London (AFP) – Arsenal ensured there was no repeat of their disastrous start to last season as Mikel Arteta's men saw off Crystal Palace 2-0 on Friday to open the 30th season of the Premier League. The Gunners were beaten 2-0 at Brentford on the opening night of last year's season, which triggered their worst […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich got their quest for an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title off to the best possible start, thrashing an overwhelmed Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 away at Deutsche Bank Park on Friday. Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored on his league debut when he nudged a 28th minute header past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. The […]

Washington (AFP) – Belgian international striker Christian Benteke, who has spent the past 10 years in the Premier League, joined Wayne Rooney-coached DC United of Major League Soccer on Friday, the club announced. United obtained the 31-year-old forward on a permanent transfer from Crystal Palace and signed him to a deal through the 2024 season […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said Friday he has "high ambitions" to replicate his success with Leicester City at new club Nice. The 35-year-old was the mainstay of the most successful period in the English club's history winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield in his 11-year spell. "In football, […]

London (AFP) – Leicester defender Ricardo Pereira will be out of action for up to six month following Achilles surgery, Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said Friday. Portugal right-back Pereira had an operation on Thursday after suffering the injury during last week's friendly win against Sevilla. Rodgers added Harvey Barnes will miss Sunday's Premier League opener […]

London (AFP) – David Moyes has said West Ham will still be involved in the transfer market after signing Maxwel Cornet. The Ivory Coast forward has joined the Hammers following Burnley's relegation from the Premier League in a move worth a reported £17.5 million ($21 million, 20.7 million euros). His arrival at the London Stadium […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reiterated his stance that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Old Trafford despite the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's desire to leave for Champions League football. Ronaldo missed the majority of United's pre-season preparations with the club excusing him from a tour of Asia and Australia […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle manager Eddie Howe signed a new "long-term" contract on Friday, just nine months after arriving at St James' Park. Howe, who joined the club shortly after a takeover by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, led the Magpies to Premier League safety last season. "It's a great feeling to commit my future […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Polish striker Robert Lewandowski said he was aware of the "huge challenge" which awaits him at Barcelona as he was presented at the Camp Nou on Friday a week before La Liga kicks off. The 33-year-old, who signed last month from Bayern Munich for around 50 million euros, was unveiled as a […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe will miss Paris Saint-Germain's first Ligue 1 outing of the new season this weekend against Clermont with an adductor injury, his club said on Friday. PSG announced that Mbappe had been left out of the squad that would travel to Clermont for Saturday's game "due to pain in his adductor […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday he was reluctant to dip into the transfer market in order to solve "four-week" injury problems. Reds centre-back Ibrahima Konate suffered a knee injury in the friendly against Strasbourg on Sunday which Klopp said will see the defender out "for a while". Konate has joined a […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will not stand in Bernardo Silva's way should he wish to join Barcelona before the end of the transfer window. Guardiola said there has been no bid from his former club for the Portuguese midfielder, but would not keep Silva in Manchester against his will. […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea have signed Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Premier League rivals Brighton on a six-year contract, the London club announced Friday. No fee was disclosed but British media reports have valued the deal at £60 million ($73 million, 71 million euros). The 24-year-old should now be available for Chelsea's Premier League opener […]

Paris (AFP) – A French ruling party member of parliament was forced into an embarrassing climbdown Friday after suggesting that construction for the football World Cup was no more dangerous to workers' lives than that of Paris landmark the Eiffel Tower 135 years ago. The French government has come under fire for signing a deal […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has said the Blues are in the closing stages of finalising Marc Cucurella's reported £60 million ($73 million) transfer from Brighton. The Spain wing-back is now on the verge of becoming Chelsea's latest pre-season signing with Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka all having arrived at Stamford […]