London (AFP) – Arsenal announced the signing of Spain international Denis Suarez on loan for the rest of the season on Thursday's transfer deadline day. Suarez will link up again with Arsenal boss Unai Emery, with whom he worked during a loan spell at Sevilla in the 2014-15 season. The 25-year-old has played 71 games […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Asian Cup hosts the United Arab Emirates have protested the eligibility of two Qatari players on the eve of Qatar's appearance in Friday's final against Japan. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed to AFP on Thursday that it was investigating the case brought by the Emirati football association against the 2022 […]

Berlin (AFP) – English Under-17 world champion Emile Smith-Rowe is poised to become the latest UK teenager to play in the Bundesliga, with RB Leipzig reportedly set to sign the 18-year-old on loan on Thursday. Germany's top-selling daily Bild and magazine Kicker reported that Arsenal's Smith-Rowe is in Leipzig for a medical with the transfer […]

London (AFP) – Wolves announced the permanent signing of Jonny Otto for a joint club-record fee of £18 million ($24 million) on Thursday after the defender spent the first half of the season on loan at Molineux. The 24-year-old Spaniard has played 22 times for Wolves this season, scoring once, with the club sitting seventh […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Japan captain Maya Yoshida has warned that problems on and off the pitch are embarrassing the Asian Cup as the Blue Samurai prepare to face Qatar in Friday's final. The Southampton defender called on tournament organisers to deal swiftly with incidents of "stupidity" that, according to Yoshida, risk damaging the reputation […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Qatar's transformation from also-rans to Asian Cup finalists was meticulously planned and has been years in the making — and has finally given Qataris some swagger as they prepare to host the World Cup. The wealthy Gulf state has long projected its power through football, notably by winning the right to […]

Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Italian soccer star Sebastian Giovinco blasted Toronto FC management on Wednesday night, saying he doesn't trust the MLS team to tell the truth about his departure and that he was willing to take less money to stay in the city. "They may say I left for a more lucrative deal, but […]

Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Major League Soccer's Toronto FC announced Wednesday that they have transferred their all-time leading scorer Sebastian Giovinco to the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. "Replacing a player like Sebastian is difficult," said Toronto GM Ali Curtis. "But we are working diligently and are confident that we will be adding a new designated […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – While Japan have the Asian Cup pedigree, Qatar's over-achieving players might just feel that their name is on the trophy after a record-breaking run to their first-ever final. Against the backdrop of simmering political tension, the Qatari players were pelted with plastic bottles — and even shoes — by furious local […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp refused to be down-hearted despite his annoyance at being denied a strong second-half penalty claim in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday. The result, coming 24 hours after Premier League title rivals Manchester City were beaten at lowly Newcastle, saw Klopp's team extend their lead at the […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri questioned his ability to motivate Chelsea's spluttering stars after their humiliating 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday. The shocking result at Dean Court ranked as Chelsea's biggest league defeat for 22 years and was their fifth loss in the last 12 Premier League games. The Blues have dropped […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi believes Barcelona showed their appetite for the Copa del Rey by blowing away Sevilla 6-1 on Thursday to pull off a brilliant comeback and book their place in the semi-finals. Sevilla had won the first leg 2-0 but their lead was wiped out within 31 minutes at the Camp Nou, […]

Milan (AFP) – Four-time defending champions Juventus crashed out of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday with a 3-0 quarter-final defeat by Atalanta, as AS Roma suffered a humiliating 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Fiorentina. Juventus had been bidding for a fifth consecutive league and Cup double this season. But a Duvan Zapata brace after […]

Nantes (France) (AFP) – Nantes paid an emotional tribute to "warrior" Emiliano Sala at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Wednesday before their first match since their former striker's plane disappeared over the Channel last week. The 28-year-old had been travelling from Nantes to his new club Cardiff City when the plane went missing, with […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino praised his side's mentality after late strikes from Son Heung-min and Fernando Llorente earned a dramatic 2-1 victory against Watford on Wednesday to lift the club after a miserable week. Spurs dominated possession at Wembley but lacked inspiration without injured England pair Harry Kane and Dele Alli and […]