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London (AFP) – Leicester moved quickly to replace Chelsea-bound defender Wesley Fofana by signing Wout Faes from Ligue 1 side Reims on Thursday, their first major acquisition of the summer just hours before the transfer window closes.
The 24-year-old Belgian international signed a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee, although it will be significantly less than the reported £70 million ($81 million) Chelsea paid for Fofana on Wednesday.
Faes joins fellow former Anderlecht youth academy product Youri Tielemans at the club.
“It’s an amazing feeling (to be here); it’s not sunk in yet,” Faes told LCFC TV.
“This is the dream step in my career and I’m very happy to be here.
“I’m progressing year after year, and I hope to continue doing the same here.
“All the facilities and knowledge is here to help me to get even better.
“I will have to work hard, but I will give 100 per cent to help the team.”
Faes has been at Reims since signing from Belgian side Oostende in January 2020. He made 75 appearances for the French outfit in all competitions, scoring five goals.
He was voted the club’s player of the season at the end of the last campaign.
He made his international debut in Belgium’s 6-1 Nations League victory over Poland in June, appearing alongside Tielemans and another Leicester team-mate Timothy Castagne.

Leicester sign Belgian defender Faes as Fofana replacement - World Soccer Talk

Leicester sign Belgian defender Faes as Fofana replacement

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London (AFP) – Manchester City strengthened their injury-hit defence on Thursday by signing Swiss international Manuel Akanji on a five-year deal from Borussia Dortmund.
Akanji will provide the Premier League champions with extra defensive depth after recent injuries to centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake.&nbsp;
“I am delighted to be here, and can’t wait to get started,” Akanji, who cost City a reported £17 million ($19.7 million) told the club’s website.
“City have been one of the best teams in Europe over the last few seasons. They are brilliant to watch, play an exciting brand of football and compete for trophies year in, year out, so coming here feels like the perfect next step in my career.”
The 27-year-old spent four-and-a-half seasons with Dortmund after joining from Basel in 2018.&nbsp;
Akanji is City’s fifth summer signing after former Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez and Stefan Ortega Moreno.
Both Akanji and Haaland could face their former club on September 14, with Dortmund due to play City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League group stage.

Man City bolster defence by signing Dortmund's Akanji - World Soccer Talk

Man City bolster defence by signing Dortmund's Akanji

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London (AFP) – Manchester United completed the signing of Antony from Ajax on Thursday for a fee reported to be 95 million euros (£81.3m), making him the fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.
The 22-year-old Brazilian international forward has signed a contract until 2027, with the option of an additional year.
The fee includes a potential five million euros of add-ons.
“This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world,” Antony said in a statement on Manchester United’s website.
His fee is a record for an Eredivisie player, surpassing the 86 million euros of Frenkie de Jong’s move from Ajax to Barcelona three years ago.
Ironically de Jong had been United’s main transfer target for this season but they failed to secure him.
Antony has scored 31 goals in 134 club appearances for Ajax and Sao Paulo, and two goals in nine senior appearances for Brazil.
By moving to Old Trafford, he will be reunited with former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, who has already brought defender Lisandro Martinez to United from the Dutch giants.
“Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development,” said Antony.
“His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.
“My time at Ajax was fantastic and I will always be grateful for the trust they put in me, but now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and play my part in bringing success to Manchester United.”
John Murtough, Manchester United Football Director, said Antony’s desire to play for the club despite missing out on Champions League football this season had impressed him.
“Antony is one of the most exciting young talents in European football and has exactly the right profile for the attacking, dynamic team Erik is building,” he said.
Antony joins Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and fellow Brazilian Casemiro as ten Hag’s new recruits since he took over.
Veteran goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is expected to join as well from Newcastle United as back-up to David de Gea.
United have recovered from a dire start to the Premier League campaign and bid to win their third successive match later on Thursday against out of form Leicester. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Antony hails 'incredible moment' in signing for Manchester United - World Soccer Talk

Antony hails 'incredible moment' in signing for Manchester United

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Paris (AFP) – Monaco’s stuttering start to the Ligue 1 season continued with a surprise 4-2 home defeat against Troyes on Wednesday, while Lyon moved up to fourth by beating Auxerre.
Philippe Clement’s Monaco have only mustered five points from five matches so far this term after last weekend’s impressive draw at Paris Saint-Germain proved to be a false dawn.
Guillermo Maripan put Monaco ahead early on before Troyes hit back through Florian Tardieu’s 22nd-minute penalty.
Maripan was sent off for a second yellow card shortly before half-time to leave Monaco playing with only 10 men for the third time in four league outings.
Teenage forward Wilson Odobert gave the visitors the advantage in first-half stoppage time — the 17-year-old scoring his first Ligue 1 goal after joining the club from PSG last month.
Mama Balde extended Troyes’ lead less than three minutes after the break with his third goal of the campaign.
Youssouf Fofana gave Monaco hope midway through the second half, but Troyes put the game to bed through Yoann Salmier.&nbsp;
Unbeaten Lyon made it three wins in four matches thanks to a 2-1 victory over Auxerre, as Karl Toko Ekambi assisted Tete’s opener before volleying in his side’s second goal.
Elsewhere, 10-man Reims claimed a 4-2 victory at Angers as on-loan Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun scored his fourth goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Montpellier climbed to fifth by beating Ajaccio 2-0 in a match which saw both teams have a player sent off in the first half.
Later Wednesday, reigning champions PSG visit newly-promoted Toulouse while second-placed Marseille host Clermont.

Monaco humbled at home by Troyes, Lyon continue strong start - World Soccer Talk

Monaco humbled at home by Troyes, Lyon continue strong start

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London (AFP) – Chelsea’s new defender Wesley Fofana took a swipe at his old club Leicester after completing his acrimonious switch to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Fofana agreed a seven-year contract with Chelsea, who will reportedly pay up to £70 million ($81.3 million) for the French centre-back.
The 21-year-old was left out of the Leicester team by boss Brendan Rodgers once Chelsea’s interest became public, fuelling a bitter transfer saga that lasted for several weeks.
Partly as a result of Fofana’s absence, Leicester have slumped to the bottom of the Premier League, leading Rodgers to make some critical comments about unsettled players destabilising his squad.
But Fofana hit back after his blockbuster transfer to west London was finally completed.
“Thank you to you, Foxes fans, for your kindness and your constant support, even in the moments you were led to believe I didn’t respect the club. I will never forget how we vibrated, exulted or cried, together. I will never forget you,” Fofana wrote on Instagram.
“I chose not to communicate during this transfer window despite all the criticism and all the often false and misleading comments, even when they were coming from the club.
“I understood and I learned. I didn’t want to damage the image of the institution and I chose to take it rather than answer.&nbsp;
“I thank Top (Srivaddhanaprabha, chairman) for his understanding, thanks to the managers, to the coach who has always appreciated me, even if he chose to expose me a lot lately. I got it coach.
“There were ups and downs but I never cheated, you can be sure of that. Thank you to all the people who work here everyday, you are the soul of this club!”
Fofana will be key addition for Chelsea after the close-season departures of centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He made 52 appearances for Leicester after moving to the Foxes in October 2020 for a reported £32 million from Saint-Etienne, winning the FA Cup in 2021 when they beat Chelsea.
He made his Saint-Etienne debut as an 18-year-old and has emerged as one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe.
“Wesley is a hugely promising defender who has already proven his quality in the Premier League at a young age,” said Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly.
“We are delighted we were able to bring one of Europe’s most exciting talents to Chelsea and further strengthen that area of our squad, both for this season and many more to come.”
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has already signed Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella, but Chelsea have looked shaky at the back in the opening weeks of the season.
A 2-1 defeat at Southampton on Tuesday underlined Chelsea’s problems and their spending might not be over yet.
Tuchel’s side have also added England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City and they remain linked with Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Fofana takes swipe at Leicester after blockbuster Chelsea move - World Soccer Talk

Fofana takes swipe at Leicester after blockbuster Chelsea move

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London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag repeated on Wednesday that he was counting on Cristiano Ronaldo this season.
“It’s clear, of course, we need quality players,” Ten Hag told a press conference when asked about his unsettled Portuguese star on the day before the transfer window closes.
“You need more and to cover all the games to keep the consistency going, that’s what we strive for.
“From now on, we go in three games a week.&nbsp;
“We will go from September to minimum January with this squad.”
Ronaldo has been pushing for a transfer since the end of last season when United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The 37-year-old Portugal striker is the all-time top scorer in the competition, 15 ahead of Lionel Messi,&nbsp;but the Argentine is more than two years younger and will be playing in the Champions League this season with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ronaldo has found it impossible to attract offers from Europe’s top clubs, with the latest reports linking him with the likes of his former team Sporting Lisbon, as well as Napoli and Marseille.
Ronaldo has only started one of United’s four league games this season, the humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford.
Although United said on their website on Tuesday that they had reached a deal to buy Brazilian winger&nbsp;Antony from&nbsp;Ajax, Ten Hag was coy about the player.
“Firstly, I have to sign him! There’s an agreement between the clubs but the paperwork is not done so I cannot go too deep into that,” he said.
United are reportedly paying Ajax a fixed fee of £80.6 million (93.9m euros), with a further £4.2m in add-ons for the 22-year-old, who has yet to complete a medical.
Ten Hag also confirmed that he expected Martin Dubravka to join from Newcastle. The goalkeeper has reportedly passed his medical.
Ten Hag said that right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka would not be leaving and that the Antony and Dubravka deals would complete United’s business in the current window.
“In the offensive department we needed to strengthen the squad. Offensive players fatigue quicker. They have to run more with high intensity,” he said.
“For this window, it will be the end. You always have to be alert at a top club. But we will go from September to minimum January with this squad.”
United started the season with two losses, at home to Brighton and at Brentford, but have gained one-goal victories over Liverpool and at Southampton to climb into mid-table.
United visit Leicester on Thursday and host current league leaders Arsenal on Sunday when Antony may be available.

Ten Hag insists Ronaldo is staying at Manchester United - World Soccer Talk

Ten Hag insists Ronaldo is staying at Manchester United

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Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A UK judge on Wednesday discharged the jury in the domestic violence case against former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, after it failed to reach a verdict despite days of deliberations.
The jury of seven women and four men, which earlier this week had been given the option of delivering a majority verdict, could not reach a decision after more than 20 hours of consideration.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which oversees prosecutions in England and Wales, must now decide whether to retry the case following a four-week trial.&nbsp;
Its lawyers will consider the public interest of a retrial of Giggs, 48, who until recently served as coach of the Wales national team, which would only take place many months from now.
He had denied three counts of controlling and coercive behaviour against his former girlfriend Kate Greville as well as assaulting her and her younger sister.
Prosecutors alleged that the ex-star headbutted Greville in the face as she tried to end their relationship, and had subjected her to a “litany of abuse, both physical and psychological”.
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was among those to give evidence in the case, which also saw Giggs take the stand and admit to being unfaithful in all his past romantic relationships but deny ever being violent.
Giggs resigned as the Wales manager in June, after being on leave since his arrest.&nbsp;
He said he did not want “continued interest around this case” to affect the team as it prepares for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
He remains on conditional bail until a further hearing in the case on September 7, and has said he looks forward to “clearing my name”.&nbsp;
Giggs exploded onto the scene as a teenager in the mid-1990s. He ended his career at Old Trafford as the most-decorated player in English football history.&nbsp;
As a player, he made a club-record 963 appearances over 23 years for Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies.
He began his coaching career at Old Trafford, taking temporary charge at the end of the 2013-14 season after David Moyes was sacked. Giggs then worked as an assistant to Louis van Gaal for two years.&nbsp;
Giggs was appointed Wales boss in January 2018 and helped them secure qualification for Euro 2020, their only major tournament appearance since the 1958 World Cup.&nbsp;
He missed the chance to lead them to last year’s European Championships after being placed on leave by the Welsh FA since November 2020.
He finally resigned from that role in June after Wales qualified for the World Cup under the stewardship of his former assistant Rob Page.

Jury fails to reach verdict in Ryan Giggs assault trial - World Soccer Talk

Jury fails to reach verdict in Ryan Giggs assault trial

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Leagues: EPL

Leicester sign Belgian defender Faes as Fofana replacement

Leagues: EPL

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Leagues: EPL

Antony hails 'incredible moment' in signing for Manchester United

Leagues: Ligue Un

Monaco humbled at home by Troyes, Lyon continue strong start

Chelsea

Fofana takes swipe at Leicester after blockbuster Chelsea move

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ten Hag insists Ronaldo is staying at Manchester United

Ryan Giggs

Jury fails to reach verdict in Ryan Giggs assault trial