London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur have ended their transfer drought with the capture of 18-year-old winger Jack Clarke from Leeds for an undisclosed on a four-year deal. However, Clarke will spend the 2019-20 season back at Leeds on loan to aid their bid to finally win promotion back to English football's top flight. Clarke becomes […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Champions League-winning manager Rafael Benitez said Tuesday that he will join Chinese top-tier side Dalian Yifang, just days after his three-year reign at English club Newcastle United came to an end. "After a long path... We start a new challenge! I'm happy to begin this new project with Dalian Yifang," the Spaniard […]

Bangkok (AFP) – Akira Nishino, who led Japan to the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup, has been appointed head coach of Thailand's national and under-23 teams. "Akira Nishino has agreed to be the head coach for Thailand's national team and under-23 team to compete in several significant tournaments," said a Football Association of […]

Paris (AFP) – The Netherlands stand one step away from their first ever women's World Cup final thanks to a core of players aiming to conquer the world after taking Arsenal back to the top in England. Vivianne Miedema's thumping headed opener in their 2-0 quarter-final win over Italy on Saturday helped give her side […]

Porto Alegre (Brazil) (AFP) – Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal says the reigning Copa America champions are focused on making history ahead of their semi-final against Peru. The 2015 and 2016 champions are aiming for a third continental title in a row, a feat only achieved once before by Argentina in successive years from 1945-47. "We […]

Porto Alegre (Brazil) (AFP) – "All you need is love" sung the Beatles in their 1967 release of the same name, and according to Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda, that's what's been missing from Manchester United misfit Alexis Sanchez's game over the last 18 months. Over three and a half seasons with Arsenal following his £35 […]

Lyon (AFP) – England star Lucy Bronze believes the time has come for the Lionesses to make it to the final of the women's World Cup as they head into Tuesday's huge last-four showdown with holders the United States, led by the outspoken Megan Rapinoe. It is another headline match-up as this landmark tournament shifts […]

Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – Brazil coach Tite admitted on Monday he's been having sleepless nights ahead of the Copa America semi-final against Argentina. Tite took over from the sacked Dunga following Brazil's poor performance at the 2016 Centenario Copa America and said that he is just as nervous now as he was during his […]

Lyon (AFP) – Nikita Parris saw her elder sister make history as an Olympic boxer, and now she is hoping it will be her turn when she runs out for England against the United States in the women's World Cup semi-finals. England are through to their third consecutive major tournament semi-final. They fell at this […]

Cairo (AFP) – Liverpool star Sadio Mane scored twice after having a penalty saved as Senegal defeated Kenya 3-0 in Cairo Monday to book an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 place. The Champions League-winning forward had a timidly-struck first half penalty saved by Patrick Matasi before making amends with a brace after a goalless […]

Cairo (AFP) – Namibia coach Ricardo Mannetti conceded his team were "not good enough" to compete at the Africa Cup of Nations after their campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat by Ivory Coast on Monday. Drawn in the toughest section of the competition alongside the 2015 champions, Morocco and neighbours South Africa, Namibia's first finals […]

Cairo (AFP) – Wilfried Zaha scored on his first start at this year's Africa Cup of Nations as Ivory Coast clinched a place in the last 16 with a 4-1 victory over Namibia on Monday. Max Gradel's precise finish and an own goal by Ryan Nyambe put the 2015 champions in control in Cairo, with […]

Lyon (AFP) – Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema admitted her team have had to cope with the pressure of an expectant support back home on their run to the semi-finals of the women's World Cup. Miedema recently became the all-time top scorer for a Dutch side who have made it to the last four of the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid have agreed to turn Gelson Martins' loan move to Monaco into a permanent transfer, the two clubs announced on Monday. Martins has signed a five-year contract with Monaco after playing for the French team from late January until the end of last season. "AS Monaco is thrilled to announce the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea secured the signing of Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal from Real Madrid on Monday after he spent last season on loan at Stamford Bridge. Kovacic made 51 appearances as the Blues secured a return to the Champions League by finishing third in the Premier League and winning the […]