Hansi Flick Targets Karim Adeyemi for Barcelona's Pre-Season

Hansi Flick wants his Barcelona era to start at full speed, not with a gentle jog. And at the top of his early wishlist sits Karim Adeyemi.

The new Barça coach is pushing for the Borussia Dortmund winger to be in Catalonia in time for the first day of pre-season on Monday, according to Gerard Romero. Flick, who knows the player well from their time together with the German national team, is said to be keen to have him on the training pitch from day one of his Blaugrana project.

This is not a quiet move. Barcelona’s bid for Adeyemi has already caused a stir in Germany and Spain, with the 24-year-old described as eager to swap Dortmund yellow for Barça’s colours and make Camp Nou his new stage. The deal is not done, but the framework is in place: Adeyemi has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Catalan club. Now the negotiation narrows to one line: Barça and Dortmund must find a price.

Timing matters. Barcelona’s squad is due back next week to begin pre-season, yet Flick will open the doors to a training ground missing many of its stars. A large chunk of his dressing room is still tied up with World Cup 2026 duties or recovering on holiday after the tournament. That leaves gaps. It also creates opportunity.

For Flick, Adeyemi is not just another winger. He is a known quantity. During Flick’s spell in charge of Germany, the coach worked directly with the forward, saw his pace, his direct running, his willingness to attack space. Those memories clearly linger. The prospect of reuniting in Barcelona, with Adeyemi offering verticality and chaos from wide areas, has pushed this pursuit up the agenda.

The pressure now sits on the clubs. Dortmund, never shy about driving a hard bargain for their talent, hold the contract and the leverage. Barcelona, still juggling financial constraints with the demands of rebuilding, are trying to move quickly without overpaying.

Flick’s message, though, is clear: he wants Adeyemi in the building on Monday. If Barcelona can deliver that, his new era starts not with theory on a tactics board, but with one of his chosen forwards sprinting down the flank in Blaugrana colours.