Dortmund rope in Germany forward Adeyemi from Salzburg

DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund signed Germany forward Karim Adeyemi from Austrian champion Salzburg on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga club said the 20-year-old Adeyemi signed a contract through June 2027 ater completing a medical examination in Dortmund earlier in the day.

“Adeyemi is a highly talented, young German international who through his strong finishing and incredible pace will make a valuable addition to our atacking play,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said.

“Ater the transfers of Niklas Sule and Nico Schloterbeck, we are geting another very exciting player for next season.”

Sebastian Kehl, who will take over from Zorc next season, noted that Adeyemi was a Dortmund fan in his youth and that he decided to sign for the club despite “several offers from Europe’s top leagues.”

Adeyemi leads the Austrian Bundesliga with 19 goals, and he has scored three for Salzburg in the Champions League. He has won the domestic league and cup double three times with Salzburg.

He made his Germany debut in a World Cup qualifier against Armenia and scored his first international goal last September. Adeyemi will help Dortmund make up for the departure of Erling Haaland, who has agreed to a transfer to Manchester City.

Adeyemi was born in Munich and played for Bayern as a child but was thrown out aged nine, reportedly for disciplinary reasons.

He told the Dortmund web site that he has always been a fan of the club, known as the black and yellow.

“As a young boy, I was fascinated by black and yellow fast-paced soccer,” he said.

“That’s why I quickly decided that I would like to join Borussia when I heard about Dortmund’s interest. I also deliberately signed for the long term because I’m convinced that we’ll be an exciting team.”

“Although Karim is already very advanced in terms of soccer and athleticism at just 20 years old, we see enormous development potential,” said Zorc.