London (AFP) – Stan Kroenke moved to the brink of a full takeover of Arsenal on Tuesday after minority shareholder Alisher Usmanov accepted an offer worth £550 million ($712 million) for his stake. American businessman Kroenke currently owns 67 per cent of the Gunners through his company Kroenke Sports and Entertainment and has offered to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is closing in on a move to Real Madrid in a deal worth around 35 million euros ($41 million), Spanish media reported on Tuesday. "Courtois, decision imminent", Madrid sports daily Marca ran as its headline, claiming that the record 13-time European champions are "confident of his signing". "The […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke announced a bid to take full ownership of the club on Tuesday, aiming to turn Unai Emery's side into serial Premier League challengers after years of under-achievement. The American's company, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, currently owns 67 per cent of the Gunners and has offered to purchase […]

London (AFP) – Thibaut Courtois' failure to report to Chelsea training has heaped pressure on new manager Maurizio Sarri to find a new goalkeeper just two days before the Premier League transfer window closes. The 26-year-old Belgium international, linked with a move to Real Madrid, was granted an extended rest after his country finished third […]

London (AFP) – Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has signed for Burnley from Manchester City, with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak hailing his enormous contribution to the success of the Premier League champions. The 31-year-old, who failed to make the England squad for the World Cup, has signed a two-year contract with Burnley for an […]

Paris (AFP) – France's World Cup winners Kylian Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe and Alphonse Areola returned to training with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday after an extended break. The trio underwent routine medical tests on Monday with others who took part in Russia, where Mbappe was named the best young player after scoring four goals as France […]

Cairo (AFP) – Veteran Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has retired from international duty aged 45, after breaking the record for oldest player to appear at a World Cup in Russia. "After reflecting at length and asking God, I have decided to retire from international football," El Hadary wrote on Facebook late Monday. El […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has warned the club not to sell France World Cup star Paul Pogba and instead to focus on strengthening the squad. Speculation about the midfielder's future is rife, with reports of interest from Barcelona, but Ferdinand has told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward he must keep hold […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke on Tuesday announced an offer to take full ownership of the Premier League club in a deal worth £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion). The American sports mogul, who already owns 67 percent of the club through his company Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), has reached a deal with […]

Baghdad (AFP) – With players banned from travel, executives sacked and a national squad that just withdrew from the Asian Games, Iraqi football is paying the price for a string of age fraud scandals. Nearly five months ago, FIFA breathed life back into Iraqi football by lifting a three-decade ban on the country's hosting of […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not report to training with the Premier League side on Monday, casting further doubt over his future after being linked with a move to Real Madrid. The 26-year-old Belgium international was granted an extended rest after his country finished third at the World Cup, but he was […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle United have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of Venezuelan international Salomon Rondon on a season-long loan deal with Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction to West Bromwich Albion. Rondon scored 24 Premier League goals since joining the Baggies three years ago, but couldn't prevent West Brom's relegation to […]

Lyon (AFP) – Lyon captain Nabil Fekir insists he is happy at the club and looking forward to a successful season despite ongoing speculation over his future. The 25-year-old playmaker, a member of France's World Cup winning squad, was on the verge of a move to Liverpool in June before negotiations broke down. "As […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russia's international striker Artem Dzyuba, who became a national hero for his World Cup performance in the country last month, is now the voice of a popular Yandex navigation service. "We also watched the World Cup and also supported our team," Russian company Yandex said in a statement Monday. "We are […]

Tashkent (AFP) – Former Valencia and Egypt boss Hector Cuper was unveiled as Uzbekistan's new football coach Monday as the ex-Soviet country sets its sights on a first-ever World Cup qualification. Cuper, 62, whose most recent job was with the Egyptian national team, told journalists in the capital Tashkent that Uzbekistan can be "a strong […]