Madrid (AFP) – La Liga president Javier Tebas on Wednesday hit out at Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain and what he called "club-states" after the French club signed Lionel Messi and a host of stars in the transfer window. "The club-states are as dangerous for the ecosystem of football as the Super League," Tebas said on Twitter. […]

Paris (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann has made a shock return to Atletico Madrid just two years after leaving to join Barcelona, on the final day of a hectic European transfer window. Real Madrid also bagged a French international star as Eduardo Camavinga arrived from Rennes — but their attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe […]

Montevideo (AFP) – South American World Cup qualifying has been "tarnished" by the refusal of top English Premier League clubs to release star players over coronavirus quarantine rules, says Uruguay veteran Diego Godin. Already shorn of the injured Luis Suarez, the two-time world champions will have to make do without their other attacking icon, Edinson […]

London (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate believes the Three Lions are closer to ending their wait to win a first major tournament since 1966 than they have been for generations, with the Qatar World Cup little over a year away. Southgate's side return to action this week for the first time since losing the […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain got Lionel Messi but that has somehow turned out not to be the most remarkable moment of the transfer window for them. There can hardly be a bigger statement from the Qatar-owned club than turning their noses up at an offer understood to be worth 180 million euros ($212m) from […]

Madrid (AFP) – France forward Antoine Griezmann has made a shock deadline-day return to Atletico Madrid, just two years after leaving to join Barcelona, the clubs announced on Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who scored 133 goals in his first spell with Atletico, has rejoined on a one-year loan deal with an option to extend by another […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea secured the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez on a season-long loan deal on Tuesday to further strengthen Thomas Tuchel's wealth of options. The Spanish international has been a key player of Diego Simeone's reign at Atletico, but fell down the pecking order last season as Los Rojiblancos won La […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of teenage Portugal defender Nuno Mendes from Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, on a season-long loan with an option to buy. The 19-year-old, who was part of Sporting's Portuguese title-winning side last season, has won five international caps and was an unused member of Fernando Santos' Euro 2020 […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal signed Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna for a fee worth a reported £19.8 million ($27.2 million) on Tuesday. The Premier League club said Tomiyasu agreed a "long-term" contract, believed to be an initial four-year deal with the option of a further season's extension. The 22-year-old can play both centre-back and […]

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace completed the signing of French under-21 international Odsonne Edouard from Celtic for a reported initial fee of £15 million ($21 million)ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline. The Eagles were eager to improve their attacking options after scoring just twice in new manager Patrick Vieira's first three Premier League games. Edouard had […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin joined La Liga side Real Betis on a season-long loan on Tuesday. Bellerin was surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium after falling out of favour with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The Spanish right-back has made 239 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal since 2013. He is a […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – A youthful United States squad will be looking to exorcise the ghost of the team's ill-fated bid to reach the 2018 World Cup on Thursday as the CONCACAF region's final qualifiers for Qatar 2022 get under way. Four years ago, US soccer was plunged into the darkest moment of its modern […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham striker Harry Kane insists his "conscience is clear" after his failed attempt to force a move to Manchester City. Kane returned late to pre-season training as he tried to convince Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to let him join the Premier League champions. The England captain believed he had a gentleman's agreement […]

Paris (AFP) – Real Madrid moved to sign one French international star on Europe's transfer deadline day on Tuesday with Eduardo Camavinga arriving from Rennes, but their attempts to prise Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain look unlikely to succeed for now. Midfield prodigy Camavinga, who is just 18, penned a six-year deal at the Santiago […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig have signed Spanish teenager Ilaix Moriba from Barcelona on a five-year contract as a replacement for their Bayern Munich-bound captain Marcel Sabitzer, the Bundesliga club confirmed Tuesday. According to Sky, Leipzig have paid 15 million euros ($17.7 million) plus bonus fees for the 18-year-old central midfielder, who made 18 appearances […]