Napoli’s quest for a top-tier replacement following Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain led them to Karim Adeyemi, the dynamic Nigerian-German winger at Borussia Dortmund.
The Italian club offered €50 million for Adeyemi, a 66% increase on the fee Dortmund paid to RB Salzburg in 2022.
While Dortmund was reportedly open to the offer, Adeyemi ultimately decided to stay in Germany, rejecting the attractive salary package of €6 million offered by Napoli.
Several personal and professional reasons contributed to his decision, including his strong desire for family stability.
In December 2024, Adeyemi married Swiss-Albanian rapper Loredana Zefi and became a stepfather to her young daughter. Loredana valued their family life in Germany, and relocating to Naples was not appealing to her, making the decision to stay even clearer.
Another factor was the opportunity to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, which Dortmund will be part of in the summer of 2025, while Napoli will not.
This prestigious competition presented Adeyemi with a chance to showcase his skills on a global stage, which was crucial for his aspirations of making the German national team.
Additionally, Napoli’s refusal to include an exit clause in the contract was a deal-breaker.
Adeyemi’s camp insisted on a clause that would allow him to leave if a bigger club showed interest, but Napoli declined.
This raised concerns about the potential for long-term career uncertainty, similar to the challenges faced by Kalidou Koulibaly and Victor Osimhen.
In fact, Adeyemi’s team sought advice from those close to Osimhen, whose treatment at Napoli had been a cautionary tale.
Despite his crucial role in Napoli’s Serie A title win, Osimhen’s relationship with the club had been strained, leading to fears that Adeyemi could face similar treatment.
Ultimately, despite the financial allure of the move to Naples, Adeyemi opted to stay at Borussia Dortmund, where he remains a key player, prioritizing his family’s happiness and professional stability over the promises of riches.
