Karim Adeyemi has quickly become one of the most interesting new faces at FC Barcelona.
The German forward joined Barça from Borussia Dortmund in July 2026 after several seasons in Germany and Austria. His speed, direct running and ability to play across the front line have given Hansi Flick another attacking option.
Adeyemi’s arrival has also sparked plenty of questions from football fans.
Who are Karim Adeyemi’s parents? What is his ethnicity? How old is he? What position does he play? What is his strong foot? Does he have a girlfriend? How much is he worth? And when will he make his first Champions League appearance for Barcelona?
Here is everything you need to know about Karim Adeyemi, based on information that can be verified.
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.
How old is Karim Adeyemi?
Karim Adeyemi is 24 years old as of October 2026.
He was born on 18 January 2002, meaning he belongs to the same 2002 generation as Barcelona teammates such as Pedri and Gerard Martín.
Where was Karim Adeyemi born?
Karim Adeyemi was born in Munich, Germany.
Although he was born and raised in Germany, his family background is multicultural which is an important part of Adeyemi’s story because it gave him connections to three different countries.
Who are Karim Adeyemi’s parents?
Karim Adeyemi’s father is Nigerian from the Yoruba tribe while his mother is Romanian.
FC Barcelona confirmed both details when the club announced his signing in July 2026.
Adeyemi has spoken positively about his Nigerian roots and has maintained a strong connection with the country.
He has also supported projects involving children and football in Nigeria. Barcelona says his foundation works mainly in Ibadan, where it helps children through education and sport.
Who is Karim Adeyemi’s mother?
Karim Adeyemi’s mother is Alexendra Adeyemi and she’s a Romanian and the father Abbey Abiodun Adeyemi is from Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
Publicly available information from FC Barcelona confirms her nationality, although the club does not provide extensive personal details about her.
What is Karim Adeyemi’s ethnicity?
Karim Adeyemi has a multicultural family background.
His father is Nigerian, his mother is Romanian, and he was born in Germany. Barcelona itself describes him as having a richly multicultural background.
So, when people search for Karim Adeyemi’s ethnicity, the simplest accurate description is that he has Nigerian and Romanian heritage and is German by birth and nationality.
Adeyemi also had the option of representing Nigeria internationally because of his father’s background. However, he chose Germany and went on to represent the German national team.
Is Karim Adeyemi Nigerian?
Karim Adeyemi is German, but he has Nigerian heritage through his father Abbey Abiodun Adeyemi.
He was born in Germany and represents Germany internationally.
Adeyemi has also spoken about his connection to Nigeria and has been involved in projects supporting young people there.
What religion is Karim Adeyemi?
There is no sufficiently reliable current primary source confirming Karim Adeyemi’s religion. The name Karim is a Muslim name while Adeyemi is Yoruba name which translates as “The crown or roaylty befits me.”
Various websites and social media posts make claims about his religious beliefs, but those claims should not be presented as fact without a direct statement from Adeyemi.
For that reason, it is safer to say that Adeyemi’s religion has not been publicly confirmed.
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?
Speed is one of Karim Adeyemi’s biggest weapons.
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.
Why did Barcelona sign Karim Adeyemi?
Barcelona signed Adeyemi because he gives the team a different attacking profile.
His greatest strengths are his pace, ability to attack space, versatility and left-footed finishing. Barcelona’s official announcement described him as capable of playing on either wing or as a centre-forward.
Flick also knows Adeyemi from his time as Germany coach.
That familiarity could help explain why the Barcelona manager was interested in bringing the forward to Catalonia.
Before joining Barça, Adeyemi spent four seasons at Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund’s official figures show that he made 146 appearances for the club, while Barcelona’s player profile credits him with 36 goals and 25 assists during his Dortmund spell.
Karim Adeyemi’s career before Barcelona
Adeyemi began his youth career in Germany before moving to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2018.
He eventually broke into Salzburg’s first team and became one of the most exciting young forwards in Austrian football.
Barcelona notes that he won three Austrian league titles and three Austrian Cups with Salzburg. He also finished as the Austrian Bundesliga’s top scorer in the 2021/22 season with 19 goals.
In 2022, Adeyemi returned to Germany and joined Borussia Dortmund.
He spent four seasons at Dortmund before making his move to Barcelona in 2026.
Karim Adeyemi and Borussia Dortmund
Adeyemi joined Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and quickly became an important part of the club’s attack.
During his Dortmund career, he played in the Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB-Pokal and FIFA Club World Cup.
Dortmund’s official records list 98 Bundesliga appearances and 37 Champions League appearances for the club, while his overall Dortmund spell reached 146 appearances.
He was also part of the Dortmund team that reached the 2024 Champions League final.
When did Karim Adeyemi join Barcelona?
Karim Adeyemi joined Barcelona in July 2026.
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund reached an agreement for his transfer, and Adeyemi signed a contract with Barça until 2031.
He became one of Barcelona’s new attacking options under Hansi Flick.
Has Karim Adeyemi played in the Champions League for Barcelona?
Yes, Adeyemi has extensive Champions League experience from his previous club career, but the Galatasaray match is scheduled to be his first Champions League match for Barcelona.
Before joining Barça, he had already played 37 Champions League matches for Borussia Dortmund, according to Dortmund’s official records.
He also scored his first Champions League goal for Red Bull Salzburg against Lokomotiv Moscow in December 2019. Barcelona’s official player profile records that milestone.
Is Galatasaray vs Barcelona Karim Adeyemi’s first Champions League game for Barça?
Galatasaray vs Barcelona will be Karim Adeyemi’s first Champions League appearance for Barcelona.
Barcelona have named Adeyemi in the 22-man squad travelling to Istanbul for the Champions League match against Galatasaray on 13 October 2026.
Raphinha is not travelling because he remains out with an injury, while Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are also unavailable.
That increases the importance of Barcelona’s other attacking options, including Adeyemi.
Will Karim Adeyemi start vs Galatasaray? Flick still has to decide whether to start him or use him from the bench.
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.
Who can replace Raphinha against Galatasaray?
With Raphinha unavailable, Adeyemi is one of the players who can compete for an attacking role.
Anthony Gordon and Gabriel Jesus are also available, while Lamine Yamal remains another major attacking option. Barcelona’s 22-man squad for Istanbul includes all four players.
The final decision belongs to Flick.
That makes Adeyemi one of the players Barcelona fans will be watching closely when the starting XI is announced.
Does Karim Adeyemi have a girlfriend?
Karim Adeyemi is married to Loredana Zefi, a Swiss-Albanian rapper and social media personality. Loredana has a daughter, Hana, from her previous relationship with Albanian rapper Mozzik. Although Adeyemi is Hana’s stepfather, he is not her biological father.
What is Karim Adeyemi’s net worth?
Karim Adeyemi signed 5 years contract at FC Barcelona until 2031. His base salary is €11.7 million per-year (€225,000/week). He can also earn €1.3 million/year in bonuses. His total contract is worth €65.0 million over 5 years. Salary details are confirmed by Patrick Berger (X). Previously, €5.6 million at Borussia Dortmund – Salary Leaks
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.
