Glasgow (AFP) – Scottish champions Celtic failed to make the most of a man advantage as AEK Athens held out for a 1-1 draw in Glasgow on Wednesday to take the upper hand in their Champions League third qualifying round tie. The hosts got off to a flyer when Callum McGregor rewarded a positive start […]

London (AFP) – The Premier League roars back into action on Friday after another frenetic summer of transfer spending in the richest league in the world. Champions Manchester City are favourites to become the first side in a decade to retain the title. However, hopes are high that Liverpool can end a near three-decade wait […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United have to defy their own manager Jose Mourinho's fears for a season of doom and gloom when they kick off the Premier League campaign against Leicester City on Friday. Mourinho has repeatedly called for more backing in the transfer market if United are to close the record 19-point […]

London (AFP) – There is little time for the Premier League's stars to shake off a World Cup hangover as less than a month on from Russia's summer showpiece, the chase to catch champions Manchester City begins in earnest on Friday. On top of the quick turnaround from the World Cup, a shortened transfer window […]

London (AFP) – Spain's Kepa Arrizabalaga became the most expensive goalkeeper in history on Wednesday after Chelsea confirmed his 80 million euro (£71.6 million, $92 million) move from Athletic Bilbao. Kepa's arrival at Stamford Bridge came shortly after Chelsea had agreed to sell Belgian international 'keeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid for a reported fee […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea and Real Madrid agreed terms on Wednesday for the transfer of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois subject to the agreement of personal terms and passing a medical. The deal should now pave the way for Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga to join Chelsea for a record 80 million euro (£71.6 million, $92 million) […]

Reims (France) (AFP) – South Korean international forward Suk Hyun-jun has signed for Ligue 1 outfit Reims, the newly-promoted club announced on Wednesday, just weeks after joining fellow French side Troyes. Suk scored six goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances for Troyes on loan from Porto last season, but couldn't prevent the team from suffering […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea are ready to shatter the world-record fee for a goalkeeper as their imminent £71-million swoop for Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga looks set to steal the spotlight before the Premier League transfer window slams shut. While the rest of Europe's leading leagues don't close the transfer window until later in August, England's […]

Reykjavik (AFP) – Former Sweden coach Erik Hamren was on Wednesday announced as Iceland's new manager, replacing Heimir Hallgrimsson who stepped down after leading the island nation to its first World Cup in Russia. Selected ahead of 30 other candidates, the 61-year-old now faces the task of taking the team to Euro 2020, which would […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luka Modric returned to training at Real Madrid on Wednesday along with five other World Cup players, against a background of contradictory rumours about his future. One Spanish sports daily, AS, reported that the midfielder who led Croatia to the World Cup final was subject to a big bid from Inter Milan, […]

London (AFP) – American businessman and entrepreneur Stan Kroenke is unlikely to be upset by the outpouring of heated opposition from Arsenal fans following his takeover of historic Premier League club. The hard-nosed multi-billionaire from Columbia, Missouri, who joined the American invasion of English football over a decade ago, has absorbed a steady volume of abuse […]

London (AFP) – The debate over the damage inflicted by heading a football took another turn on Wednesday as a leading expert in brain injuries said children under the age of 18 should not be allowed to. Doctor Bennett Omalu, who was the first specialist to discover how American footballers were affected by the brain […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham forward Harry Kane celebrated the arrival of his second child on Wednesday. Kane's fiancee Kate Goodland gave birth to Vivienne Jane Kane and the England captain took to Twitter to reveal the news. "Our beautiful addition to the family! Vivienne Jane Kane. So proud of Kate for having the most amazing […]

Madrid (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao said on Wednesday that Kepa Arrizabalaga has paid his 80-million-euro ($93 million) buyout clause, paving the way for the Spain international to join Chelsea as the world's most expensive goalkeeper. The 23-year-old is expected to replace Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge for a record fee that would surpass the 72.5 […]

London (AFP) – Spanish winger Adama Traore became Premier League new boys Wolverhampton Wanderers' fifth signing of the close season on Wednesday after joining from second-tier Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old, capped by Spain at various age groups up to Under-21 level, signed a five-year contract for a reported fee of £18 million ($23 million, 20 million […]