Justin Lerma is set to leave Borussia Dortmund in January. The 23-year-old midfielder will join Greek Super League side PAOK Thessaloniki on loan, having failed to make a single first-team appearance this season.
The club has confirmed the move. Lerma was part of the pre-season squad but was not selected for any of the first three Bundesliga matchdays, where Dortmund sit second with nine points from three wins. He also missed out on cup and European fixtures. The sporting leadership no longer saw a clear pathway for him in a congested midfield area.
Loan until season's end
The loan deal will run until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. PAOK have secured an option to buy, the exact fee of which has not been disclosed. For Lerma, the move offers a chance at regular minutes in a competitive European league. The defensive midfielder had only featured sporadically for Borussia Dortmund since his arrival in the summer of 2025.
Dortmund have started the season strongly, maintaining a perfect record of five wins in all competitions. Their most recent match was a 3-0 victory over SC Paderborn on September 12. Serhou Guirassy is currently the team's top scorer with two goals.
Lerma will now begin preparations for his fresh start in Greece. His Dortmund contract runs until 2028. The transfer is expected to be finalized in the first days of January when the window opens.
