New signing João Gomes made his Aston Villa debut in a comfortable 5-0 win at Walsall to start their preseason campaign. Unai Emery deployed both regulars and new talent in his squad, and made 10 changes at half-time. 17-year-old Brian Madjo stood out in the first half as he notched a brace, including a smart finish for the opener after he got on the end of a cross from Kosta…
Aston Villa have made a bid to sign Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho on loan with a possible obligation to buy, sources have told the Press Association. The 22-year-old has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge after a poor first season following his move from Manchester United, during which he failed to significantly impact the team’s fortunes, and it is understood the player is eager to depart. He did not…
Elijah Upson has signed a professional contract with Arsenal after deciding to leave Tottenham. The 18-year-old centre-back, son of former Gunners and England defender Matthew, had been in Spurs’ academy and is reported to have been offered terms to stay on after his scholarship contract finished at the end of June. “It is a great feeling, really proud to be here,” England youth international Upson said on the Arsenal website.…
West Ham have agreed a £68 million ($91m) deal to send Crysencio Summerville to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, sources have told the Press Association. The fee is a sizeable increase on the £39m ($52.2m) reportedly bid by Serie A side Roma, with Manchester United and Aston Villa also understood to have been interested in signing the 24-year-old. Summerville has three years remaining on his deal at the London…
A group of investors led by Queens Park Rangers co-owner Amit Bhatia are in talks to buy a significant minority stake in Liverpool, sources told ESPN. Liverpool are currently owned by US-based Fenway Sports Group (FSG) however they are in discussions to sell a stake in the club to a consortium led by Bhatia, who is the son-in-law of billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. Sources told ESPN no agreement has…
Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from refereeing after a career spanning 16 Premier League seasons and more than 660 professional matches. The 47-year-old’s final match came at the 2026 World Cup, where he oversaw Spain‘s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16. He retires after officiating 432 Premier League games, as well as two World Cups and two European Championships. Taylor began refereeing in the Football League…
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martínez is considering his international future after suffering the heartache of World Cup final defeat. The 33-year-old Aston Villa player, who picked up a winners’ medal in Qatar four years ago, was devastated on the final whistle in New Jersey on Sunday evening as Spain wrenched the trophy from his grasp. Now he has hinted that he may call time on his international career in the wake…
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has warned that expanding the World Cup to 64 teams would represent the continuing destruction of the football industry under FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who he called on to resign. Tebas, 63, has regularly criticised Infantino and launched another attack on him as the dust settles on the 2026 World Cup. Spain will co-host the next edition of the finals in four years time, along with…
Argentina‘s Enzo Fernández has said wearing his country’s shirt is the “greatest honour” for him and has pledged to keep giving everything for the team following heartache in the World Cup final. The 25-year-old Chelsea midfielder, whose red card for a second bookable offence in Sunday night’s 1-0 final defeat by Spain proved so costly, took to his official Instagram account as the dust settled on a near-miss for the…