Barcelona signs a 24-year-old striker who was previously given an opportunity by coach Hansi Flick on the German national team.

Barcelona completed a five-year deal with multi-functional attacker Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. The Blaugrana will pay as much as €31 million for the German international.

Adeyemi becomes Barcelona's second signing of the summer transfer window, following the acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. The 24-year-old can play on both wings or as a central striker, providing coach Hansi Flick with more attacking options for the new season.

During his time at Dortmund, Adeyemi scored 36 goals and provided 25 assists in 146 appearances. However, he also frequently faced criticism due to inconsistent form. Across four Bundesliga seasons, the German striker never scored more than 7 goals in a single campaign.

With only one year left on his Dortmund contract, Barcelona was able to easily reach an agreement with the Ruhr club. The striker was previously pursued by Manchester United and will now reunite with coach Hansi Flick, who gave him his debut for the German national team.

Adeyemi's arrival also deals a heavy blow to Marcus Rashford's hopes. The English striker had hoped Barcelona would make his loan move permanent after an impressive season. Rashford contributed 14 goals and 14 assists in 26 starts, helping Barcelona win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.

The Catalan club once had an option to buy Rashford for just £26 million in June. However, the club's management ultimately decided to switch to Anthony Gordon. According to Spanish media, Gordon was rated higher due to his defensive contributions, which were seen as Rashford's biggest weakness. Additionally, the English player is also three years older than Gordon.

Rashford is currently attracting interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Real Madrid, but his future remains uncertain. A high salary and his upcoming 29th birthday in October make it harder for the striker to find a new club. After the post-World Cup break, Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United to prepare for the new season, and there is a possibility that coach Michael Carrick could bring him back to the first team.

As for Adeyemi, his past season was not only marked by professional issues but also off-field controversies. The German striker was fined €450,000 for illegal possession of weapons, including metal knuckle dusters and a stun gun. He later publicly apologized, admitting it was "a huge mistake" and stated that he had learned valuable lessons.

At his Barcelona unveiling, Adeyemi did not hide his surprise that the deal became reality. "I really can't believe it because I know what I'm capable of, but last season was not my best time. I'm very grateful for this opportunity. Coach Hansi Flick played a crucial role when he told me: 'I want you, but you have to give everything.' That really impressed me and made me feel extremely honored."

Adeyemi also expressed his gratitude to Dortmund after four years together: "I want to thank the club, my teammates, and the fans for the wonderful memories. I wish Borussia Dortmund great success in the future."

Dortmund's sporting director, Lars Ricken, also extended his best wishes to the 24-year-old striker and his family, closing Adeyemi's four-year journey at Signal Iduna Park and opening a new chapter at Barcelona.