Berlin (AFP) – Second-half goals from Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer secured a routine 2-0 win for Borussia Dortmund over third-division side KFC Uerdingen in the first round of the German Cup on Friday. Full of energy after their 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the German Supercup last weekend, Dortmund were forced to be […]

London (AFP) – Saudi Arabia will host the world heavyweight title rematch between Britain's Anthony Joshua and champion Andy Ruiz Jr of the United States in December, a decision certain to spark controversy due to the Gulf kingdom's human rights record. The high-profile December 7 duel, dubbed 'Clash on the Dunes', will see Joshua trying […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac will miss their side's Premier League opener at Newcastle on Sunday after "further security incidents" involving the pair, the north London club announced. Ozil and Kolasinac were caught in an attempted car-jacking in the English capital last month, with the defender leaping from the vehicle […]

Madrid (AFP) – Former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa completed a surprise move from Borussia Dortmund to Spanish second-tier side Real Zaragoza on Friday. The 30-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Zaragoza who finished 15th in the Segunda Division last season and have not played in the top flight since 2013. Kagawa has won […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2024. The 26-year-old's new deal is a reward for his superb end to last season, which included a hat-trick in Tottenham's thrilling Champions League semi-final win at Ajax. Lucas was a […]

London (AFP) – Manager Unai Emery says Arsenal can challenge for a top-four place in the Premier League despite admitting more players could leave before the European transfer deadlines. Emery made six signings during the English transfer window, including Chelsea defender David Luiz and Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney. But Alex Iwobi left for Everton, Carl […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insists there was no rift with David Luiz after claims the Brazil defender went on strike before his shock move to Arsenal. Luiz joined Arsenal in an £8 million ($7.25 million) deal on Thursday after reportedly falling out with Lampard over what he perceived as a diminished role […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazilian football star Neymar said he was "relieved" on Friday after a judge in Sao Paulo dismissed the rape case against the Paris Saint Germain forward citing insufficient evidence. "I'll be sincere and I'm not going to say I'm happy, but yes, relieved," said Neymar in an Instagram post. The decision […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino fears the decision to shut the Premier League transfer window before many of the other major leagues could "create a mess" at Tottenham Hotspur. Pochettino signed Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis on Thursday's deadline day after breaking their transfer record on Lyon's Tanguy Ndombele earlier […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City winger Leroy Sane will be out of action for at least six months as he requires surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, coach Pep Guardiola said Friday. Sane suffered the injury less than 15 minutes into the Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley last Sunday. The injury […]

London (AFP) – Ilkay Gundogan, Pep Guardiola's first signing as Manchester City manager, has signed a three-year contract extension with the Premier League champions, the club announced on Friday. The 28-year-old German international midfielder — who was entering the final year of his present contract and will now be tied to the club to 2023 […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – A Brazilian judge on Friday dismissed the rape case against footballer Neymar citing insufficient evidence, a court spokesman told AFP. The decision — the final episode in the rape case hanging over the Brazilian international superstar for months — comes on the recommendation of prosecutors just over a month after police […]

London (AFP) – Austrian international Kevin Danso has signed for English Premier League side Southampton on loan from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg. The 20-year-old central defender — capped six times — has received international clearance for the move with Saints sealing the loan deal before Thursday's transfer window shut. Danso — who will not play in […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha had hoped to be lining up on the opening weekend of the Premier League season for Everton against the London club. Instead Zaha is still at Palace amid reports of growing tension with his boyhood club after they blocked his big move to Merseyside over money. Coach Roy […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted on Friday that Manchester United can cope without Romelu Lukaku following the striker's transfer to Inter Milan, saying that it was time for him to move on despite the lack of a replacement. Lukaku joined the Serie A club on Thursday, the Premier League's transfer deadline […]