Karim Adeyemi is one of the fastest players in world football — a winger for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team who breaks lines with raw pace, scores in big games, and delivers highlight goals that make him one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting attackers.
He has held a notable record in the Bundesliga:
– Former Bundesliga speed record: In a match vs. Freiburg, Adeyemi was clocked at 36.65 km/h (22.77 mph), which for a time was the fastest recorded sprint in Bundesliga history.
– However, that record has since been broken. In 2024, Sirlord Conteh ran at 36.67 km/h, edging past Adeyemi’s mark.
Playing Style Comparison:
Adeyemi combines elite speed, dribbling, and direct attacking threat. In 2024-25, his goals + assists per 90 minutes placed him in the top percentiles for players in his role.
He is often compared to wide forwards who mix pace and goal output, akin to Alphonso Davies (when driving forward), Raheem Sterling (dribbling + cutting inside) or younger versions of Kingsley Coman. His ability to burst past defenders, cut into space, and finish makes him a dangerous all-round winger/forward.
Defensively, he also presses and tracks back, making him more than just a one-dimensional attacker.
Career Overview:
Born 18 January 2002 in Munich, Germany, Adeyemi came through youth stints at TSV Forstenried, Bayern Munich, and SpVgg Unterhaching before moving to Red Bull Salzburg’s academy in 2018.
He was loaned to FC Liefering (Salzburg’s feeder club) early in his senior career, where he showed his scoring instincts in Austria’s second division.
At Salzburg, he broke through, scoring regularly in domestic and European competitions.
In 2022, he transferred to Borussia Dortmund on a contract until 2027.
Some of his notable moments for Dortmund include scoring a solo winner vs. Chelsea in the Champions League, setting a Bundesliga top speed record (36.65 km/h) in a match vs Freiburg, and a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Celtic in Champions League play.
In the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, he made ~25 league appearances and scored 7 goals.
Internationally, Adeyemi has represented Germany at U16, U17, U21, and senior level. He made his senior debut on 5 September 2021 vs Armenia, scoring in that match.
He was in Germany’s 2022 World Cup squad, though he didn’t see playing time.