Arsenal given food for thought as £70m target told to 'grow up' after punishment confirmed

Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi has been fined by the German club after a disciplinary incident during this weekend's win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Borussia Dortmund have fined Arsenal transfer target Karim Adeyemi following his reaction to being substituted during their 2-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 23-year-old forward, who's been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, was taken off after 60 minutes with Dortmund ahead 1-0 on Friday evening. Rather than taking his place on the bench, Adeyemi walked past the dugout and initially appeared to make his way towards the changing rooms.

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl was forced to step in and redirect him to the substitutes' bench. Speaking after the match, Kehl said: "I told him; 'You're not going to the locker room, sit down', and to be honest the substitution was partly justified," adding: "Karim didn't have a good game.

"It just doesn't work like this. The coach makes a decision and the players need to accept that. We don't want to see this reaction so he'll get a fine for that. There will be something to talk about. I don't want to see that reaction, the coach doesn't, the team doesn't."

The player's contract in Germany runs until 2027 - with negotiations currently underway for an extension featuring a £70.2 million release clause. The weekend's events have soured relations at Dortmund - with former international Dietmar Hamann offering a scathing critique of Adeyemi's response to being taken off by his manager, Niko Kovac. Speaking to Sky Germany, the former Liverpool midfielder said: "These indiscipline issues have crept in over the last few weeks.

"If he doesn't want to be substituted, then he should go and play tennis or play golf. I understand why Kehl is so fed up with him. Every week, every other week, something comes out of his mouth. And he's really not that good. If he were scoring 25 goals or more, then I'd say; 'Do what you want', but he's just not that good."

He added: "Dortmund wants to extend his contract. I don't know if he wants to. Now, they have to find a solution. He has a huge market in England but they won't even look at him in England if he doesn't grow up. It's up to him to show Dortmund - or whichever team he wants to join - that he's mature.

"Despite these escapades, he plays very good football."

Adeyemi, a right winger for Dortmund, has netted 32 goals in 127 appearances. However, recent controversy has surrounded him after he was fined €450,000 for possessing two illegal weapons - a knuckleduster and a taser.

Addressing the incident on social media platform, Instagram, Adeyemi expressed his remorse, stating: "You have probably seen the headlines about me in the last few days. It is not easy for me to talk about this."

He explained the circumstances, saying: "At the beginning of 2024, out of carelessness and without really thinking about what I was doing, I ordered a so-called 'mystery box' on the internet. It contained items that are not permitted under weapons legislation. Many months later, the package was delivered and ended up unopened at the police station."

Acknowledging his error, he confessed: "Nevertheless, it was a huge mistake. One that I am very sorry about, that cost me dearly and that I deeply regret. I know that I am in the public eye and have a role model function. I did not live up to that."

Reflecting on his actions, he added: "That is precisely why it hurts me all the more that I acted so recklessly. I have learned more from this than I can put into words. And I promise you that I will avoid such mistakes in the future. Thank you to everyone who still trusts me and supports me.

"You have probably seen the headlines about me in the last few days. It is not easy for me to talk about this. At the beginning of 2024, out of carelessness and without really thinking about what I was doing, I ordered a so-called 'mystery box' on the internet. It contained items that are not permitted under weapons legislation. Many months later, the package was delivered and ended up unopened at the police station."

"Nevertheless, it was a huge mistake. One that I am very sorry about, that cost me dearly and that I deeply regret. I know that I am in the public eye and have a role model function. I did not live up to that.

"That is precisely why it hurts me all the more that I acted so recklessly. I have learned more from this than I can put into words. And I promise you that I will avoid such mistakes in the future. Thank you to everyone who still trusts me and supports me."