Doha (AFP) – Qatar's leading clubs stole the limelight from their UAE rivals on Tuesday on a dramatic day in the Asian Champions League. Recently-crowned Qatar Stars League champions Al Duhail edged past Sharjah 2-1 and league runners Al Sadd twice rallying from a goal down to hold Al Ain 3-3. While for Al Duhail it […]

The Hague (AFP) – Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said on Tuesday that his Barcelona counterpart Josep Maria Bartomeu told him the Catalan giants could not afford Memphis Depay after reports in Dutch media a deal was almost complete. De Telegraaf reported earlier on Tuesday that Netherlands forward Depay was set to join compatriots Frenkie de […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vowed to become an Arsenal "legend" as the Gunners captain ended speculation over his future by signing a new three-year contract on Tuesday. Aubameyang's contract saga had dragged on since last season amid speculation he wanted to join a club in the Champions League. But the Gabon forward revealed he […]

London (AFP) – West Brom on Tuesday announced the signing of former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, who arrives at the Hawthorns on a free transfer from Zenit St Petersburg. The Serbia international won three Premier League titles and the Champions League during his nine-year spell at Stamford Bridge, which ended in 2017. West Brom marked […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended speculation over his Arsenal future on Tuesday as the Gunners captain signed a new three-year contract with the FA Cup holders. Aubameyang's contract saga had dragged on since last season amid speculation he wanted to join a club in the Champions League. The Gabon forward revealed he had committed […]

The Hague (AFP) – Dutch striker Memphis Depay is on his way to Barcelona from Lyon in a transfer worth 25 million euros ($29.6 million), Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Tuesday. If the deal goes through, the 26-year-old international will join compatriots Frenkie de Jong and coach Ronald Koeman, who started Depay regularly when […]

Bellinzona (Switzerland) (AFP) – FIFA's former secretary general Jerome Valcke complained to a Swiss court on Tuesday how he had struggled "with no income" since losing his job as Sepp Blatter's right-hand man and had sold his yacht and jewellery. Valcke was appearing on the second day of the TV rights corruption trial in which […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's new signing Miralem Pjanic said at his unveiling on Tuesday he could never imagine Lionel Messi playing for another club. Messi claimed earlier this month he had been forced to stay at Barca after he and the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu disagreed over a clause in his contract. Manchester City […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The starting date for the 2020/2021 Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions has been changed a second time and midweek fixtures will be reintroduced. A CAF official confirmed Tuesday that the latest kick-off date for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions is Friday November 27. Originally, they were set […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa are planning to build a "top team" around England international Jack Grealish after he signed a new five-year contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old playmaker and club captain had been linked with a move away from the Premier League side during the transfer window. However, Grealish laid those fears to rest […]

London (AFP) – Leeds United's return to the Premier League after a 16 year hiatus has pleased no one more than Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe. The 56-year-old star has followed the club since he was a boy growing up in New Zealand. Crowe — whose love of rugby league led him to buy Aussie side […]

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi may have had to stay put at Barcelona but the Argentine legend did succeed in joining one new club this year — the one reserved for sporting billionaires, according to Forbes magazine. The Argentine striker's career earnings of over one billion dollars (840 million euros) places the six-time Ballon d'Or […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil exports more footballers than any other country, but the coronavirus pandemic has caused a plunge in international transfers, hitting the finances of clubs that depend on lucrative deals for their young talent. The number of Brazilian footballers transferred to foreign clubs fell 62 percent during the European summer transfer window […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar said he "acted like a fool" following his red card against Marseille but called on football officials to do more to combat discrimination after accusing Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism. The Brazil forward was one of five players sent off after a mass brawl at the end of PSG's 1-0 […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Timo Werner insisted he will be fit to face Liverpool on Sunday after Chelsea's new striker finished their 3-1 win at Brighton with an ice pack on his thigh. Werner marked his Premier League debut by winning a penalty that Jorginho converted to put Chelsea ahead, but the Germany star […]