AFP

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 […]

Conakry (AFP) – Guinea's ruling junta has told a Confederation of African Football mission that it will meet the timetable for staging the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). CAF has sent a team to the impoverished and volatile West African state to assess its progress for hosting the tournament. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who appointed […]

London (AFP) – The cost of living crisis in England has passed Premier League clubs by with the all-time record for an entire season, £1.86 billion ($2.15 billion) from 2017-18, under threat of being broken come the closing of the transfer window later on Thursday. Cristiano Ronaldo's 37-year-old legs and sky-high wages have deterred Europe's […]

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.  "I am delighted to be here, and can't wait to […]

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 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has challenged Erling Haaland to become a Manchester City legend after the Norway striker's second successive hat-trick inspired a 6-0 rout of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. Haaland demolished Forest with a blistering 26-minute treble in the first half at the Etihad Stadium, just four days after he scored […]

Berlin (AFP) – Sadio Mane was one of five different goalscorers as Bayern Munich qualified for the next round of the German Cup with a 5-0 win away at Viktoria Cologne on Wednesday. "You want to see these players stand out," said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said after the win, lauding the star quality in […]

London (AFP) – Erling Haaland hit a second successive hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Nottingham Forest 6-0, while leaders Arsenal extended their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on Wednesday. City and Arsenal have set the early pace, but Liverpool are gathering momentum after snatching a last-gasp […]

Milan (AFP) – Roma lead Serie A on Wednesday after Napoli were held to a 1-1 draw by Lecce, while underwhelming Juventus beat Spezia 2-0. Napoli would have been in top spot on goal difference after four games with a win over their promoted opponents at the Stadio Maradona but Lorenzo Colombo's rocket just after […]

Paris (AFP) – Goals from Neymar and Kylian Mbappe helped Paris Saint-Germain stay top of the early Ligue 1 table with a 3-0 victory at Toulouse on Wednesday. Christophe Galtier's reigning champions were never seriously threatened by their newly-promoted opponents and remain above Lens and Marseille on goal difference. The fearsome front three of Messi, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Sadio Mane was one of five different goalscorers as Bayern Munich qualified for the next round of the German Cup with a 5-0 win away at Viktoria Cologne on Wednesday.  Mane's goal, scored in the 53rd minute, was his fifth in six games this season since his summer arrival from Premier League […]

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 […]

Rabat (AFP) – Former Moroccan international Walid Regragui has been appointed head coach of the national side just three months before the 2022 World Cup, the football federation announced Wednesday. The 46-year-old takes over from Franco-Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who was dismissed on August 11 because of "differences of opinion" over preparations for the global tournament […]

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.  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 […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel was fined £20,000 ($23,000) and warned about his future behaviour on Wednesday after the Chelsea manager suggested referee Anthony Taylor should not be allowed to take charge of the club's matches. Tuchel admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct following his comments about Taylor after Chelsea's stormy 2-2 draw […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes has been loaned to Juventus for the rest of the season, the French champions announced on Wednesday. PSG said that Juventus will have an option to make the deal for the 28-year-old Argentina star permanent at the end of the campaign. Paredes follows in the footsteps of […]

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 […]

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 […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United coach 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 Haag said when asked about his unsettled Portuguese star on the day before the summer transfer window closes.  "You need more and to cover all […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan said Wednesday that investment fund RedBird had completed the acquisition of the Italian champions from rival US group Elliott Management for 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion). Serie A giants Milan said in their statement  Major League Baseball giants the New York Yankees will also have a "minority equity stake" in […]