Borussia Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac has left 18-year-old midfielder Justin Lerma completely out of recent friendlies, suggesting a potential loan move. The Ecuadorian signing, who arrived at Dortmund this summer from Independiente del Valle, played no minutes in the 2-2 draw against Roma and the 3-2 win against Arsenal. Kovac emphasized that Lerma still faces adaptation challenges with German football, particularly physically, and that he 'is still a bit slim.' The coach stressed, however, that the young man 'is part of the team like everyone else.'
Loan or Regionalliga?
The newspaper WAZ reports that no clubs have been mentioned as potential loan destinations for Lerma, but if he stays, a step into the Regionalliga is the most likely route. The competition in midfield is fierce: Konstantinos Karetsas (from KRC Genk), Giannis Konstantelias (from PAOK Saloniki), and Joey Veerman (from PSV Eindhoven) have all arrived and are vying for a starting spot. Lerma, who already had 43 competitive appearances for Independiente del Valle at 15, also won the Ecuadorian title in 2025 when he was 17. His contract at Dortmund runs until 2031, but under FIFA regulations, he could only be transferred once he turned 18 in May 2026. The four-million-euro transfer has yet to result in Bundesliga experience.
