Justin Lerma receives affection from Borussia Dortmund fans with an emotional gift

Ecuadorian midfielder Justin Lerma is steadily integrating into his new life in Germany and is beginning to capture the hearts of Borussia Dortmund fans. The German club shared a heartwarming moment from an autograph session on August 5, where the young player received a special gift from a child fan, showcasing the affection he is already generating among the supporters.

Lerma, 18, is experiencing his first taste of European football after joining Borussia Dortmund, following an agreement reached years ago with Independiente del Valle. The club posted a video on social media with the caption: "Justin Lerma, one of the people's favorites. Just look at the drawing they gave him."

The video shows the Ecuadorian footballer signing shirts and photos for fans. At one point, a child presents him with an envelope. Club staff explain that it is a gift made specifically for him. Upon opening it, Lerma discovers a drawing by the young fan, portraying him in the Borussia Dortmund jersey, complete with his name and the number 28.

The young player received the gesture with a smile and expressed his gratitude before continuing to interact with the fans. Beyond the fans' affection, Lerma is also starting to gain playing time. He has participated in four friendly matches with the Borussia Dortmund first team during the preseason. His debut occurred on July 18, where he even scored a goal in a 3-1 victory against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. He later played 45 minutes against Fortuna Düsseldorf, 60 minutes against Gamba Osaka, and had a brief four-minute appearance in the 1-0 win over FC Tokyo on August 1.