Borussia Dortmund will not be loaning Ecuadorian midfielder Justin Lerma from PAOK Thessaloniki in January. The Greek top-flight club has denied reports of an agreement already being in place with the German side.
The 21-year-old Lerma had been linked with a move to the Bundesliga runners-up in recent days. A loan deal with an option to buy in the upcoming winter transfer window was reportedly negotiated. PAOK, however, has now clarified that no agreement with Dortmund has been reached. A club spokesperson refuted the claims.
Justin Lerma has been under contract with PAOK since the summer of 2025 and has made a name for himself in the Super League Greece as a versatile defensive midfielder. His market value is estimated at around three million euros. He has already earned seven caps for the Ecuadorian national team.
Dortmund squad currently well-stocked
Meanwhile, Dortmund do not necessarily need to worry about reinforcements in defensive midfield. Under coach Nuri Sahin, the team has started the Bundesliga season perfectly with three wins from three games and sits in second place with nine points. Recent performances, including a 3-0 win over SC Paderborn, demonstrate good squad depth.
Borussia Dortmund's current form is flawless. The team is on a five-game winning streak across all competitions and has scored eight goals while conceding only two in the league. Serhou Guirassy leads the internal scoring chart with two goals this season.
The squad appears broad enough for the upcoming tasks. Alongside established forces like Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha, who scored a brace against Paderborn, younger talents like Samuel Bamba are ready. Currently sidelined due to injury are Filippo Mané, Giannis Konstantelias and Konstantinos Karetsas.
Borussia Dortmund's next match is away at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, September 19. The Swabian opponent currently sits in 14th place in the table. All upcoming fixtures are listed in the fixtures schedule.
