​Barcelona have intensified their chase of Borussia Dortmund and Germany forward Karim Adeyemi in the last 24 hours. The Catalan club has already secured a contract agreement with the player, a smooth step given Adeyemi’s clear desire to join Barcelona and his prior working relationship with coach Hansi Flick. With the player’s consent in place, Barcelona moved ahead to open talks with Dortmund. The opening proposal on the table was 20 million euros in fixed fees, complemented by performance-based add-ons. Dortmund, however, rejected the initial bid, according to MARCA, and are seeking a higher fee. They paid around 33 million euros to sign Adeyemi a few years ago and are aiming to recoup at least that investment.
The rejection comes as Adeyemi’s contract with Dortmund stands to expire in one year, which heightens the risk of losing him on a free transfer if no agreement is reached in the near term. Despite the setback, negotiations remain active, with both clubs expected to continue discussions in the coming days to find a compromise. Barcelona remain hopeful, interpreting Dortmund’s position as a sign of pressure to sell. If Dortmund keep Adeyemi and fail to secure a contract extension, the 22-year-old attacker could depart on a free transfer next summer, a scenario Barcelona views as a potential leverage point in their favor. The Spanish giants also point to having already secured a contract with Adeyemi as a significant negotiating advantage.
Despite Flick’s interest in signing Adeyemi, Barcelona is not prepared to exceed the financial parameters they have set for the deal. Club officials believe that failing to complete the transfer would not be a major setback and are determined not to overpay. Adeyemi is not guaranteed a first-choice spot at Barcelona, with Lamine Yamal currently occupying his preferred left-wing position. The Blaugrana also have Roony Bardghji as a backup option; the Swedish forward has indicated a desire for more playing time and has not ruled out seeking a move elsewhere, though he remains under contract with Barcelona for now.
Barcelona are expected to press forward in the coming hours, as Flick would ideally like Adeyemi available for the start of the first team’s pre-season training. That goal, however, seems ambitious given that preseason begins next Monday, leaving only a short window to finalise an agreement with Dortmund. The ongoing talks underscore Barcelona’s strategic aim to secure Adeyemi ahead of pre-season while managing the financial boundaries they have established for the deal, and they are positioning themselves to capitalize on the possibility that Dortmund, facing a one-year contract window and growing pressure to cash in, might accept a more favorable offer or risk losing him for nothing next year. The situation remains fluid as both clubs weigh their options and seek a resolution before the early stages of the new campaign.