Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi has been fined £396,000 after admitting to the possession of a pair of brass knuckles and a taser. The case was concluded at a district court in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, avoiding a public trial.
The fine was calculated at 60 daily rates of £6,600 (€7,500), in line with Adeyemi's salary. He will not receive a criminal record. The offence dates back to 2024, and payments began on October 30. German law prohibits such items, with a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Adeyemi's club, Borussia Dortmund, issued a statement saying: 'BVB always takes criminal allegations seriously and uses them as an opportunity to discuss them with its employees while respecting confidentiality obligations.' The player is currently on international duty with Germany, having secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Manager Julian Nagelsmann declined to comment on the matter.
Adeyemi's performances have attracted interest from Premier League clubs, including Manchester United. He is under contract until 2027 but is reportedly unsettled at Dortmund. The 23-year-old has three goals and five assists in 14 appearances this season, though he clashed with manager Niko Kovac after being substituted, throwing a bottle in frustration. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is reportedly seeking a £70 million release clause in any new deal.
Manchester United, managed by Ruben Amorim, currently sit seventh in the Premier League, unbeaten in their last five matches. The club added forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in the summer, leading some to suggest a midfield reinforcement is a higher priority. United were linked with Brighton's Carlos Baleba but baulked at the £100 million price tag, with other targets including Angelo Stiller, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Joao Gomes.
