Berlin (AFP) – Belgian international midfielder Axel Witsel is "on the cusp" of joining Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal, the Bundesliga club announced on Monday. The 29-year-old has been playing for Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian since January 2017, but his strong performances in Belgium's run to the World Cup semi-finals have paved the way […]

London (AFP) – Brazilian international Willian has given Chelsea a huge boost by committing his future to the Premier League giants as the futures of Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard remain in doubt. Willian was also linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea rebuffed offers from Barcelona earlier in the transfer window […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea defender David Luiz has urged Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard to stay at Stamford Bridge but the Brazilian believes the Blues can thrive if the pair leave. Courtois, 26, has a year remaining on his contract and has been repeatedly linked with a move to Real Madrid. Chelsea risk losing him […]

London (AFP) – American centre-back Matt Miazga has joined Nantes on a season-long loan from Chelsea with an option to buy, the French side confirmed on Monday. Miazga, 23, has made just two appearances for Chelsea since joining from New York Red Bulls in January 2016, and spent the past two seasons on loan in […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the English champions settled back into their stride by beating Chelsea 2-0 to win the Community Shield in an ominous performance for the rest of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's men begin their title defence at Arsenal on Sunday, looking to […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho has warned Manchester United face a "difficult season" if they do not strengthen their squad before the Premier League transfer window shuts on Thursday. United's build-up to the new campaign has been dominated by Mourinho's clear frustration over transfers, which has brought his relationship with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward into […]

Shanghai (AFP) – China's football authority said Monday it was investigating reports that Senegalese striker Demba Ba was subjected to racial slurs by an opposing Chinese player during a weekend match, vowing "stern punishment" if the incident proved true. The African former Chelsea forward, now with Shanghai Shenhua, became embroiled in a heated confrontation with […]

Sydney (AFP) – Japanese star Keisuke Honda Monday signed for reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory with the former AC Milan striker calling it the best club in Australia. Honda, who retired from international football after Japan's heartbreaking World Cup exit in a last-gasp defeat to Belgium, put pen to paper for the 2018/19 season. "It […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho admitted that he may not have his ideal side at his disposal when Manchester United open their Premier League campaign on Friday. United's roller-coaster pre-season ended in defeat on Sunday when Javi Martinez's second-half header earned Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at the Allianz Arena. Spain international Martinez nodded […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City cruised to an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday. Here AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the annual curtain raiser to the English top-flight season: Foden shows his potential Hailed as the 'Stockport Iniesta' for the way his smooth passing […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Javi Martinez's second-half header earned Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the Allianz Arena on Sunday in a final pre-season test for both sides ahead of the new campaign. Spain international Martinez nodded in from a corner on 59 minutes as the German champions overcame a lacklustre display from […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City's Premier League rivals that the champions are still well below their peak despite powering to a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield. Guardiola's team wrapped up their pre-season preparations by sweeping aside Chelsea in the prestigious friendly at Wembley on Sunday. Sergio Aguero's early […]

London (AFP) – Algerian international winger Rachid Ghezzal signed for Premier League Leicester City on Sunday from Monaco, linking up again with coach Claude Puel who helped guide his junior career. The 26-year-old becomes Leicester's fifth summer signing after the arrivals of Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira and Danny Ward. Puel was in charge of […]

London (AFP) – Former Argentina and Chile manager Marcelo Bielsa enjoyed a highly satisfactory first outing in England's second-tier Championship as sleeping giants Leeds United outclassed Stoke City 3-1 on Sunday. Bielsa, Leeds's 11th coach in six years, watched on largely silently as goals by Mateusz Klich, Pablo Hernandez and captain Liam Cooper were more […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Italy defender Paolo Maldini, who spent his entire 25-year playing career at AC Milan, is returning to the club as their sporting strategy and development director. The appointment of the 50-year-old Maldini in the new role is part of Milan's attempt to restore the club to past glories having finished no […]