Moscow (AFP) – Portuguese striker Eder, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2016 final, has joined Lokomotiv Moscow on a season-long loan from French club Lille, the club said on Wednesday. Eder, 29, joined the Ligue 1 side in January 2016 from Premier League Swansea and his six goals in that first season […]

London (AFP) – Highly-rated full-back Kyle Walker-Peters said he was "buzzing" on Wednesday after signing a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur that ties him down until 2020. Walker-Peters came through the Spurs academy and was named man-of-the-match on his Premier League debut in the 2-0 win over Newcastle United earlier this month. "Buzzing to have […]

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney's true worth as a player has not been properly appreciated, according to England football great Gary Lineker. Rooney has looked rejuvenated since returning to Everton, the club that nurtured his talent when he was a teenager, after becoming an unhappy-looking peripheral figure at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho. The 31-year-old […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia's hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup have been dealt a blow after injury concerns forced skipper Mile Jedinak out of a 23-man squad to face Japan and Thailand in crunch qualifiers. Jedinak missed the Confederations Cup in June with a groin injury, and has yet to play for his English […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri was staying coy on talk of a big-money move to Barcelona amid reports he has already reached agreement on the terms of a contract with the Spanish giants. The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international played for Nice in their 2-0 defeat to Napoli on Tuesday that saw them […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria have recalled Chelsea ace Victor Moses as well as China-based striker Odion Ighalo for next month's 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon. Skipper Mikel John Obi is also back in the squad after being sidelined by an abdominal injury for four months. Meanwhile, there is an appearance for uncapped Israel-based striker […]

London (AFP) – Watford suffered an embarrassing League Cup exit as Championship side Bristol City beat the Premier League club 3-2 in the second round on Tuesday. Marco Silva's side were the only top-flight outfit to perish on a night when clubs showed their disdain for the competition by making 274 team changes across the […]

Paris (AFP) – A Jose Callejon goal helped Napoli ease into the Champions League group stage on Tuesday, while Sevilla also went through and Celtic suffered a scare in Kazakhstan before winning their play-off tie. Third in Serie A last season, Napoli were too strong for Nice, winning 2-0 in France with Callejon and Lorenzo […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Philippe Coutinho would be welcomed back into the squad because the unsettled Brazilan's attempts to force a move to Barcelona have not damaged their relationship. Coutinho handed in a transfer request earlier this month in a bid to convince Liverpool to sell him to Barca, who have […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo reiterated his anger at what he described as the "incomprehensible decision" to reject his final appeal against a five-match ban on Tuesday. Spain's administrative sports court (TAD) dismissed Real Madrid's latest appeal for the suspension handed out to the World Player of the Year for pushing a referee after being […]

London (AFP) – Southampton signed Netherlands defender Wesley Hoedt from Lazio for a reported £15 million (16.4 million euros, $19 million) on Tuesday. Hoedt agreed a five-year deal with the Premier League club and will arrive at St Mary's as a potential replacement for his compatriot Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk is a target for […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Al Ahly striker Amr Gamal joined Wits on a one-year loan Tuesday and will become the first Egyptian to play top-flight football in South Africa. Wits coach Gavin Hunt was impressed by the 25-year-old when the clubs met in a CAF Champions League qualifier this year and instigated lengthy negotiations. The […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Former French international midfielder Samir Nasri on Tuesday said he was relishing the challenge of playing for Antalyaspor, after signing for the Turkish Super Lig team following six years at Manchester City. Nasri stunned many by signing on Monday for the team from Turkey's Mediterranean resort city, which was only promoted to […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has apologised for being sent off in Monday's 1-1 draw with Everton. Walker, signed from Tottenham for £50 million ($64 million) in the close season, was dismissed for two bookings before half-time on his home debut at Eastlands. The England right-back earned his first yellow card in […]

Paris (AFP) – Celtic qualified for the lucrative Champions League group stage on Tuesday despite losing 4-3 to Astana in the second leg of their play-off in Kazakhstan. Patrick Twumasi scored twice as Astana, beaten 5-0 last week in Glasgow, threatened an incredible comeback before Brendan Rodgers' side secured their place with an 8-4 aggregate […]