Karim Adeyemi, born on January 18, 2002, in Munich, Germany, is a professional footballer known for his versatility as a winger and forward.
Standing at 1.80 meters (5 feet 11 inches), Adeyemi has made a significant impact in the Bundesliga, playing for Borussia Dortmund.
At just 22 years old, his agility, speed, and technical skills have marked him as a standout player in German football.
Adeyemi's ability to maneuver through defenses and his keen eye for goal make him a crucial asset for both his club and potentially, in the future, his national team.
Karim Adeyemi profile: Club career
Early years
Karim Adeyemi's early football journey began with TSV Forstenried before he joined the youth ranks of FC Bayern München in 2010 at the age of eight.
A dispute over his contract led to his departure from Bayern, prompting his move to SpVgg Unterhaching in 2012.
Adeyemi progressed through Unterhaching's youth system and made his debut for the U19 team in the A-Junioren-Bundesliga in March 2018, scoring his first goal in April 2018 against Eintracht Frankfurt U19.
Despite his efforts, Unterhaching faced relegation to the A-Jugend Bayernliga by the end of the season.
Red Bull Salzburg
Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Adeyemi signed a three-year contract with Austrian club FC Red Bull Salzburg and was immediately loaned to their feeder club, FC Liefering, for the season.
He made his 2. Liga debut on 1 September 2018 in a match against Austria Lustenau, playing the full game.
Adeyemi's notable achievement with Salzburg came on 1 December 2020, when he scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–1 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow during the 2020–21 season.
Borussia Dortmund
On 10 May 2022, Borussia Dortmund announced the signing of Karim Adeyemi on a contract running until the summer of 2027.
Adeyemi scored his first Champions League goal for Dortmund on 5 October 2022, in a 4–1 away win over Sevilla.
On 4 February 2023, he set a record as the Bundesliga's fastest-ever player, clocking 36.65 kilometers per hour (22.77 mph) in a match against Freiburg.
His solo strike on 15 February 2023, secured a 1–0 victory over Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.
Adeyemi continued to make significant contributions, including scoring the opening goal in a historic 2–0 away win over Bayern Munich on 30 March 2024, marking Dortmund's first victory in Der Klassiker since 2019 and their first win at the Allianz Arena in a decade.
Youth Career
| Seasons | Teams |
|---|---|
| 2008–2010 | TSV Forstenried |
| 2010–2012 | Bayern Munich |
| 2012–2018 | SpVgg Unterhaching |
| 2018–2020 | Red Bull Salzburg |
Senior Career
| Seasons | Teams |
|---|---|
| 2018–2022 | Red Bull Salzburg |
| 2018–2020 (loan) | Liefering |
| 2022– | Borussia Dortmund |
Career stats
Here's a table summarizing Karim Adeyemi's appearances, goals, and assists for his clubs:
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB Salzburg | 94 | 33 | 24 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 65 | 14 | 8 |
| FC Liefering | 35 | 15 | 12 |
| Unterhaching U17 | 21 | 19 | – |
| RB Salzburg YL | 9 | 3 | 7 |
| Unterhaching U19 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Karim Adeyemi profile: International career
Karim Adeyemi, born in Munich, Germany, to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, has had a notable international career representing Germany.
Adeyemi has been a part of the German youth setup, featuring for the under-16s, under-17s, and under-21s teams.
His senior debut came on September 5, 2021, in a commanding 6–0 victory against Armenia during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Adeyemi made an immediate impact, coming on as a late substitute and scoring Germany's sixth goal in the first minute of second-half injury time.
Notably, this debut marked the first instance in the post-war period where a player from an Austrian club, Red Bull Salzburg, appeared for the German senior national team.
In November 2022, Adeyemi was included in Germany's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Despite being part of the team, he did not feature in any matches as Germany experienced a disappointing tournament, being eliminated at the group stage.
Nagelsmann announces preliminary squad for 2023 Euro: Adeyemi not included
The head coach of the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann, has announced his 27-man preliminary squad for the 2023 European Championship.
Notably absent from the list is Karim Adeyemi, the talented forward with Nigerian heritage.
Despite his impressive performances for Borussia Dortmund, including steering the team to the UEFA Champions League final, Adeyemi has been left out of the squad.
His last appearance for the German national team was in 2022 against Hungary, and this exclusion dashes his hopes for competitive participation in the upcoming tournament.
Can Adeyemi play for Nigeria?
The exclusion of Karim Adeyemi from the German squad has sparked discussions among Nigerian football fans about the possibility of him playing for the Super Eagles.
Although Adeyemi has represented Germany at various youth levels and earned caps for their senior national team, he remains eligible to switch allegiance under certain conditions.
FIFA’s eligibility rules allow players to switch national teams if they have played no more than three competitive matches at the senior level before turning 21.
Adeyemi has played four games for Germany, including three World Cup qualifiers and one UEFA Nations League match.
However, these appearances do not fully meet the competitive match threshold, leaving the door open for him to potentially join the Super Eagles.
This possibility has excited fans and officials within the Nigeria Football Federation, who are keen to capitalize on Adeyemi's considerable talent.
In an interview, Karim Adeyemi was asked if he would consider playing for the Super Eagles if given the opportunity.
“If I had the chance, of course. I think it’s a great national team. In the future, they will be great; they have good players, and in the past, they were also great,” he said.
Adeyemi's response highlights his openness to the idea and his admiration for Nigeria's football history and potential, further fueling speculation about a possible switch in his international allegiance.
Karim Adeyemi profile: Honours
Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
Austrian Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
Germany U21
UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2021
Individual
Fritz Walter Medal U19 Gold: 2021
Fritz Walter Medal U17 Gold: 2019
Austrian Bundesliga Top goalscorer: 2021–22
Austrian Bundesliga Team of the Year: 2021–22
Bundesliga Rookie of the Month: January 2023
Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2022–23
IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2022
Karim Adeyemi profile: Salary
Karim Adeyemi earns an impressive annual salary of €5 million by playing for Borussia Dortmund. Breaking it down further, his weekly earnings amount to approximately €96,154.
Karim Adeyemi profile: Net worth
Karim Adeyemi currently possesses a net worth of $2 million.
This impressive figure reflects his successful career in professional football, where he has made significant contributions at both the club and international levels.
Playing for top-tier teams like Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund has not only enhanced his skills and reputation but also boosted his market value and earnings.
As a young and talented player with a promising future, Adeyemi's net worth is expected to grow as he continues to achieve success on the field.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 months ago
