Borussia Dortmund confirm signing of Karim Adeyemi from RB Salzburg

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • Updated: 10 May 2022 17:11 BST
  • 3 min read
Karim Adeyemi celebrates scoring in the Champions League against Wolfsburg
© ProShots

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the signing of RB Salzburg forward Karim Adeyemi to replace the outgoing Erling Haaland.

Haaland has agreed a deal to join Manchester City after Pep Guardiola's side activated his €60 million release clause, and the Norwegian will become a Man City player on 1 July.

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However, Dortmund have acted quickly by announcing the imminent arrival of Germany international Adeyemi as Haaland's replacement. The incoming forward's deal with expire in 2027.

Adeyemi, who has been at Salzburg since 2018, has been linked with a move to Dortmund for several months and after a deal was agreed earlier this week, it has now been officially announced.

In a club statement, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc revealed why signing Adeyemi is so important. "Karim Adeyemi is a highly talented, young German international whose strength in the end of our offensive game will be just as good as his extreme pace."

Zorc will be replaced by Sebastian Kehl ahead of next season, and Kehl also spoke of what Adeyemi will bring to the club. "After the transfers of Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck, we are getting another very exciting player in Karim Adeyemi for the coming season.

"By the way, one who has a high BVB affinity, whose heart beat for Black and Yellow as a teenager and who has decided against many offers from the European top leagues in order to be able to play for Borussia Dortmund.

"His speed and goal threat are impressive, and although Karim is already very advanced in football and athletics at just 20 years of age, we see enormous development potential in him."

Karim Adeyemi has been signed in Erling Haaland's place
© ProShots - Karim Adeyemi has been signed in Erling Haaland's place

Haaland's replacement?

Adeyemi will join Dortmund from Salzburg, treading the same path in which Haaland embarked on when he left Austria in 2020.

The Germany international is the Austrian Bundesliga's top scorer with 19 strikes this season and he's tallied up 31 goal contributions for his club this campaign.

He's also become a fully-fledged senior international and netted on his senior Germany debut.

Adeyemi is comfortable playing through the middle or off either wing, although he tends to cut inside from the right onto his stronger left-foot, making him the ideal signing for Dortmund's fluid attack.

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