​Late last week it became evident that FC Barcelona’s interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi was genuine, and that head coach Hansi Flick was actively driving the pursuit. Now, it appears the deal is approaching completion, according to the latest update from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg. Dortmund is unlikely to receive the €40 million figure that had been circulating, but the proposed price is considered fair given Adeyemi’s desire to leave and Dortmund’s risk of losing him for free. The structure of the deal—with a sell-on arrangement—also seems favorable to Dortmund.
As expected, Adeyemi was not present at Dortmund’s recent performance tests, as his transfer to Barcelona is expected to be finalized in the coming days. The reported terms include a €22 million fixed fee, plus €9 million in add-ons, and a 35% sell-on clause, along with a net €6 million per season on a five-year contract. Adeyemi’s situation is intriguing: he appears to have considerable untapped potential, yet is often viewed as having underachieved. His recent omission from the German national team suggests there is work to be done on his game, but if anyone can help unlock Adeyemi’s full potential, Flick would seem well placed to do so.