Justice Served: Goalkeeper Donnarumma's Burglary Mastermind Jailed for 9 Years

A French court has delivered a verdict in the traumatic case of a violent burglary at the Paris home of Manchester City and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Two men were sentenced to prison for their roles in the harrowing incident, which saw the footballer assaulted and his then-pregnant partner choked with a cable. The proceedings brought a legal conclusion to a deeply distressing episode for Donnarumma and Alessia Elefante.

Ilyas Kherbouch, identified by prosecutors as the mastermind behind the robbery, received a nine-year prison sentence and an €80,000 fine from the Paris Criminal Court. Kherbouch, 21, also known as “Ganito,” had previously gained notoriety for escaping from Villepinte prison in Seine-Saint-Denis in March. His co-defendant, Moktar D., was handed a five-year sentence, with two years suspended, and will also serve a period under probation. These sentences reflect the court's view on the severity of their involvement in the attack.

A third individual, Khyan M., 22, known as “Kiki,” faced allegations of helping orchestrate the robbery from prison but was ultimately acquitted by the court. This acquittal stood in contrast to the prosecutors' initial requests, who had sought a maximum 10-year sentence for Kherbouch, nine years for Khyan M., and six years for Moktar D. The court's decisions, while not entirely aligning with the prosecution's proposals, nonetheless imposed substantial penalties on the primary perpetrators.

The violent attack unfolded in July 2025 at Donnarumma’s Paris residence. A group of intruders forcibly entered the property, confronting the goalkeeper and his fiancée, Alessia Elefante. Donnarumma, who is now 27, was subjected to a violent assault during the raid. Tragically, Elefante, who was pregnant at the time, was choked with a cable. The trauma from the incident had devastating consequences, as she later suffered a miscarriage that was attributed to the ordeal. The court hearings meticulously detailed the extreme violence inflicted upon the couple during what should have been the safety of their home.

This high-profile case underscores growing security concerns for professional footballers in France, particularly those residing in the affluent Paris region. For Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alessia Elefante, the convictions represent a critical step towards closure, bringing a legal resolution to a violent attack that left lasting emotional and physical scars. The verdict reaffirms the justice system's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for such egregious acts.