Borussia Dortmund Targets Giovanni Baroni in Youth Revolution

Borussia Dortmund’s youth revolution is gathering pace, and the next target may already be in their sights.

After tying up deals for Justin Lerma and Kauã Prates, Dortmund are once again looking to South America, this time tracking Argentine attacking midfielder Giovanni Baroni. The 17-year-old, who already holds an Italian passport, has drawn interest from Chelsea and Fiorentina, with BVB now stepping into the race, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Baroni is protected by a reported €25 million release clause, but Di Marzio reports that a deal could be struck for around €15 million plus bonuses. For a teenager yet to set foot in Europe, those are heavyweight numbers – and they underline how aggressively Dortmund are moving to secure the next wave of talent.

This is not a one-off flirtation with the South American market. It’s a strategy.

Lerma, signed from Independiente for around €4 million, and Prates, brought in from Cruzeiro for roughly €7 million, had to wait until turning 18 to officially join the club. Both are part of a clear pattern: identify high-ceiling prospects early, pay before the rest of Europe does, and trust the club’s development pathway to do the rest.

Future Investments

The reshaping of Dortmund’s future hasn’t stopped there. With Ole Book installed as sporting director, the club have already moved decisively in Europe too, landing Joane Gadou from RB Salzburg for €19.5 million. A sizeable fee, and another signal that Dortmund are willing to invest heavily in potential, not just finished products.

Inside the club, the belief in youth is not theoretical. Samuele Inácio and Luca Reggiani both featured prominently in the latter stages of the season, proof that strong performances in training and in the academy can quickly translate into real minutes in the first team.

Put together, it feels like the early build of a new Dortmund cycle: South American flair, European steel, and a front office prepared to bet big on tomorrow’s stars. If Baroni becomes the next piece of that puzzle, the competition from Chelsea and Fiorentina will only sharpen the question facing Dortmund’s hierarchy: