German second-division club Fortuna Düsseldorf has aborted the signing of Israeli international striker Shon Weissman from Spanish side Granada CF following intense backlash from supporters over his past social media activity related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The transfer, which was reportedly on the verge of completion, was halted after fans protested vehemently against the club’s move for the 29-year-old. The controversy stems from posts and liked content on Weissman’s social media accounts. Reports highlighted that Weissman had shared and endorsed content that appeared to call for ‘wiping out’ Gaza, where Israel continues to mass murder and starve Palestinians who are waiting for aid.
Following an emergency meeting of the club’s board on Tuesday morning, Fortuna confirmed they would not proceed with the transfer.
“We have studied the player intensively, but have ultimately decided not to sign him,” Klaus Allofs, Fortuna’s Board Member for Sport and Communication, said in a statement.
The reversal marks a dramatic turnaround after German newspaper Bild reported that the deal was all but finalized. Weissman had reportedly already passed his medical examination in Düsseldorf on Monday. The club had been aware of the controversial posts and had discussed them with the player, who described them as an impulsive mistake made in a moment of grief. Fortuna had initially planned to issue a statement from Weissman, including an apology, upon the official announcement of his signing.
However, after the imminent transfer was leaked, a wave of criticism from the fan base, including online petitions, forced the club to reconsider. An initial, dismissive response from the club’s official social media account on Monday evening only served to intensify the anger among supporters. The club’s leadership ultimately concluded that the transfer was “unacceptable, unfeasible, and unenforceable” in the face of the sustained fan opposition.
On Tuesday, Weissman released a detailed statement on his Instagram account addressing the situation. He wrote that he acted as “the son of a nation that still suffers from the horrors of October 7th” and that the events remain “an open wound for me as a human being.”
“While I accept all criticism, it pains me that the full context was not taken into account,” Weissman wrote. “In a moment of national and personal grief, I remain committed to the values of humanity, sportsmanship, and mutual respect… A person will always stand by their country, no matter what. No one from the outside can ever truly understand what we went through. Loyalty is not up for debate.”
This is not the first time Weissman’s social media activity has caused controversy, with fans at his parent club, Granada, also having previously protested.
Weissman will now return to Granada, while Fortuna Düsseldorf must resume its search for a new striker, with current forward Vincent Vermeij expected to depart the club.
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