Perhaps Karim Adeyemi's move to Barcelona should not surprise, given Hansi Flick gave the winger his Germany debut. The hope is Flick can unlock the 24-year-old's vast potential, which has been evident since his teenage years at Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund. Adeyemi made nearly 100 appearances for Salzburg before joining Dortmund in 2022, where he was clocked at a Bundesliga-high 36.65 km/h and scored a memorable Champions League winner against Chelsea.

However, Adeyemi struggled to evolve beyond an impact substitute at Dortmund, despite highlights like scoring home and away against Stuttgart off the bench. Criticism followed a poor reaction to being substituted against Mönchengladbach, though former staff defend his character and response to one-on-one coaching. Flick understands this better than anyone, making the reunion promising.

At Barcelona, expectations differ. The Catalans scored 95 goals in La Liga last season and averaged 69% possession, the highest in Europe's top five leagues. They need versatile depth, not a star — Lamine Yamal started 26 league games. Adeyemi can cover multiple attacking roles, similar to Marcus Rashford or Ousmane Dembélé at PSG. Flick's system demands pace to complement possession, and Adeyemi's direct runs and one-on-one ability fit perfectly. At 24, younger than Raphinha was upon arriving, Adeyemi's ceiling remains high with the right coach at the right club.