Compared to Jude Bellingham: expert hails BVB gem | OneFootball

Ever since his move to Borussia Dortmund, expectations surrounding Justin Lerma have continued to grow. One South America expert has even drawn a remarkable comparison with former BVB star Jude Bellingham.

Borussia Dortmund can apparently look forward to an exceptional talent. As of July 1, one of South America’s most promising young prospects is joining BVB in Justin Lerma. The Ecuadorian’s transfer from Independiente del Valle had already been agreed in May 2024, but due to his age at the time, it could only be completed after his 18th birthday.

Lerma is generating particularly high expectations from South America expert Simón Escudero. Speaking to Ruhr Nachrichten, the journalist even made a notable comparison: “Lerma has similar qualities to Jude Bellingham. He would be the player most similar to him.”

The attacking midfielder is considered an exceptional talent in his home country. Escudero sees him as the current standout figure of Independiente del Valle’s renowned youth academy, which has already produced numerous international top players. Its best-known graduates include Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho.

BVB gem Justin Lerma impresses experts

Accordingly, the praise for Dortmund’s future player is immense. “Right now, he is the great jewel of the youth department, and nobody reaches his level. He is the kind of player who only comes along once in thousands,” Escudero enthused. The 18-year-old’s greatest strengths include his technical ability, his dynamism in attack, and his dribbling.

Photo: Getty Images

His ability to exploit dangerous spaces from midfield and make an impact near the penalty area is also highlighted. Despite all the early praise, Escudero still sees room for development in the new arrival.

Lerma especially needs to take the next step physically. “He needs to improve his physical condition in order to adapt to European football and the Bundesliga,” the expert explained. For Borussia Dortmund, the investment of around four million euros could therefore pay off in the long term. Those in charge will no doubt hope that Lerma can make the leap from top South American prospect to the next BVB star.

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