Lisbon (AFP) – Portuguese champions Benfica needed a stoppage-time strike from summer signing Haris Seferovic to secure a 1-0 win away to Chaves in their second outing of the new campaign on Monday. The Swiss international forward turned in a Rafa Silva assist in the 92nd minute to make it two wins from two outings […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Algerian international midfielder Sofiane Feghouli has agreed to join Turkish side Galatasaray from West Ham United on a five-year deal, the Istanbul club said Monday. Galatasaray will pay West Ham a transfer fee of 4.25 million euros ($5 million) while the player will receive an annual wage of 3.85 million euros plus […]

Hoffenheim (Germany) (AFP) – Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson admitted Monday that he is powerless to influence Philippe Coutinho's thinking, after the Brazilian reportedly submitted a transfer request on Friday. Jurgen Klopp's men are in Germany ahead of Tuesday's first leg of their Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim and Coutinho, who has a back injury, did […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona made Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho their first signing since banking a world record fee for Neymar on Monday after agreeing a 40 million-euro ($47 million) fee with Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande. "Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Paulinho Bezerra for 40 million euros," […]

London (AFP) – Southampton have entered into a partnership with Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng, the Premier League club's owner Katharina Liebherr announced on Monday. "I am pleased to confirm that talks to bring in a new partner to our club have been concluded," said Liebherr in an open letter to supporters on the club website. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo was hit with a five-match ban by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday for pushing the referee after being sent-off in Real Madrid's 3-1 Spanish Super Cup, first leg win over Barcelona on Sunday. The World Player of the Year received an automatic one-match ban for his dismissal and an […]

Paris (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar took little time to seduce the press in his new home with a goalscoring debut for Paris Saint-Germain at Guingamp. "Already charmed," said sports daily l'Equipe in response to the 25-year-old's starring role in Sunday's 3-0 win in Brittany. "An assist, a goal, class play: NEYMAR succeeded in his […]

Madrid (AFP) – Sevilla have tied down Spanish international goalkeeper Sergio Rico by extending his contract to 2021, the club announced on Monday. The 23-year-old has "assured he remains with the team he has been with all his life for at least the next four years," Sevilla said in a statement. Despite his tender age, […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona made Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho their first signing since banking a world record fee for Neymar on Monday after agreeing a 40 million euro ($47 million) fee with Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande. "Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Paulinho Bezerra for 40 million […]

London (AFP) – For Chelsea's supporters, Saturday's calamitous 3-2 loss at home to Burnley will have immediately rekindled uncomfortable memories of their last Premier League title defence. In 2015, Chelsea lost nine of their opening 16 games, costing manager Jose Mourinho his job, and eventually drifted to a 10th-place finish. The new campaign is only […]

London (AFP) – Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho has been left out of Liverpool's squad for their Champions League play-off first-leg match away to Hoffenheim on Tuesday. The Brazil playmaker, 25, missed Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Watford on Saturday due to a back problem. But he submitted a transfer request the day before the game and […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Still reeling from having Neymar snatched away by Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona started their season badly in need of reasons for optimism, but instead got a view of the growing gap they face to catch rivals Real Madrid. Madrid emerged 3-1 victors from the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, […]

London (AFP) – Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Diego Costa has launched an angry broadside against both the club and manager Antonio Conte, accusing them of treating him like a "criminal". Costa, 28, has been informed by Conte that he has no future at the club and having been frozen out of the first-team squad, the Brazil-born […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Brazil international Paulinho's imminent move to Barcelona from Guangzhou Evergrande is proof of the strength of the Chinese Super League (CSL), Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas said. The 29-year-old midfielder Paulinho is reportedly poised to sign for the Spanish giants for 40 million euros and he could be unveiled as a Barcelona […]

Nailsworth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – English football club Forest Green Rovers, run by a former nomad turned renewable energy entrepreneur, are proudly boasting their credentials as a pioneer in environmental sustainability. As at every football ground in the country, chips, pies and beer are on offer at New Lawn, their 5,000-capacity, eco-friendly ground in Nailsworth, […]