List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The treble winners have announced the 29-year-old has signed a four-year contract at the Etihad Stadium after the clubs agreed an initial fee of £25million, with a potential extra £5million in add-ons, last week. Kovacic joins Pep Guardiola’s side after five years at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League and Europa League and made 221 appearances. To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer Mateo Kovacic He is City’s first signing of the summer and his arrival compensates for the departure of captain Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer on Monday after seven years at the club. Kovacic said: “This is a brilliant move for me and I cannot wait to get started with City. “Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are. For me, they are the best in the world. “The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there. “To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer. I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me. “My plan now is to rest for a few weeks before coming back to Manchester to prepare for the new season. I want to help this club stay at the top and win more trophies.” Kovacic is a four-time Champions League winner having also enjoyed success in Europe’s elite competition three times with Real Madrid before joining the Blues. A versatile player, he began his career with Dinamo Zagreb and has also had a spell at Inter Milan. He has earned 95 caps for his country and will inherit Gundogan’s number eight shirt. City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “Mateo is an excellent footballer. “He can play as a ‘six’ or an ‘eight’, has plenty of experience at top-level clubs and he understands the Premier League. “It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities we are looking for in a midfielder. “He is someone we have monitored for a very long time and always we were impressed whenever we watched him. I am delighted he is here. “This is a great signing for this club, and I am very excited to watch what he can do with Pep and the rest of our backroom team.” Kovacic may not be Guardiola’s only midfield reinforcement this summer, with speculation that the champions have had a bid rejected for West Ham’s Declan Rice. The England international is widely expected to leave the London Stadium and has reportedly already been the subject of two failed approaches from Arsenal. It has been claimed City made an offer totalling £90million for the 24-year-old but the Hammers are said to be holding out for a fee of £100million. City have not commented on the reports. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ben Stokes stands by England’s approach ahead of second Ashes Test Tottenham complete signing of Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario Josh Tongue: From retirement talk to Ashes chance, with the help of Botox jabs

Tottenham have completed the signing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli. Spurs had been searching for a long-term successor for captain Hugo Lloris, who is approaching the final 12 months of his deal and made clear his desire for a new challenge earlier this month. While discussions took place with Brentford number one David Raya over a potential move across London, his £40million price tag saw Tottenham turn their attention elsewhere. Vicario had long been tracked by the club as a candidate for Lloris and he has now become new boss Ange Postecoglou’s second signing. The Italian, who has been called up to various national team camps, has signed a five-year deal at Tottenham in a move reported to be worth 19million euros (£16.4m). Vicario has starred for Empoli during the last two seasons, saving eight penalties in that period to develop a reputation as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe. The 26-year-old started out at Udinese before featuring in the Italian lower-leagues with Venezia, who he helped rise through the divisions up to Serie B. A move to Cagliari followed in 2019 but with chances hard to come by, it took a loan at Perugia and faith from Empoli to earn Vicario an opportunity in Italy’s top flight. During two campaigns at Empoli, the first on loan, Vicario shone to earn widespread praise in his homeland, including from goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon. Vicario will now attempt to establish himself in the Premier League and follow in the footsteps of Carlo Cudicini, another Italian stopper who represented Chelsea and Tottenham. The arrival of Vicario now switches Spurs’ focus to the future of Lloris, who could be allowed to leave this summer on a free transfer following 11 years in north London. Fraser Forster deputised last season when Lloris was injured and is contracted to the club until June 2024. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Lucy Staniforth has been added to England’s standby list in place of Jess Park ahead of the Women’s World Cup. The Aston Villa midfielder will travel to St George’s Park on Tuesday to join up with the squad after Park returned to Manchester City for rehabilitation on a shoulder injury. Staniforth joins Maya Le Tissier on standby, with the pair due to remain with the group until their opening match of the tournament against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22. The Lionesses face Portugal in a friendly at a sold-out Stadium MK on Saturday before flying to Australia on Wednesday, July 5. There is concern for Alex Greenwood after she went down with an apparent injury during training at St George’s Park. The Manchester City defender was able to walk off the pitch and had an ice pack applied before heading inside for treatment. Sarina Wiegman’s squad play Haiti, Denmark and China in their group phase fixtures, though as one of the tournament favourites and European Championships winners, they will hope to go the distance this summer. Read More England ‘resilience’ can help Lionesses overcome injuries at Women’s World Cup UEFA to close contract loophole allowing clubs to spread cost of transfers Tottenham standing firm on Harry Kane amid interest from Bayern Munich

UEFA is set to close a loophole on Wednesday allowing clubs to spread the cost of big transfer fees over lengthy contracts. Chelsea have caught the eye over the last two transfer windows by signing players on long deals, including £107million January recruit Enzo Fernandez on an eight-and-a-half-year contract. The Blues have done so in order to spread the cost of the transfer fee over a greater period of time and comply with UEFA’s financial regulations, something which is currently permitted. However, it is understood UEFA’s executive committee will update the regulations when it meets on Wednesday. It is expected there will be no limit on the length of a contract, but the cost of any transfer fee will have to be spread over a maximum of five years. The PA news agency understands the Exco will not re-examine UEFA’s policies on multi-club ownership when it meets this week, despite it becoming an increasingly contentious and controversial issue in the game. However, UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) is meeting this week to examine individual cases where there could be a conflict under existing multi-club ownership rules in its competitions next season. PA understands the CFCB is looking at Brighton and Belgian club Union St Gilloise, who have each qualified for next season’s Europa League and are both owned by Tony Bloom, and also Toulouse and AC Milan, who are owned by US-based investment firm RedBird Capital. A decision from the CFCB is expected towards the end of the week. Away from financial matters, the Exco will decide on which venue will host the 2025 Women’s Champions League final. The Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon is understood to be up against the Vodafone Stadium in Istanbul for the right to host. The 2024 and 2025 Europa Conference League final hosts will also be decided. The OPAP Arena, home to AEK Athens, is expected to host one of them while the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, will stage the other. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Tottenham have no intention of selling Harry Kane this summer, the PA news agency understands. The club’s record goal-scorer is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and reports on Tuesday indicated Bayern Munich had bid 70million euros plus add-ons for the England captain. PA understands Spurs have not received an official offer from the Bundesliga champions and any bid would be immediately rejected. Tottenham’s stance on Kane remains consistent with the last few transfer windows despite continued interest in the 29-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in 2021. Kane subsequently stayed with his boyhood team and broke the club’s all-time scoring record in February with the winner against Pep Guardiola’s side. It saw Kane move beyond Jimmy Greaves’ tally of 266 goals for Spurs, which had stood since 1970. The next target in Kane’s sights is Alan Shearer’s record Premier League haul of 260 goals. After a fine individual campaign in which Kane scored 30 goals, despite the north London club finishing eighth and having three head coaches, the forward is now only 48 away from passing Shearer’s tally. Discussions between Spurs and Kane’s camp over a new contract were set to be pushed back until the end of the 2022-23 campaign, but the club are yet to appoint a director of football and Kane’s own season only finished on June 19 following England commitments. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

AC Milan are close to agreeing a deal to sign Reuben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea, the PA news agency understands. A move for the 27-year-old is yet to be finalised but the Serie A side are hopeful that it will be completed in the coming days. It will bring to an end a near 20-year association between Chelsea and the England international, who joined the club’s academy in 2004. He has scored 13 times in 155 appearances for the club, with 10 of those coming during the 2018-19 campaign, but struggled for game time under successive managers during the second half of last season. He was a part of the England squad who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The club are keen to do as much outgoing transfer business as possible before June 30 so that deals can be included in financial accounts for the 2022-23 season. N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have already departed to join sides in Saudi Arabia’s Professional League, with Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech expected to follow them after deals were agreed. PA understands that Kai Havertz’s £65million move to Premier League rivals Arsenal will be announced this week, with a deal also in place for Mateo Kovacic to join champions Manchester City. Mason Mount’s future remains in doubt, with the club so far unable to come to an agreement with Manchester United over a fee for the midfielder, who has told Chelsea he wants to leave. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Manchester United have projected record annual revenue of up to £640million in the current financial year as the takeover saga surrounding the club rumbles on. United’s owners, the Glazer family, are weighing up offers for the club from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of chemicals firm Ineos. The Glazers first indicated they could sell by initiating a strategic review last November but the bidding process has dragged on. Reports have suggested Sheikh Jassim’s bid – which is for 100 per cent of the club – is now the most likely to be accepted. Sources close to the Qatari bid have indicated their eagerness to close the deal, with the summer transfer window now open. Supporters staged fresh protests against the Glazers at Old Trafford on Tuesday as the club launched the kit for next season. Revenue guidance for the current financial year was raised to a record £630m to £640m in the third quarter financial results for the period ending March 31, 2023, which were released on Tuesday. This is driven by record match attendance and matchday revenues. Ticket sales for the 2022-23 season surpassed the previous record set in 2016-17, with 2.4m sold. Global memberships also hit 360,000, which United said was the largest paid membership programme in world sport. Revenue for the third quarter was up 11 per cent on the same period last year. Broadcasting revenue was slightly down on the corresponding period due to the club being in the Europa League rather than the Champions League, but was partially offset by the club’s performance in domestic cup competitions. Cash and cash equivalents are at £73.7m, down from £95.8m in the same period last year, reflecting the investment that has been made in the team. However, the figure is £31m higher than in the second quarter, boosted by money coming in from sponsorship and ticket sales. Summer recruitment will not be affected by the results, according to sources close to the club, with enough cash available to enable United boss Erik ten Hag to invest in the team. The limiting factor is understood to be the requirement to stay within financial sustainability rules.

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha and rapper Stormzy are set to become joint owners of non-League club AFC Croydon. The pair are part of a three-man consortium, along with former Palace head of player care Danny Young, that has agreed a deal to acquire the assets of the south London side, who play in the Combined Counties Football League Premier South Division – the ninth tier of English football. Croydon announced contracts had been exchanged with the existing ownership and the consortium “will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club”. A statement added: “Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities. “They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.” Zaha, 30, was born in Ivory Coast but raised in the borough of Croydon. He is already involved in community projects in the area through his own charitable foundation and an Academy. Zaha tweeted: “May the journey begin.” The latest announcement comes at a time of uncertainty of over Zaha’s playing future, with his Palace contract set to expire at the end of this month. The player has been offered a new deal at Selhurst Park but is yet to commit and has been linked with other clubs in the Premier League, elsewhere in Europe and Saudi Arabia. Stormzy, 29, also hails from Croydon and has a long-standing friendship with Zaha.

TikTok star Alix Earle is dating Braxton Berrios, Connor McDavid won his third Hart Trophy, Shohei Ohtani hit his 26th home run and more in the Roundup.

Tottenham have announced Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff with Ryan Mason staying on at the club in an assistant coach capacity. Former Spurs midfielder Mason took charge of the final six matches of the 2022-23 campaign, but doubts were cast over his long-term future. Mason, 32, repeatedly stated his readiness for management during his second interim stint with his old side. However, the once-capped England international will remain at Tottenham as part of Postecoglou’s backroom set-up. Spurs have also recruited a number of other coaches to work with their new manager with Chris Davies, formerly Brendan Rodgers’ assistant at Leicester, named as senior assistant coach. Former Crystal Palace and Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak will begin work with Tottenham on July 1 as an assistant coach and Matt Wells, who returned to the club to help Mason during his interim spell, will remain involved in the first-team set-up. Rob Burch makes a return to Spurs as goalkeeper coach following spells with Fulham and Bournemouth. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Gary Neville will join the cast of the BBC programme Dragons’ Den when the series returns to screens next year. The former Manchester United and England defender will appear as a guest on the panel alongside fashion and retail entrepreneur Emma Grede. In addition to his regular role as a Sky Sports pundit, Neville has built a portfolio of business interests including a hotel and other property developments since his retirement from football. Neville said: “I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den. “I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.” Neville and Grede will sit alongside the regular panel of Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, running the rule over entrepreneurs seeking investment in their business ideas.

What the papers say Former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be the first England international to move to the Saudi Pro League, with the Daily Mail reporting he is considering a lucrative offer to move overseas. The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving the Reds this summer following seven years at Anfield. However, his ex-Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah is likely to turn down a move to Saudi Arabia despite reports linking the prolific 31-year-old Egypt forward to the league, the Mirror said. Tottenham are looking to send an opening offer of £40million to Leicester for their England midfielder James Maddison, but the Telegraph says the recently relegated Foxes want £60million for his services. Newcastle are continuing their recruitment drive and are now entering advanced talks to sign England Under-21 defender Tino Livramento for £15million from Southampton, according to the Telegraph. Aston Villa are also hoping to bolster their defence with manager Unai Emery looking to link back up with his former Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, the Times reports. Social media round-up Players to watch Harry Kane: Bayern Munich could be in contention to prise the 29-year-old away from Tottenham with Sky Sport Germany reporting the England captain is interested in a move to Germany. Victor Osimhen: Liverpool have joined the likes of Manchester United and Paris St Germain in the race for the 24-year-old Napoli striker, Gazzetta dello Sport reports. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live