London (AFP) – Christian Eriksen fired the fastest Premier League goal of the season as the Tottenham midfielder's strike after 11 seconds inspired a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday. In the Premier League era, Eriksen's express finish is tied for second quickest with a Mark Viduka effort for Leeds against Charlton in 2001. […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud was a helpless spectator as Chelsea slumped to a shock 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League on Wednesday. Giroud had completed a move across London from Arsenal worth a reported £18 million ($26 million, 21 million euros) earlier in the day, but the deal was done too late […]

Paris (AFP) – Radamel Falcao struck twice as Monaco saw off Montpellier 2-0 on Wednesday to set up a French League Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. Falcao put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute at the Stade Louis II, before Monaco were denied a penalty by the video assistant referee system. The Colombian doubled […]

London (AFP) – Christian Eriksen took just 11 seconds to fire Tottenham into the lead against Manchester United with the second fastest goal in Premier League history on Wednesday. With fans still getting settled in their seats at Wembley, Eriksen's quickfire strike was second only to Ledley King's 9.9-second effort for Tottenham against Bradford in […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists the Copa del Rey holders won't overlook a Valencia side weakened by injuries ahead of Thursday's semi-final first leg at the Camp Nou. "When you get to the semi-final you have to make the most of your luck," Valverde told a news conference on Wednesday. "A semi-final, […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester United have held onto their position as the top football club online in China, with Barcelona star Lionel Messi the number one player, a report said. The annual Red Card report by Shanghai-based sports digital consultancy Mailman found Jose Mourinho's side are the best-performing club for the second year in a […]

London (AFP) – Brazil winger Lucas Moura challenged his new Tottenham Hotspur team-mates to win the Champions League after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a contract that will keep him with the Premier League club until 2023. No fee has been disclosed by Spurs following Wednesday's transfer deadline day deal, but reports in the British […]

Madrid (AFP) – Argentina international Augusto Fernandez has been sold to Chinese Super League team Beijing Renhe by Atletico Madrid, the La Liga club announced on Wednesday. "Augusto Fernandez has been sold to Beijing Renhe from the Chinese Super League," said Atletico in a statement. "His hard work and never give up attitude after his […]

London (AFP) – Brazil winger Lucas Moura has joined Tottenham Hotspur from Paris Saint-Germain on a contract until 2023, the English Premier League club announced on Wednesday's transfer deadline day. The 25-year-old — capped 34 times — expressed his sadness to French sports daily L'Equipe earlier this week at being frozen out by PSG, with […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o on Wednesday signed a contract with Turkish top-flight club Konyaspor after parting ways with Antalyaspor, who also saw Samir Nasri leave by mutual consent. "Eto'o is a very important player in the world and in Turkey. We are happy to see him in Konyaspor," […]

Damascus (AFP) – Veteran German coach Bernd Stange took charge of the Syrian national team on Wednesday, his sixth international appointment in a career which has also included a stint with Iraq. The 69-year-old, who started his career in East Germany, has also managed Oman, Belarus and Singapore as well as two years with Iraq […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee of around £56 million on Wednesday, with Olivier Giroud moving to Chelsea as part of a complicated transfer jigsaw. But as the clock ticked down to the closure of the transfer window in England at 2300 GMT, Manchester City were reported […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund signed Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea just before the German transfer window closed on Wednesday — hours after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure to Arsenal. Having sold Aubameyang to the Gunners, who spent a club record £56 million ($79.2m, 63.7m euros), Dortmund have already secured his replacement, just before the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea signed France striker Olivier Giroud from London rivals Arsenal on Wednesday's transfer deadline day, freeing up Michy Batshuayi to leave Stamford Bridge on loan to German side Borussia Dortmund. Premier League champions Chelsea revealed on their website that Giroud had signed an 18-month contract, with the 31-year-old saying: "Chelsea is one […]

Moscow (AFP) – Spartak Moscow signed Algerian international midfielder Sofiane Hanni from Belgian giants Anderlecht on Wednesday, the reigning Russian champions announced. Spartak have reportedly signed the 27-year-old on a three-and-a-half year contract. No financial details of the deal were disclosed. Hanni scored 18 goals in 61 league matches for Anderlecht, helping the club win […]