Samuel Martinez Colombia Draws Borussia Dortmund Closer to €1 Million

Samuel Martinez Colombia is drawing serious attention after Borussia Dortmund was reported to be following the 17-year-old Atlético Nacional youth midfielder closely. His rise comes after Colombia won the 2026 South American Under-17 Championship, where Martínez produced 3 assists in 6 matches.

Dortmund Watches Martínez Closely

Martínez plays as an attacking midfielder and belongs to Atlético Nacional’s youth divisions. The reported valuation around €1 million places him in a range that would look more like training compensation than a traditional transfer fee.

That detail fits Dortmund’s usual approach of targeting young players with development upside, and it also explains why the interest is still being treated as observation rather than a completed move. No signed documents or closed negotiations point to a departure from Colombia.

Colombia’s Under-17 Champion

Colombia’s title at the 2026 South American Under-17 Championship is the backdrop to the surge in attention. Martínez was part of that winning side and finished the tournament with 3 assists in 6 matches, a return that put him in view of several clubs beyond Dortmund.

Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Atlético de Madrid and Benfica are also reported to be interested. For Atlético Nacional, that leaves a youth player with a growing market and no finalized exit, while the next move will hinge on whether the interest stays at the scouting stage or turns into a formal bid.