FC Barcelona’s pursuit of attacking reinforcements has produced its first concrete friction, with Borussia Dortmund rejecting the Catalan club’s opening proposal for Karim Adeyemi. The German winger had already agreed personal terms with the Blaugranes – an arrangement facilitated in part by his existing familiarity with Hansi Flick from their time together in the German national setup – but the two clubs remain apart on the fee required to complete the transfer.
Marca has reported that Barcelona submitted an opening offer of €20 million fixed plus variables in the past 24 hours, and that Dortmund rejected it on Thursday. The German club’s position is straightforward: having paid €33 million for Adeyemi several years ago, they are not prepared to accept a loss on the player and want at least that original outlay returned.
The critical lever in Barcelona’s favour is Adeyemi’s contract situation. The player’s deal at Dortmund expires within a year – placing the expiry around the summer of 2027 – which means that if Dortmund hold firm and no agreement is reached this window, they risk losing him on a free transfer next summer with nothing in return. The Catalans are fully aware of this dynamic and are leaning on it as the primary basis for their valuation. From their perspective, a below-purchase-price offer now is a stronger outcome for Dortmund than zero revenue in twelve months.
Despite the rejection, negotiations have not broken down. Marca reports that both clubs intend to continue discussions over the coming days, and that there is genuine optimism within the Barcelona hierarchy that a deal can be structured. Flick is understood to want Adeyemi available for the start of first-team training, which is scheduled for Monday – a timeline that now looks difficult to meet given where talks currently stand.
The role Adeyemi would fill is worth noting. He would not arrive as a starter: Lamine Yamal occupies the right flank and there is no serious suggestion of dislodging him, while Roony Bardghji currently serves as the primary backup in that area. Marca notes that Bardghji has made his desire for more playing time known and has not ruled out leaving, which would open a vacancy Adeyemi could credibly fill. If Bardghji stays, Adeyemi would be competing for a rotation role rather than a guaranteed starting position – a dynamic that presumably formed part of the conversation when he agreed personal terms.
The Blaugranes are simultaneously pursuing other attacking additions, with Julián Álvarez also on the club’s radar, as Barcelona look to bolster Flick’s attacking unit this summer. Adeyemi is one piece of a larger puzzle rather than a standalone priority.
Barcelona’s next move will be to return with an improved offer, though the club will be reluctant to stretch far beyond their initial structure given the contract expiry leverage they hold. How quickly Dortmund’s resolve softens – and whether Adeyemi’s camp applies any additional pressure – will determine whether this deal closes in days or drags into late July.