Justin Lerma

18-Year-Old MidfielderM

Borussia Dortmund

Bundesliga

DOB 5/5/2008

Arrives in Dortmund from Ecuador

MBorussia Dortmund

July 10, 2026

Lerma has officially joined Dortmund's first-team squad on a permanent deal from Independiente del Valle, completing a move agreed back in 2024 once he turned 18, per the club.

ANALYSIS
Lerma is an attacking midfielder who made his senior debut for Independiente del Valle at just 15 years old in 2024, going on to make 29 appearances across competitions that season without scoring, and has represented Ecuador at U15, U17, and U20 level. Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl called him one of the best South American players of his generation when the deal was struck, continuing the club's track record of developing talent from the Independiente del Valle academy, which has also produced players like Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie. Lerma has now landed in Dortmund and trained in club colors for the first time, with head coach of Dortmund expected to work him into first-team training ahead of preseason as he adjusts to a more physically demanding league than Ecuador's.