Karim Adeyemi's Potential Exit and Borussia Dortmund's Rebuild
Karim Adeyemi was once pencilled in as a pillar of Borussia Dortmund’s future. Now he looks more like the most saleable piece in a squad quietly preparing for surgery.
Inside the club, the tone around the 22-year-old has changed. A contract extension was put on the table, but the enthusiasm behind it has cooled. Recent internal talks have pushed a different view to the fore: from a purely sporting standpoint, Adeyemi is considered replaceable.
The player seems to agree – at least with the part about moving on. He has shown little appetite to sign fresh terms and is targeting a switch to the Premier League. With his current contract situation, a fee in the region of €50 million is being discussed.
That kind of money matters. BVB are understood to need significant funds for what they regard as “real” reinforcements, not just depth options. According to Sport Bild, the plan is to bring in two players who can walk straight into Niko Kovac’s first team and lift the level from day one. On top of that, one or two further additions are expected to bolster the bench and protect the squad against another long, draining season.
The first steps of the rebuild are already on the books. Kaua Prates, a 17-year-old left-back, and Justin Lerma, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, have signed and will initially be viewed as long-term projects rather than instant starters. Talented, yes. Solutions for next weekend, no.
That leaves new sporting director Nils-Ole Book with plenty of work still to do. The most glaring holes sit in the spine of the team: defensive midfield and the back line both need attention. A proper shield in front of the defence, more stability at the back – those are non-negotiables if Dortmund want to close gaps rather than just trade blows.
And then comes the Adeyemi question. If he does go, at least one more attacking player will be required. Not a token replacement, but someone who can carry the load in the final third and give Kovac the variety he needs across a long campaign.
One big sale, several key signings, and a new sporting director steering the process – BVB are standing at a crossroads. Whether Adeyemi’s departure becomes the catalyst for a sharper, stronger squad will define how this rebuild is judged in a year’s time.
