London (AFP) – Peter Crouch is back in the Premier League after the former England striker joined Burnley from Stoke on Thursday. Crouch linked up with Sean Dyche's side after Burnley agreed to swap Wales striker Sam Wolves for the 6ft 7in (201cm) former Liverpool and Tottenham star. The 38-year-old has scored 108 goals in […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona have announced the signing of Emerson from Atletico Mineiro but the 20-year-old Brazilian will play for Real Betis on loan until June. In a statement on Thursday, Barca said the cost of the transfer will be 12 million euros and that Emerson has agreed a contract at the Camp Nou until […]

Berlin (AFP) – English Under-17 world champion Emile Smith-Rowe and West Ham defender Reece Oxford on Thursday joined the trend of UK youngsters heading for the Bundesliga as the pair signed loan deals with separate German clubs. Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe, 18, completed a medical and signed for RB Leipzig until the end of the season, […]

Paris (AFP) – With the January transfer window closing on Thursday evening, AFP Sport picks out some of the main deals to go through around Europe on deadline day: ENGLAND – Newcastle United have signed Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron from MLS Cup winners Atlanta United, reportedly for a club-record fee. The 24-year-old penned a five-and-a-half-year […]

London (AFP) – David Beckham will be unveiled as co-owner of Salford City on Saturday after the Football Association approved his application to become a director of the non-league club. Earlier this month, Beckham revealed he would join his former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Phil Neville in […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic captain Scott Brown ended speculation over a move abroad by announcing Thursday he had signed a two-year contract extension with the Scottish champions. The 33-year-old midfielder is now set to stay at Parkhead until 2021, meaning the former Scotland skipper will have spent 14 years with the Glasgow giants. Brown, who […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Success-starved giants Kaizer Chiefs were paired with third-tier amateur opponents for the second successive round when the South Africa FA Cup round-of-16 draw was made Thursday. Chiefs, winners of a record 53 domestic titles but without a trophy for 44 months, travel to Cape Town in mid-February to take on The […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha could receive an extended ban after the Football Association charged him with improper conduct for the way he reacted to being sent-off against Southampton. The forward was dismissed after 87 minutes in Wednesday's 1-1 Premier League draw at St Mary's when he received two yellow cards in quick […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich, who face Liverpool away in a mouth-watering Champions League last 16 tie next month, insist it is not a problem having no direct back-up to their deadly centre-forward striker Robert Lewandowski. Sandro Wagner was sold to Chinese Super League (CLS) side Tianjin Teda on Wednesday for a reported transfer fee […]

Beijing (AFP) – A London-born former England youth international signed for Beijing Guoan on Thursday and will take Chinese citizenship, in a landmark move for Chinese football. Ex-Arsenal player Nico Yennaris arrived from English second-tier side Brentford and was joined at Guoan by fellow midfielder John Hou Saeter, who was born in Norway. The duo […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says there is no place for "cowards" in his team as they prepare for a must-win CAF Champions League matchday 3 clash Friday. The South African outfit, who won the elite African club competition in 2016, host ASEC Mimosas from the Ivory Coast with both sides having […]

London (AFP) – Midfielder Miguel Almiron has joined Newcastle from MLS outfit Atlanta, the Premier League side announced on Thursday, reportedly for a club-record fee. The 24-year-old has penned a five-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £20 million ($26 million), that will keep him at St. James's Park […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Samuel Umtiti has begun light training as the Barcelona defender continues his recovery from a knee injury, the club said on Thursday. Umtiti has struggled with a knee problem since the start of the season but resumed training, separate from the first team, on Monday. According to Barcelona, Umtiti said he "feels […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said on Thursday he is ready to return to coaching but insisted he had not received any offers in Italy. The Italian was sacked by Chelsea in July, despite leading the club to the FA Cup, with compatriot Maurizio Sarri taking over. "I miss the pitch, but […]

London (AFP) – Anthony Martial has signed a new contract that will keep him at Manchester United until June 2024, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old Frenchman has made 162 appearances and scored 46 goals since making his debut for the club against Liverpool in September 2015. "I am loving my time […]