BVB boss Ricken impressed by Ecuadorian gem Lerma: "Remarkable maturity" | OneFootball

He has not yet stood on the field in a BVB jersey for even a minute. Let alone kicked the ball. Yet the anticipation for Justin Lerma's (17) debut is already high. Starting July 1, 2026, the exceptional talent from Ecuador will be part of Dortmund's professional squad.

Since the new season has not yet started in his home country, Lerma recently spent time in Germany. Naturally, he took the opportunity to visit his future club. The attacking midfielder, currently still with the new Ecuadorian champion Independiente del Valle, watched the 3-0 win against Werder Bremen live at Signal Iduna Park on January 13. The youngster also trained with the club's U23 team.

After finishing his brief visit, Lerma is preparing for the upcoming season in his home country. The departure from Ecuador has been settled since May 2024. BVB is paying four million euros for the four-time U20 international. After turning 18 on May 5, 2008, he is allowed to move to Germany.

"Justin is among the best South American players of his age group, and we are delighted to have secured an outstanding talent for Borussia Dortmund," explained BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl (45) in a club statement in May 2024.

Professional debut at almost 16 years old

Managing director Lars Ricken (49) adds in a conversation with Kicker. "Despite his young age, Justin brings remarkable maturity," praises the former professional, speaking highly of Lerma. During his visit to Dortmund, he "left a very open and positive impression."

Ricken ventures a look ahead. "For us and also for him, it will be important that he joins us early in the summer to enable a quick integration into our processes," emphasizes the BVB official, aiming for a swift integration of the youngster. Important "besides the athletic acclimatization" are "also the linguistic development and cultural integration," Ricken reaffirms.

Despite being only 17, experts attest to Lerma's tremendous physicality. The offensive player is difficult to dispossess in dribbling and possesses outstanding technique. He made his professional debut for Independiente Del Valle on April 14, 2024, at the age of just 15 years, eleven months, and nine days.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.