Barcelona’s new signing faces La Liga number‑wall hurdle

Barcelona have celebrated the €22 million plus €7 million add‑on signing of 24‑year‑old German striker Karim Adeyemi, yet La Liga’s squad‑number rule compels him to give up his cherished No 27 as he lands in Catalonia and completes his medical this week.

La Liga’s squad‑number policy limits first‑team registrations to numbers 1 through 25, reserving 26 and higher for reserve‑team players or those not yet officially listed. Consequently, Adeyemi must choose a number within the permitted range before appearing on match sheets.

Adeyemi had hoped to wear No 27, a digit he links to key moments early in his career and that has accompanied him through several stages of his development. The forward’s personal attachment adds an emotional layer to the numerical restriction.

A similar situation occurred at Barcelona when Roony Bardghji initially wore No 28 before switching to an eligible number under the same rule. That precedent shows the club has navigated comparable constraints before.

The German forward visited the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Tuesday, escorted by club security, and has not yet received an official club vehicle because his transfer remains incomplete. The visit underscores the transitional phase between his arrival and full integration.

Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are still finalising the exchange of documentation required to complete the transfer, with only minor administrative details pending. Both sides are cooperating to meet La Liga’s registration deadlines before the deal can be formally announced.

Barcelona plan to make Adeyemi’s signing official today, with a formal presentation to fans and the media scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday. The club hopes the ceremony will showcase the new forward once the number issue is resolved.