FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly confirmed the signing of Karim Adeyemi and ruled out any departure for Raphinha, delivering two significant squad updates in a single statement reported on Sunday evening. Mundo Deportivo published the remarks, with Gerard Romero of Jijantes FC flagging the confirmation via social media. The dual announcement draws a clear line on two questions that had circulated through the summer window.
On the Adeyemi operation, Laporta credited Deco for the work behind a pursuit that, according to earlier reporting on the negotiations, had been building for some time. Spanish media have reported a structure involving a fixed fee plus performance-related variables, though the precise figures have not been officially announced by the club.
Adeyemi, 24 years old, arrives from Borussia Dortmund – per supplementary reports – as a direct, pace-driven wide attacker, a profile that fits cleanly into the transition-oriented demands of the current Barcelona system. Dortmund reportedly acquired him from Red Bull Salzburg in May 2022 on a deal reportedly running to 2027, meaning Barcelona are bringing him in ahead of what would reportedly have been the final year of that contract.
On Raphinha, Laporta was equally direct, dismissing any notion of a sale and describing him as a cornerstone player, according to Mundo Deportivo. That framing is consistent with the club’s position across previous windows, during which approaches for Raphinha were reportedly rejected and he was kept despite interest from elsewhere, per previous reporting. Laporta’s statement now carries presidential weight behind that stance.
The ability to execute an outright signing rather than rely on loan arrangements or heavily deferred structures reflects the club’s ongoing financial recovery under Laporta, which, according to reports, has gradually restored room for transfer activity. The next formal step is contract registration, after which Adeyemi will join the squad for preseason and his role relative to the existing wide forwards will take shape on the pitch.
