diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e25a06f..6804e89 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ./contracts
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
       
       - name: Install Foundry
         uses: foundry-rs/foundry-toolchain@v1
@@ -49,6 +51,8 @@ jobs:
           --health-retries 5
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
       
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -83,6 +87,8 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ./frontend
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
       
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -107,6 +113,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
       
       - name: Run security audit
         run: |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 605903f..5cc1a4c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,10 +76,14 @@ ASLE is a comprehensive DeFi liquidity infrastructure platform combining:
 
 ### Installation
 
-1. **Clone the repository**
+1. **Clone the repository with submodules**
 ```bash
-git clone <repository-url>
+# Clone with submodules (recommended)
+git clone --recurse-submodules <repository-url>
 cd asle
+
+# Or if already cloned, initialize submodules
+git submodule update --init --recursive
 ```
 
 2. **Set up environment variables**
@@ -122,14 +126,21 @@ npm run dev
 
 ```
 asle/
-├── contracts/          # Smart contracts (Foundry)
-├── backend/           # Node.js API server
-├── frontend/          # Next.js application
+├── contracts/          # Smart contracts (Foundry) - Git submodule
+├── backend/           # Node.js API server (monorepo)
+│   ├── src/api/       # REST API routes
+│   ├── src/middleware/# Express middleware
+│   ├── src/jobs/      # Background jobs/orchestration
+│   └── src/services/  # Business logic services
+├── frontend/          # Next.js application - Git submodule
+├── mobile/            # React Native mobile app
 ├── docs/              # Documentation
 ├── scripts/           # Utility scripts
 └── .github/           # CI/CD workflows
 ```
 
+**Note:** `contracts/` and `frontend/` are git submodules. See [SUBMODULE_SETUP.md](./SUBMODULE_SETUP.md) for details.
+
 For detailed structure, see [PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md](./PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md)
 
 ## 🧪 Testing
diff --git a/REVIEW_SUMMARY.md b/REVIEW_SUMMARY.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7db3d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/REVIEW_SUMMARY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+# ASLE Repository Review & Setup Summary
+
+**Date:** 2024-12-19  
+**Status:** ✅ Complete
+
+## Overview
+
+This document summarizes the repository structure review and setup completion for the ASLE project.
+
+## Completed Tasks
+
+### 1. Repository Structure Setup ✅
+
+- **Backend**: Configured as unified monorepo containing:
+  - API routes (`backend/src/api/`)
+  - Middleware (`backend/src/middleware/`)
+  - Jobs/Orchestration (`backend/src/jobs/`)
+  - Services (`backend/src/services/`)
+  - GraphQL (`backend/src/graphql/`)
+  
+  **Rationale**: These components are tightly coupled, share dependencies, and deploy as a single service.
+
+- **Contracts**: Converted to git submodule
+  - Repository: `https://github.com/defiQUG/asle-contracts`
+  - Independent versioning and release cycle
+  - Foundry-based smart contract development
+
+- **Frontend**: Converted to git submodule
+  - Repository: `https://github.com/defiQUG/asle-frontend`
+  - Independent versioning and release cycle
+  - Next.js 16 application
+
+### 2. Git Configuration ✅
+
+- All repository files staged and committed
+- Submodules properly configured in `.gitmodules`
+- Main repository remote: `https://github.com/Order-of-Hospitallers/asle.git`
+- Submodule repositories created and pushed
+
+### 3. Documentation Updates ✅
+
+- **SUBMODULE_SETUP.md**: Complete guide for submodule management
+- **README.md**: Updated with submodule cloning instructions
+- **CI Workflow**: Updated to checkout submodules recursively
+
+### 4. CI/CD Configuration ✅
+
+- Updated `.github/workflows/ci.yml` to handle submodules
+- All jobs now checkout submodules recursively
+- Tests configured for contracts, backend, and frontend
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+```
+asle/
+├── .gitmodules              # Submodule configuration
+├── backend/                 # Monorepo (API + middleware + jobs + services)
+│   ├── src/
+│   │   ├── api/            # 15 REST API route files
+│   │   ├── middleware/     # 4 middleware files
+│   │   ├── jobs/           # 4 orchestration/job files
+│   │   ├── services/       # 31 service files
+│   │   └── graphql/        # GraphQL implementation
+│   └── prisma/             # Database schema
+├── contracts/              # Git submodule → defiQUG/asle-contracts
+├── frontend/               # Git submodule → defiQUG/asle-frontend
+├── mobile/                 # React Native app
+├── docs/                   # Comprehensive documentation
+├── scripts/                # Utility scripts
+│   └── setup-submodules.sh # Automated submodule setup script
+└── .github/workflows/      # CI/CD pipelines
+```
+
+## Key Files
+
+### Configuration
+- `.gitmodules` - Submodule definitions
+- `.gitignore` - Git ignore rules
+- `docker-compose.yml` - Docker services
+- `.github/workflows/ci.yml` - CI/CD pipeline
+
+### Documentation
+- `README.md` - Project overview and quick start
+- `SUBMODULE_SETUP.md` - Submodule management guide
+- `PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md` - Detailed structure documentation
+- `DEPLOYMENT.md` - Deployment instructions
+- `API_DOCUMENTATION.md` - API reference
+- `TESTING.md` - Testing procedures
+
+## Cloning Instructions
+
+### First Time Clone
+```bash
+git clone --recurse-submodules <repository-url>
+cd asle
+```
+
+### If Already Cloned
+```bash
+git submodule update --init --recursive
+```
+
+### Updating Submodules
+```bash
+git submodule update --remote
+```
+
+## Repository URLs
+
+- **Main Repository**: `https://github.com/Order-of-Hospitallers/asle.git`
+- **Contracts Submodule**: `https://github.com/defiQUG/asle-contracts`
+- **Frontend Submodule**: `https://github.com/defiQUG/asle-frontend`
+
+## Next Steps
+
+1. **Push Changes**: Push the main repository with submodule configuration
+   ```bash
+   git push origin main
+   ```
+
+2. **Verify CI/CD**: Ensure GitHub Actions workflows run successfully with submodules
+
+3. **Environment Setup**: Create `.env.example` files in:
+   - `backend/.env.example`
+   - `frontend/.env.example` (if needed)
+
+4. **Documentation**: Review and update any documentation that references the old structure
+
+5. **Team Onboarding**: Share submodule cloning instructions with team members
+
+## Notes
+
+- Backend components (API, middleware, jobs) remain together as a monorepo for optimal development workflow
+- Contracts and frontend are independent submodules for separate versioning and team workflows
+- All changes have been committed to the main repository
+- Submodule repositories are live on GitHub under `defiQUG` organization
+
+## Verification Checklist
+
+- ✅ All files staged and committed
+- ✅ Submodules properly configured
+- ✅ CI workflow updated for submodules
+- ✅ README updated with submodule instructions
+- ✅ Documentation created (SUBMODULE_SETUP.md)
+- ✅ Automated setup script created
+- ✅ Repository structure verified
+