Dortmund’s Adeyemi Fined €450,000 for Illegal Weapon Possession

According to Bild, Borussia Dortmund’s star winger Karim Adeyemi has been fined an astonishing €450,000 after prosecutors revealed he illegally possessed a knuckle duster and a stun gun, both of which are prohibited under German law. The public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a penalty order of “60 daily fines of €7,500 each” became legally binding on October 30, with the case being managed by the district court in Wetter.

The news broke shortly before Germany’s critical World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, catching both the DFB (German Football Association) and Borussia Dortmund off guard. BILD reported that Adeyemi did not inform federation officials about the conviction, forcing them to learn about it through media reports. Adeyemi’s lawyer claimed the prohibited items originated from a “mystery box ordered from TikTok,” a defense that Adeyemi reportedly attempted to explain during internal discussions.

Despite being included in the matchday squad, Adeyemi did not participate in Germany’s 6-0 victory over Slovakia, with the surrounding controversy casting a shadow over the game. The BVB star has made six goal contributions this season but found himself embroiled in an off-field scandal during a critical international window.

DFB sporting director Rudi Völler admitted that the federation was completely unaware of the case until Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken reached out to him. Völler told ZDF: “Yes, of course we didn’t know. The day after the game in Luxembourg, Lars Ricken called me and told me. He didn’t know everything either. Then Julian and I spoke with Karim. We wanted to hear his side of the story. He then tried to explain it to us, more or less.”

While not divulging specific details, Völler emphasized the need for the national team to maintain accountability while also considering the context. He remarked, “We still believe that the lad is developing exceptionally well in the national team. We also live in a time of outrage culture here in Germany… Everyone is quick to complain, not that I wish to downplay the situation. It would be naive or foolish, regardless of what you call it.”

Head coach Julian Nagelsmann echoed Völler’s sentiments, acknowledging how disruptive the issue was given the timing. At a pre-match press conference, he stated: “Rudi and I spoke with him. This issue is taking up space and time that I don’t have before such an important game. We will address the matter after the match… I will not comment on it further.”

Adeyemi has not directly addressed the allegations; however, his legal representative reaffirmed that the situation originated from a TikTok “mystery box,” which reportedly contained the forbidden items that led to the investigation.

Borussia Dortmund released a cautious but firm statement highlighting their internal procedures: “BVB always takes criminal allegations seriously and uses them as an opportunity to discuss them with its employees while respecting confidentiality obligations.”

The club also confirmed that it was unaware of the legal proceedings until the media reported on the matter. Under German weapons law, Adeyemi’s offense could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to three years, or even ten years for cases involving brass knuckles. However, based on income assessments, the penalty was reduced to a fine, with the 23-year-old receiving a central register entry but not a formal criminal record.

The timing of this incident is particularly sensitive, as Adeyemi has recently drawn interest from Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, and is preparing for a crucial role in the upcoming World Cup for Germany.

On the field, Adeyemi has maintained strong form despite Dortmund’s inconsistent start to the season, contributing three goals and three assists, including a memorable Champions League goal against Juventus, and upholding his reputation as one of Europe’s fastest wingers.

Nagelsmann utilized all five substitutions during the match against Slovakia but opted to leave Adeyemi on the bench, raising questions about whether the controversy influenced player selection. Additionally, the winger had been suspended for Germany’s qualifier against Luxembourg just days prior, adding to the disruption surrounding his international involvement.

Dortmund is expected to hold internal meetings to clarify the incident and assess whether any further actions are necessary. For the time being, the club insists it will manage the matter privately, with Adeyemi anticipated to return to Bundesliga action following the international break.

Germany’s coaching staff will reassess the situation once the qualifying campaign concludes, with Völler and Nagelsmann eager to avoid off-field distractions that might compromise team harmony.