Karim Adeyemi scored his first goal for Barcelona in a 5-2 pre-season friendly win over FC Basel on Sunday, after Manchester United had opted against signing the 24-year-old in the summer transfer window.
Adeyemi's rise and Barcelona move
The German international began his professional career at Red Bull Salzburg in 2018, where he scored 33 goals and provided 24 assists in 94 appearances before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2022. At Dortmund, he added 36 goals and 25 assists in 125 appearances, attracting interest from several European clubs.
In January, Adeyemi was valued at around £70 million, but Barcelona secured his signature for £26.5 million last month after a successful waiting game. Manchester United, meanwhile, focused on strengthening their midfield following Casemiro's departure, bringing in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea instead of reigniting their interest in Adeyemi.
Impressions against Basel
In the match against Basel, Adeyemi managed his first goal and an assist for Barcelona. Media outlets praised his performance, with SPORT labelling him the 'star' of the fixture and Marca claiming he had 'particularly stood out.' Social media users also complimented the forward, with one writing on X: "How on earth did we convince Dortmund to let Adeyemi come for just €22M???"
Another user commented: "He arrived quietly but could spring a surprise. Karim Adeyemi," while a third said: "Adeyemi is far from an average player. A player who single-handedly took a team like Dortmund to a UCL final is consider elite for me."
As Adeyemi continues to impress in Catalunya, Manchester United may rue missing the opportunity to sign a player who is now set to feature in La Liga and the Champions League this season.
