Berlin (AFP) – Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was all smiles on Wednesday as he trained with Borussia Dortmund, despite on-going speculation of a move to Arsenal. Germany winger Marco Reus also took part in the session as he returned from injury. The 28-year-old Aubameyang was dropped for Dortmund's last two league games after failing to attend […]

Beijing (AFP) – Beijing Guoan declined to confirm Cedric Bakambu's reported 40-million-euro signing on Wednesday — despite releasing a photo of what looks like the Congolese striker training with the club. A Guoan spokeswoman refused to confirm or deny whether a picture of a training session in Portugal featured Bakambu, who announced his departure from […]

Shanghai (AFP) – South African striker Dino Ndlovu spent three nights sheltering in a station toilet before going on to play Champions League football — and he is now embarking on the latest chapter in his career with a move to China. The well-travelled 27-year-old has swapped European football with Azerbaijan's Qarabag for Zhejiang Greentown, […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admitted he needs to add more quality to his side after they had to come from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Partick Thistle on Tuesday. The Hoops, who have already won the League Cup, are looking to retain the historic treble they claimed last season while […]

London (AFP) – No sooner had Phil Neville been appointed the new head coach of the England women's team on Tuesday than he found himself facing flak for "sexist" Tweets. A message from Neville's long-standing Twitter handle @fizzer18 on December 3 July 2012, said: "U women of (sic) always wanted equality until it comes to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sergio Escudero's goal after just 24 seconds set Sevilla on their way to a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid and a place in the Spanish Copa del Rey semi-finals on Tuesday. Sevilla, finalists in 2016, were in charge of this quarter-final with a 2-1 first leg success. And Escudero's lightning contribution all […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Substitute Leigh Griffiths helped inspire Celtic to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Partick Thistle in the Glasgow derby as the Scottish Premiership resumed following its winter break on Tuesday. The Hoops dominated possession in the first half but found themselves trailing at the break after Connor Sammon fired in a 34th minute […]

Paris (AFP) – Valere Germain came off the bench to score as Marseille claimed a 2-0 win at fourth-tier outfit Epinal on Tuesday to reach the French Cup last 16. Epinal, who pulled off a famous shock victory over Lyon in the 2013 French Cup, frustrated Marseille for long periods on a tricky pitch but […]

Bristol (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola saw his Manchester City side pushed hard before defeating second-tier Bristol City in an entertaining League Cup semi-final on Tuesday to leave him one game away from winning his first major trophy in English football. Guardiola's runaway Premier League leaders, eyeing an unprecedented quadruple in the one season […]

London (AFP) – Phil Neville has been appointed head coach of the England women's team until the end of the 2021 UEFA Women's Championships, the governing Football Association announced Tuesday. The 41-year-old former Manchester United, Everton and England defender succeeds Mark Sampson, who was sacked in September over allegations of misconduct in a previous role […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra has signed for Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The 32-year-old, who has signed a deal until June 2019, has been brought in as cover for Thiago Motta, who is 35 and has recently struggled with injury. "I am extremely happy to finally be able to […]

Paris (AFP) – The French league have ended their contract with German company GoalControl after a series of problems with its goal-line technology. The French had suspended use of the system on January 11 after "two serious dysfunctions" in the League Cup. "Taking account of the numerous anomalies in the GoalControl system, we have agreed […]

London (AFP) – Burnley manager Sean Dyche has signed a new contract that will keep him at Turf Moor for a further four-and-a-half years, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday. The 46-year-old, in charge of the northwest side since October 2012, is widely regarded as one of the best of the current crop of […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that defender Javier Mascherano will leave the club this month, with Spanish media reporting the Argentinian is heading to Hebei China Fortune. The Catalan giants said the 33-year-old would be given an official farewell on Wednesday and say goodbye to fans at Thursday's Copa del Rey quarter-final, second […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Brazil forward Robinho signed on Tuesday with Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor, the club said, even though he has been sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison in Italy for rape. Sivasspor, based in the city of Sivas in central Anatolia, said the former AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester City player […]