Jean-Philippe Gbamin drink driving: Everton midfielder hit with £25,000 fine and driving ban - reports

Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin has been banned from driving and hit with a £25,000 fine after crashing his car while drink-driving.

Mail Online reports the Ivory Coast international was involved in an early-morning collision with another vehicle last month.

What has happened?

The incident occurred at 5am on Sunday 8 August.

Gbamin, 26, was exiting the M56 near his home in Hale Barns when his Audi RS Q8 collided with a Jaguar.

Following a breath test, he had 52 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

What was his punishment?

Mail Online reports that Gbamin was slapped with a £25,000 fine at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

It is also reported that he has been banned from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay £275 in costs and surcharges.

The court heard how Gbamin apologised for his actions.

He said: “I think my lawyer has said everything. I am sorry.”

Justice of the peace, Susanne O'Connell, told Gbamin: “Drink driving is considered to be a very serious offence.

“On the day in question, you collided with a Jaguar while over the alcohol limit and you are very fortunate that no serious injuries were caused.”

Will Everton take action?

Gbamin’s defence lawyer, John Dye, told the court that Everton will hit Gbamin with a fine.

Quoted by Mail Online, he said: “'I ask that you keep the disqualification period to a minimum and what may allow you to do that is his guilty plea. He is absolutely devastated to be here.

“This isn't his home country. He was born in the Ivory Coast and is a professional footballer. There is some press attention, causing him more embarrassment. Whatever happens here, he will be fined by the club as well.”

Background

Gbamin joined Everton from Mainz in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of £25 million.

However, his time at Goodison Park has been blighted by injury.

To date, he has made just four appearances for the Toffees, having suffered with various setbacks.

Gbamin has recently been sidelined with a thigh strain and played just once for Everton so far this term.