Justin Lerma: Who is the new Borussia Dortmund signing?

Who is Justin Lerma?

Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador on May 5th, 2008, Justin Lerma began his football career at the age of 8 with hometown club Guayaquil City. In 2021, he joined the Independiente del Valle academy and came through their youth team ranks before making his first-team debut at the age of just 15. Independiente seemed to be the perfect place for Lerma to develop as a player, and there is a significant reason for this.

After a slow and humble beginning, Independiente del Valle are now living a "Golden Era" in their history, winning the Ecuadorian Serie A for the first time in 2021. Besides, they have also won two Copa Sudamericana titles, and are currently leading their league standings.

Their recent success on the pitch reflects Independiente's high investment in the scouting department on the continent, becoming one of the most well-established footballing projects in the world. Following the impressive rise of players like Moisés Caicedo and Kendry Páez, both sold for high figures to Brighton and Chelsea, respectively, Justin Lerma is Independiente's newest golden ticket.

The gifted attacking midfielder is known for his technical skills, vision, and offensive mindset, a profile similar to Paez. He excels majorly in dribbling and progressing the ball into the final third, always looking for good opportunities to finish or assist his teammates. He is also good at taking free-kicks, and his high stature (1.84m) gives him an extra advantage in the aerial game.

By playing on a team that competes on the big stage in South America, Justin Lerma is at the right place to blossom. He recently made his Libertadores debut against Palmeiras, one of the most competitive teams in Brazil and the continent at the moment.

Still only 16, Lerma will hope to develop away from the spotlight and gain plenty of first-team minutes before making the move to Borussia Dortmund in two years' time. He has all the talent and attributes to succeed; it is simply a matter of time and development for Lerma to reach his full potential, and BVB have a reputation in that department, which will hopefully make the club the perfect fit for this rising star.