Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi is facing internal disciplinary action and widespread condemnation following his emotional reaction to being substituted during Friday's Bundesliga match.
Storming Off Sparks Outrage
The 23-year-old Germany international was replaced on the hour mark during Dortmund's 2-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. Adeyemi did not accept manager Niko Kovac's decision gracefully, walking straight past the bench and heading for the tunnel.
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl had to intervene, catching the player by the arm to prevent him from entering the locker room early. The pair were seen exchanging words on the touchline in a heated moment captured by broadcasters.
World Cup Winner Labels Actions 'Disrespectful'
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from former Germany midfielder and World Cup winner Sami Khedira. Acting as a pundit for DAZN, Khedira did not hold back in his assessment of Adeyemi's conduct.
"To pull off such an action is not good," Khedira stated, as reported by BILD. "Going into the locker room early is somewhat disrespectful to your coach and, above all, to your teammates. You can be angry with the coach, but you support your team."
His sentiments were echoed by fellow pundit Dietmar Hamann on Sky, who questioned the player's commitment, especially in the final match before the winter break.
Club Confirms Fine and Future Uncertainty
Dortmund officials have confirmed that Adeyemi will be financially penalised for his actions. Sebastian Kehl revealed he told the winger to sit down and that the substitution was "partly justified" due to a poor performance.
"It just doesn't work like this. The coach makes a decision and the players need to accept that," Kehl told Sky. "We don't want to see this reaction and so he'll get a fine for that."
This public fallout adds significant fuel to the ongoing speculation about Adeyemi's long-term future at Signal Iduna Park. The player, who joined from Red Bull Salzburg in 2022, is under contract until 2027 but is attracting serious interest from top European clubs.
Manchester United are reportedly leading the chase, with a potential £70 million price tag being discussed. Adeyemi's camp is understood to be pushing for a release clause of that magnitude to be inserted into any new Dortmund deal, which would clear a path for an exit.
Further intrigue comes from reports in German media that the player's wife, Swiss rapper Loredana, is influencing his thinking. BILD claims she desires their next move to be to a "European metropolis," putting clubs in major cities like Manchester in a favourable position.
Adeyemi has recently enlisted super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has strong connections at Manchester United, to represent him, signalling a potential readiness for a major transfer in the near future.
