Milan (AFP) – France midfielder Blaise Matuidi is on the verge of signing for Juventus, who have agreed to pay Paris Saint-Germain a reported 20 million euros plus bonuses, after undergoing a medical on Wednesday. Matuidi, who won four consecutive league titles with PSG, was met by dozens of enthusiastic fans on his arrival at […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo blasted his treatment by the Spanish Football Federation as "persecution" after his appeal against a five-game ban was rejected on Wednesday. The World Player of the Year will miss the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona later on Wednesday (kick off 2100GMT) and Madrid's first four games […]

Beijing (AFP) – China's Under-20 team will play matches in the fourth tier of German football this season as part of a drive to ramp up the fortunes of the much-maligned national side. However, three teams in Germany have refused to face the Chinese with one club claiming it's a just a blatant commercial gesture. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will be suspended for Real Madrid's Spanish Super Cup, second leg against Barcelona on Wednesday evening after his appeal against a five-game ban was dismissed. The Spanish football federation's (RFEF) appeals committee "dismissed the appeal presented by Real Madrid", the RFEF said in a statement on Wednesday. Ronaldo will also […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has claimed that star striker Kylian Mbappe was left on the bench last weekend "to protect him" rather than as a punishment. The 18-year-old sensation reportedly wants away from the French champions, with Paris Saint-Germain his favoured destination but Real Madrid also reportedly ready to pay 180 million […]

London (AFP) – Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson is due to complete a £45 million ($58m, 49.4m euros) move to Everton from Premier League rivals Swansea City later on Wednesday after he passed a medical, Everton manager Ronaldo Koeman announced. The 27-year-old, due to sign a five-year contract worth £100,000 a week, would be Everton's record […]

London (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez and Arsenal remain at an impasse over new contract talks, manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday. Wenger's admission will only heighten speculation the 28-year-old Chile international forward will join Premier League rivals Manchester City. Sanchez, who played under City manager Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, is presently injured with an abdominal […]

Beijing (AFP) – China's Under-20 team will play matches in the fourth tier of German football this season as part of a drive to ramp up the fortunes of the much-maligned national side. China's Communist government, led by football fan President Xi Jinping, is throwing money at the sport in hopes of ending years of […]

London (AFP) – Iceland midfielder is due to complete a £45 million ($58m, 49.4m euros) move to Everton from Premier League rivals Swansea later on Wednesday if he passes a medical, British media reported. The 27-year-old, due to sign a five year contract worth £100,000 a week, would be Everton's record signing, topping the […]

Paris (AFP) – Spanish forward Jese has joined Stoke City on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the two clubs announced on Wednesday. "Jese was a man in demand when PSG made it clear they would allow him to leave on loan and we're delighted he has chosen to join us," said Stoke chief executive […]

London (AFP) – Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunning freekick for Liverpool in their 2-1 Champions League win over Hoffenheim had the British media purring 'Who needs Coutinho?' in reference to the want-away Brazilian star. The 18-year-old's opening goal for Liverpool in the tie in Germany — setting them up nicely for next week's home leg — incited […]

Shanghai (AFP) – It is the World Cup final and China beat one of the traditional heavyweights showcasing a brand of fast, attacking football that their opponents cannot live with. That, along with hosting the World Cup, is the dream of Chinese President Xi Jinping — and a Dane at a leading Chinese club is […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James blasted Donald Trump on Tuesday for making hate "fashionable again", saying individuals must combat racism and not look to the "so-called president". James reacted swiftly after the US president reiterated his opinion that there was "blame on both sides" in the deadly racial unrest in Charlottesville […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai Shenhua denied suggestions that Carlos Tevez's career in China was over and said Wednesday they expected him to return after the Argentine went home for treatment on a muscle injury. The 33-year-old forward, one of the best-paid players in the world on reported weekly wages of around 730,000 euros ($850,000), has […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich kick off the new Bundesliga season on Friday with the coaches of 13 of their 17 rivals expecting them to dominate again — although Usain Bolt's recent shock defeat is being used as inspiration. Bayern host Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in the season opener, with the Bavarians the […]