Barcelona Complete Adeyemi Deal as Bayern Fend Off Real Madrid Talk Over Olise and Push to Sell Palhinha
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Karim Adeyemi has completed his move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, signing through 2031 in a deal reported at €22m plus €7m in bonuses, with Dortmund retaining a 35% sell-on clause. The 24-year-old winger made 146 competitive appearances across four years at Signal Iduna Park and reunites with head coach Hansi Flick, who gave him his senior Germany debut in 2021.
Bayern Munich chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen has publicly dismissed talk of Real Madrid interest in Michael Olise, telling Kicker "we have received no letter, no fax and no call from Real Madrid." Bayern intend to open contract extension talks with the France winger once he returns from World Cup duty, though reports note Olise has privately raised wanting a role change into a more central number 10 position, a spot currently occupied by Jamal Musiala.
Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a deal worth around €30m for Napoli left-back Miguel Gutiérrez as their replacement for Alejandro Grimaldo, who left for Atlético Madrid earlier this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 25-year-old, formerly of Real Madrid's academy and Girona, made 28 Serie A appearances last season and is expected to complete formalities on the move shortly.
Bayern's attempt to sell João Palhinha has stalled and is becoming a pressure point for sporting director Max Eberl, according to Sport.de. Tottenham chose not to exercise an agreed roughly €30m purchase option in the spring, and neither Benfica nor Sporting have been willing to meet Bayern's asking price since, though the club is said to be holding out for at least €20m.
Transfer and squad notes
VfB Stuttgart have had a third bid worth around €23.5m rejected by relegated VfL Wolfsburg for forward Dzenan Pejcinovic, with Wolfsburg holding out for closer to €25m plus bonuses. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said Stuttgart remain "currently far removed from a positive agreement," despite Pejcinovic having made clear internally that Stuttgart is his preferred destination.
Julian Brandt's Borussia Dortmund contract is set to run out within days, confirming his exit as a free agent following the club's decision earlier this year not to extend his deal; reported destinations for the 30-year-old vary across outlets and no move has been confirmed.
What it means for the league
Dortmund are reshaping their attack on two fronts at once, banking a fee and a resale clause for Adeyemi while losing Brandt's experience for nothing once his contract lapses. Bayern's summer is a balancing act between retaining a breakout talent in Olise and clearing out a squad member in Palhinha who no longer fits the plan, with Eberl facing scrutiny on both. Leverkusen's swift move for a Grimaldo successor shows how quickly Bundesliga clubs are having to refill positions vacated by players leaving for Spain this summer.