Dortmund Star Hit With Massive Fine After Weapons Discovery
Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi, a reported transfer target for Manchester United, has been ordered to pay a substantial fine of nearly £400,000 for the possession of illegal weapons. The 23-year-old German international must pay the sum in daily installments following a ruling by a district court in Germany.
The Details of the Offence and Financial Penalty
According to the German publication BILD, the Borussia Dortmund star has been fined a total of £396,411.75 (€450,000). The public prosecutor's office confirmed that the penalty became legally binding on October 30. The offence, which dates back to 2024, involved Adeyemi being found in possession of a knuckle duster and a taser.
The court in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, issued a Strafbefehl – a legal instrument in Germany that allows for fines to be handed down without a public trial. This means Adeyemi has avoided a criminal record. He is required to pay the fine in 60 daily installments of £6,606.86 each. While the offence can carry a prison sentence of up to three years, the player accepted the fine and is not expected to request a formal trial.
Reactions from Dortmund and the German National Team
Borussia Dortmund released an official statement addressing the situation, stating: 'BVB always takes criminal allegations seriously and uses them as an opportunity to discuss them with its employees while respecting confidentiality obligations.'
The incident reportedly was not communicated by Adeyemi himself to the German national team setup. His national team manager, Julian Nagelsmann, addressed the media before Germany's 6-0 win over Slovakia, saying, 'The issue is a bit too big before such an important game, for all of us and for German football. Therefore, I will not comment on any further inquiries.' Adeyemi was with the squad but did not feature in the match.
Transfer Speculation and Future at Dortmund
This off-field issue comes at a time when the Manchester United target is already facing questions about his future at Dortmund. The 23-year-old, who is under contract until 2027, was recently involved in a clash with manager Niko Kovac. After being substituted in a match against Cologne at the end of October, Adeyemi threw a water bottle at the bench.
Kovac commented at the time, 'I think that's unnecessary. It's OK that he can be angry sometimes, but that's unnecessary - he's an adult.' Despite this unrest, Dortmund are said to be keen to agree on a new contract with the player, who has scored three goals and provided three assists this season, showcasing the explosive talent that has attracted admirers from clubs like Manchester United.
