The Ecuadorian top talent Justin Lerma is one of three external new additions to Borussia Dortmund for the coming season. If you believe an insider, BVB fans can expect great things from the 18-year-old midfielder.
“Lerma has similar characteristics to Jude Bellingham. He would be the player who is most similar to him,” said Simon Escudero, “AS” expert on (South) American football, to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”.
The fact that Lerma signed for BVB as a 16-year-old and at the time with almost no professional experience came as a “surprise,” said Escudero. But: The youth department of Lerma’s current club Independiente del Valle is “one of the best in the country and, along with Palmeiras, even in South America,” the journalist enthused.
He referred to today’s top stars such as Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea FC), Piero Hincapié (Arsenal FC) and Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain), who were trained there.
According to Escudero, the future BVB professional clearly stands out in Independiente’s talent factory. “He’s the jewel of the youth ranks at the moment and no one is reaching his level. He’s the type of player that only comes along once in a thousand,” said the reporter.
BVB newcomer Lerma still needs to “improve” that
What are the strengths of Lerma, for whom BVB is reportedly transferring around four million euros to Ecuador? “What should be highlighted is his ball handling and his ability to get into the penalty area,” explained Escudero, “but also his dribbling and his technical quality.”
However, due to his young age, it is “normal” that Lerma still has room for improvement, the insider emphasized. “He needs to improve his physical condition to adapt to the European game and the Bundesliga.”
In addition to Lerma, BVB has so far signed two other new signings for 2026/2027: the Brazilian full-back talent Kaua Prates and central defender Joane Gadou (Red Bull Salzburg).