Karim Adeyemi joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in July 2026 on a contract until 2031, bringing pace and direct running to Hansi Flick’s attack. He scored in first-half stoppage time on his first start, against Elche, and added a goal off the bench in the 4–1 Champions League win at Galatasaray.
This guide covers who he is, his German, Nigerian and Romanian background, how he plays, and what he has done so far at Barça. Figures are drawn from official records from Barcelona, UEFA, Borussia Dortmund, and the DFB.
Who is Karim Adeyemi?
Karim David Adeyemi is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Barcelona.
He was born on 18 January 2002 in Munich, Germany. He developed through the youth systems of Bayern Munich and SpVgg Unterhaching before moving to Austria, where he joined Red Bull Salzburg.
Adeyemi later established himself at Borussia Dortmund before Barcelona signed him in July 2026.
He signed a contract with Barça that runs until 2031.
Karim Adeyemi’s family background and Nigerian roots
Adeyemi was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a Romanian mother, and his father’s background also made him eligible to represent Nigeria. He chose Germany, where he was born, and went on to represent the German national team.
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His Nigerian side centres on Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, which is his father’s hometown. He has said he first visited Ibadan at the age of ten.
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The connection has grown into football and charity work. His foundation helps children through education and sport and operates mainly in Ibadan, Nigeria’s second-largest city. It runs a club, Adeyemi FC, registered with the Oyo state FA and the Nigeria Football Federation. The foundation’s stated aims include providing education for 1,000 students and training 5,000 footballers by 2030.
Ten things to know about Karim Adeyemi +2
He makes an annual trip to Nigeria around Christmas. On one visit, he attended a youth football final in Ibadan, commissioned foundation projects in the Oje area, and met the Ooni of Ife, who commended the foundation’s work. guardian
What position does Karim Adeyemi play?
Karim Adeyemi is a forward who can play in several attacking positions.
Barcelona describes him as a versatile attacker who can play across the forward line. He has experience on both wings and as a centre-forward.
This versatility is one reason Adeyemi can be useful to Hansi Flick.
He can provide width from the wing, attack space behind the defence or move centrally when Barcelona need another threat around the penalty area.
Karim Adeyemi’s position at Barcelona
At Barcelona, Adeyemi gives Flick another option in the forward line.
His ability to operate from either wing means he does not have to remain tied to one position throughout a match. His pace also makes him particularly dangerous when Barcelona win the ball and attack quickly.
What is Karim Adeyemi’s strong foot?
Karim Adeyemi’s strong foot is his left foot.
Barcelona specifically highlighted his powerful left-footed shooting when announcing his arrival from Dortmund.
That left foot is an important part of his attacking game. Combined with his acceleration, it allows him to cut inside from wide positions and attack the goal.
How fast is Karim Adeyemi?
Adeyemi has credited his speed partly to eating Nigerian food and to genes from his father. thecable
Barcelona has highlighted that he is capable of reaching speeds of more than 36 km/h.
The figures can differ depending on the competition and tracking system, but there is no doubt that Adeyemi ranks among the quickest attackers in the Barcelona squad.
What is Karim Adeyemi’s national team?
Karim Adeyemi represents Germany at senior international level.
He previously played for several German youth teams and won the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Germany.
He made his senior Germany debut on 5 September 2021 under Hansi Flick in a World Cup qualifying match against Armenia.
Adeyemi scored on his debut as Germany won 6-0.
The connection with Flick is therefore not new. Flick was already the Germany coach when Adeyemi received his senior debut.
Karim Adeyemi’s career: from Salzburg and Dortmund to Barcelona
Adeyemi began in Germany’s youth systems before moving to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2018. He broke into the first team and became one of the most exciting young forwards in Austrian football. According to Barcelona, he won three Austrian league titles and three Austrian Cups there, and finished as the Austrian Bundesliga’s top scorer in 2021/22 with 19 goals.
In 2022 he returned to Germany to join Borussia Dortmund, where he spent four seasons and became an important part of the attack. He played in the Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB-Pokal and FIFA Club World Cup, and was part of the Dortmund team that reached the 2024 Champions League final. Dortmund’s records list 146 appearances, including 98 in the Bundesliga and 37 in the Champions League. Barcelona’s player profile credits him with 36 goals and 25 assists in that spell.
In July 2026, Barcelona and Dortmund agreed a transfer, and Adeyemi signed a contract with Barça until 2031.
Why Barcelona signed him
Barcelona signed Adeyemi because he gives the team a different attacking profile. His main strengths are his pace, his ability to attack space, his versatility, and his left-footed finishing, and the club’s announcement described him as able to play on either wing or as a centre-forward.
Hansi Flick also knows him from Flick’s time as Germany coach, which could help explain why the manager wanted him in Catalonia.
Adeyemi’s first goals for Barcelona
Elche, 23 August 2026. Adeyemi scored on his first start for Barça, finishing in first-half stoppage time to make it 2–0 at the break. He played 65 minutes and scored with his only shot.
Galatasaray, 13 October 2026. In the Champions League, he replaced Anthony Gordon in the 59th minute and scored six minutes later, completing a 4–1 win in Istanbul after a move involving Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus.
Who substitutes for Karim Adeyemi at Barcelona?
There is no single fixed substitute for Karim Adeyemi.
Barcelona’s current attacking options include Anthony Gordon, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, with players being rotated depending on injuries, form, tactics and the match situation.
For the Galatasaray match, however, Raphinha is unavailable, so Flick’s options are more limited. Barcelona’s official squad list includes Adeyemi, Gordon, Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal.
It would therefore be inaccurate to say that one specific player always replaces Adeyemi.
Instead, Barcelona can rotate the attacking positions between several players.
Karim Adeyemi’s key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Karim David Adeyemi |
| Date of birth | 18 January 2002 |
| Age | 24 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Munich, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Father | Nigerian |
| Mother | Romanian |
| Position | Forward |
| Strong foot | Left |
| Current club | FC Barcelona |
| Shirt number | 14 |
| Previous club | Borussia Dortmund |
| Former club | Red Bull Salzburg |
| National team | Germany |
| Barcelona contract | Until 2031 |
| Height | 1.80 m |
| Champions League experience before Barça | 37 appearances for Dortmund |
The player information above is based primarily on FC Barcelona, UEFA, the DFB and Borussia Dortmund records.
Karim Adeyemi Scores on His Barcelona Debut
Karim Adeyemi made an immediate impact at Barcelona by scoring on his first official start for the club. The German winger found the net in the 45th minute of first-half stoppage time against Elche on August 23, 2026, helping Barça take a 2-0 lead before the break.
The goal came from a well-worked attacking move involving Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, with Adeyemi calmly finishing from around the penalty spot. He played 65 minutes and scored with his only shot of the game, marking an impressive start to his Barcelona career.
