Barcelona Pursues Karim Adeyemi as Hansi Flick Reshapes Attack

Barcelona’s summer rebuild under Hansi Flick has taken another sharp turn, with the Spanish champions submitting an offer for Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi as they reshape an attack that has already lost Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford.

A source has told ESPN that Barça have now formalised their interest in the 24-year-old, who is under contract at Dortmund until 2027, and are pushing to land him for a reduced fee in this window. The Catalan club have reached a loose agreement with Adeyemi on personal terms, but talks with Dortmund remain delicate. The same source stresses the deal is “not imminent” and “nothing has been signed.”

This is not the hunt for a new No. 9. That search continues elsewhere. Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez remains the primary target to lead the line, with president Joan Laporta already confirming a bid and Álvarez making clear he wants out of the capital. Adeyemi belongs to a different part of Flick’s blueprint: the wide, fast, interchangeable front line he has demanded since arriving.

Shake-up in attack

The scale of the change at the Camp Nou is already stark. Lewandowski, the reference point of Barça’s last two title-winning sides, has left for Chicago Fire on a free transfer. Rashford’s loan from Manchester United has ended and he has returned to Old Trafford. Ferran Torres is running into the final year of his contract. Roony Bardghji, another attacking option, could also move on.

Barça have not stood still. They have already landed England international Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United in a €70 million deal, a statement signing designed to inject pace and directness on the flank. Yet inside the club there is a clear sense that the wide areas still lack depth and variety, especially with a long, demanding season ahead.

That is where Adeyemi comes in.

A different profile out wide

Adeyemi offers something Flick values: flexibility and raw speed. Comfortable across the front line, the Germany international can stretch defences from either wing or attack the space behind a central defender. His profile contrasts with the left-footed craft of Lamine Yamal, the more traditional wing play of Raphinha and the powerful running of Gordon.

Barça see him as another piece in a front-three puzzle that can constantly rotate and press high, rather than a fixed, penalty-box striker. The plan is clear: Álvarez to finish moves through the middle, a carousel of wide forwards around him to create chaos.

Adeyemi’s path to this point has been sharp and steep. He burst onto the European scene at Red Bull Salzburg, earning his move to Dortmund in 2022. Since then, he has made 146 appearances for the Bundesliga club, scoring 36 goals. Last season he found the net 10 times in 39 outings across all competitions, numbers that hint at room for growth but also underline his threat when given space to attack.

Negotiations with Dortmund

Dortmund hold the contractual leverage, with Adeyemi tied down until 2027, yet Barça believe the circumstances could open the door to a deal at a reduced price. Their financial reality demands opportunism rather than auctions, and Adeyemi’s situation is being viewed as exactly that: a chance to secure a high-ceiling forward before his value spikes again.

For now, though, the move sits in that uneasy middle ground. An offer has gone in, the player is on board with the idea of Barcelona, but Dortmund have not agreed to anything and the two clubs remain apart. With the source insisting there is no imminent breakthrough, this is a pursuit that may drag, especially with other business running in parallel.

Flick’s request after back-to-back LaLiga titles was clear: refresh the attack, add legs, add options. Gordon has arrived. Álvarez is being chased. Adeyemi is now firmly in the frame.

If Barcelona get all three, the front line that delivered consecutive domestic titles will barely resemble the one that starts next season. The question now is whether Dortmund are ready to help complete that transformation.