Thiago Motta, the newly appointed Juventus manager, is keen on adding pace and versatility to his attacking options, and Karim Adeyemi, the 22-year-old German forward from Borussia Dortmund, has emerged as a prime target. Adeyemi’s impressive performances, including Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final against Real Madrid, have caught the attention of the Bianconeri.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that while Juventus had previously shown interest in Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho, both of whom are on loan from Manchester United, the Turin giants have now set their sights on Adeyemi. The Monaco-born attacker, who rose to prominence at Salzburg before returning to Germany, has been a standout for Dortmund, contributing to their successful campaign.
Despite missing out on a spot in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad, Adeyemi’s performances have not gone unnoticed at the Continassa, Juventus’ training center. The Bianconeri have made discreet inquiries about the forward through intermediaries.
Dortmund’s interest in Juventus’ Dean Huijsen and Matias Soulé (with West Ham and Roma also keen on the latter) has added complexity to the negotiations. Concrete moves have been made, particularly for Huijsen, who is returning from a loan spell at Roma and is viewed as a potential successor to Mats Hummels.
Adeyemi may not be a prolific goalscorer – with 14 goals in his two-year stint at Dortmund – but he possesses blistering pace, impressive technique, and the ability to play multiple roles. The German international has been deployed on both flanks and can also operate as a central striker, as he did during his time at Salzburg, where he scored 23 goals across all competitions.
These attributes have piqued Juventus’ interest, as they seek not only wingers but also a potential deputy for Dusan Vlahovic, should Moise Kean (contract expiring in 2025) or the injured Arek Milik depart. Adeyemi’s versatility draws comparisons to former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, who is keen on leaving Atletico Madrid for a return to Italy, potentially rejoining the Bianconeri.
While Adeyemi lacks the experience of the well-traveled Morata, he comes with a more affordable salary and, crucially, a decade less in age – factors that align with Juventus’ new direction.
Before pursuing wingers and Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Juventus’ sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli must first generate funds through player sales. The priority remains the completion of the deal with Aston Villa, which would see Douglas Luiz join Juventus in exchange for around €18 million and the transfers of Samuel Iling Jr and Weston McKennie.
Confidence in finalizing the deal remains high, but the delay stems from ongoing negotiations to align all the pieces. McKennie has agreed to a Premier League return, but unlike Iling and Luiz, he has yet to reach a complete contract agreement.
Additionally, Wojciech Szczesny’s move to Saudi Arabia is gaining momentum, with the Polish goalkeeper set to be replaced by Michele Di Gregorio from Monza, following David Ospina’s departure to Al Nassr, where he will join Cristiano Ronaldo.
