looks like a perfect fit.

Read also: 2026 World Cup: the top 10 players whose market value has increased the most

After splashing 80 million euros on Anthony Gordon, Barça adds another threat to its attack. The departures of Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, and Marcus Rashford had freed up several spots in the forward line. With Gordon and Adeyemi, the Blaugrana gain both speed and unpredictability—two qualities they sorely lacked during their quarter-final exit from the Champions League against Atlético Madrid.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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