Sports
Barca’s Balde Set To Miss Months After Hamstring Injury
Published
8 months agoon
By
EditorBarcelona said Saturday defender Alejandro Balde will have surgery on a hamstring injury, with Spanish media reporting he is set to miss four months.
The left-back, 20, was taken off injured in the Catalans’ 4-2 extra-time defeat by Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
“Tests show that first team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring,” said Barcelona in a statement. “In the coming days he will undergo surgery.”
Balde, a Spain international, may not return before the end of the season but will be aiming to recover before Euro 2024 which starts on June 14 in Germany.
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Barcelona’s back-up left-back Marcos Alonso is also injured, but the club can use Joao Cancelo or youngster Hector Fort in the position.
The Spanish champions also said midfielder Sergi Roberto had muscular discomfort.
Roberto is expected to miss Saturday’s match against Villarreal and Wednesday’s clash with Osasuna in La Liga.
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Sports
Transfer Deadline Day: All Major Deals Announced By Premier League Clubs
Published
1 week agoon
August 31, 2024By
EditorAs the transfer window slams shut, Premier League clubs have been in a frenzy, finalising their squads for the season ahead.
From last-minute signings to surprise exits, we’ve covered all major deals.
Here’s a roundup of the major deals of the just-ended transfer window.
This information was curated from the EPL website on Friday.
Chelsea’s Sterling joins Arsenal on loan
Arsenal made one of the big moves on Deadline Day, bringing Raheem Sterling on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Sterling, 29, moves across London after falling the pecking order at Stamford Bridge under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
The England international scored eight goals and provided four assists in 31 Premier League appearances last season and will provide depth in the wide positions for the Gunners.
Man Utd sign Ugarte from PSG
Manchester United have signed defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from French champions Paris Saint-Germain, subject to registration.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan has agreed to a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.
“The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting; Manchester United is an ambitious club, and I am an ambitious player,” Ugarte told the official club website.
Palace sign Nketiah from Arsenal
Crystal Palace have signed striker Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal on a five-year deal.
Having grown up in Deptford, Nketiah returns to south London after scoring 38 goals in 168 appearances for Arsenal, averaging a goal just under every 180 minutes. He scored his first Premier League hat-trick last season against Sheffield United.
Nketiah told Palace’s official website: “I’m excited to get going. Every time I come back to south London, it always puts a smile on my face, so it’s good to be back home.”
Leicester snap up Edouard
With Nketiah joining Palace, striker Odsonne Edouard has left the Eagles and moved to Leicester City on loan, subject to Premier League approval.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has made 95 Premier League appearances since joining Palace in 2021, scoring 18 goals.
Toney leaves Brentford
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has left the club permanently after entering the final year of his contract, joining Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli, subject to international clearance.
Toney scored 72 goals in 141 appearances for the Bees, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and stay there ever since.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Ivan over the last four years,” head coach Thomas Frank told the club’s official website. “He has averaged more than one goal every two games, which is an unbelievable number.
“I’m happy he has an opportunity to try something new in his life and career. We thank him for so many magical moments and wish him all the best for his next chapter. Ivan leaves as a Brentford legend.”
Nelson moves on loan to Fulham
Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson has joined Fulham on a season-long loan.
The 24-year-old has made 50 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
He’ll link up with his former Arsenal team-mate Emile Smith Rowe at Craven Cottage.
Everton add Broja on loan
Everton have bolstered their attacking options with the loan signing of Chelsea forward Armando Broja.
The 22-year-old arrives on a season-long deal, with an option to make the move permanent next summer.
Southampton recruit Ramsdale from Arsenal
Southampton have signed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal on a four-year deal.
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Ramsdale, 26, made 89 appearances for the Gunners over the past three seasons across all competitions and has played 153 times in the Premier League in total, including spells with AFC Bournemouth (twice) and Sheffield United.
“The way the manager wants to play, the way he was when I spoke to him, he was just full of so much enthusiasm,” Ramsdale told the club’s official website. “I’d never met him before, but he made me feel about eight feet tall, which is just what you want.”
At the end of last season, Ramsdale was spotted in the Southampton end at Wembley Stadium for their playoff final win over Leeds United, dressed as Hagrid from Harry Potter.
Arsenal bring in Neto from Bournemouth
After Ramsdale’s departure, Arsenal have brought in goalkeeper Neto from Bournemouth on a season-long loan.
The 35-year-old Brazilian has made 61 Premier League appearances for the Cherries since joining them in August 2022, keeping 13 clean sheets. He was named club captain just six months after arriving at the Vitality Stadium.
Neto told Arsenal’s official website: “I had two dreams as a kid to play for a football team. It was my team in Brazil, where I grew up and became a professional footballer, and also Arsenal. And now I’m realising it! I’m a really lucky person.”
New centre-back for Palace
After selling Joachim Andersen to Fulham, Crystal Palace have signed centre-back Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg on a five-year deal.
The 24-year-old Frenchman, who will wear the No. 5 shirt, is reunited with Palace boss Oliver Glasner after playing under the Austrian at Wolfsburg and earning UEFA Champions League qualification.
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Palace chairman Steve Parish told the club’s official website: “We have watched Maxence play at the very highest level of European football, and we are delighted to be able to welcome him to Selhurst Park.”
McTominay leaves Man Utd
Long-serving midfielder Scott McTominay has left Manchester United to join Napoli in a permanent move.
The 27-year-old came through Man Utd’s academy, making his debut in 2017 under Jose Mourinho, and went on to make 255 first-team appearances for his boyhood club. Of those appearances, 178 came in the Premier League, and he scored 19 goals in the competition while providing four assists.
A statement on Man Utd’s official website said: “McTominay will be missed by everyone at the club and leaves with our best wishes as he embarks on a new chapter of his career in Italy. Good luck, Scott, arrivederci and thank you for the fabulous memories.”
McTominay will be joined at Napoli by Billy Gilmour, who is also making a permanent move to the Italian club after playing 60 matches in all competitions for Brighton & Hove Albion over two years.
West Ham sign Spain midfielder Soler
West Ham United have signed Spain international midfielder Carlos Soler on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old, who has 14 caps for Spain, made 226 appearances for Valencia and won the Copa del Rey before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, where he won two Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France, and a Trophée des Champions.
West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten told the club’s official website: “We’ve admired him for some time, and whilst we’ve had to wait until the final day of the summer transfer window to secure his services, we’re really pleased to have him on board for the remainder of the season.”
Ward-Prowse heads to Forest on loan
Midfielder James Ward-Prowse has moved from West Ham United to Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season.
READ ALSO: New Champions League Format Explained
James Ward-Prowse
The 29-year-old dead-ball specialist made 37 Premier League appearances for West Ham last campaign, registering seven goals and seven assists. In total, he has played 381 Premier League matches, scoring 56 goals and adding 45 assists.
Nayef Aguerd
Defender Nayef Aguerd has also left West Ham on loan, joining Real Sociedad after making 21 Premier League appearances last season.
Brazilian Defender Morato Joins Forest
In addition to recruiting Ward-Prowse, Nottingham Forest have strengthened their defence by signing Morato from Benfica, with the Brazilian signing a five-year deal.
Morato, who can play as a left-back or in central defence, made 86 appearances for Benfica and won the Primeira Liga title in 2022/23. He played five times in the UEFA Champions League last season.
Forest’s chief football officer Ross Wilson told the club’s official website: “Morato has been in our thoughts and discussions to come into the squad for several transfer windows, and we’re delighted to have him join us today.”
Nottingham Forest have also signed goalkeeper George Murray-Jones from Manchester City on a three-year deal, with a one-year extension option.
The 19-year-old joined City in July 2021, having progressed through the ranks at Southend United. He made 13 appearances for youth teams last season, playing three times in both the UEFA Youth League and the EFL Trophy.
Fraser, Cornet Join Southampton
Southampton have signed two wingers on Deadline Day.
Ryan Fraser
Ryan Fraser has rejoined the Saints, signing a two-year contract as a free agent after helping the club win promotion during a season-long loan spell.
Chalobah joins Crystal Palace on loan
Chelsea’s Trevor Chalobah is heading to Crystal Palace.
He has joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea to complete a great transfer window for them.
PUNCH
Sports
BREAKING: Eguavoen To Lead Super Eagles For Benin, Rwanda Fixtures After LabBadia’s Withdrawal
Published
1 week agoon
August 30, 2024By
EditorThe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that Augustine Eguavoen, a former player and Technical Director of the Super Eagles, will step in as the head coach for the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
This decision comes in the wake of German coach Bruno LabBadia’s unexpected withdrawal from the role.
LabBadia, who was previously named as the successor to Finidi George earlier this week, reportedly declined the position due to unresolved issues with German tax laws.
The NFF disclosed late Friday via a statement on X that these tax concerns were the main obstacle to finalizing the agreement.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau explained, “We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities. It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
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“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”
The NFF has named a 23-player squad for the upcoming qualifiers, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, and stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong making their return after extended injury absences.
Sports
FULL LIST: Man United To Play Mourinho’s Fenerbahce In 2024/25 UEFA Europa League Draw[SEE DRAW TABLE]
Published
1 week agoon
August 30, 2024By
EditorThe UEFA Europa League is back with an exciting new format for the 2024/25 season.
As the tournament prepares to kick off, the inaugural league phase draw revealed the opponents of the 36 teams ready to battle it out for European glory.
Held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Friday, August 30, the draw set the stage for a thrilling campaign featuring some of the continent’s most formidable clubs.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will represent England in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League, both eyeing success.
They’ll face tough competition from Italian clubs Lazio and Roma, Spain’s Real Sociedad and Athletic Club, and Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim, among others.
READ ALSO: Six Challengers Await Chelsea In UEFA Conference League
The revamped format promises an exciting and unpredictable group stage.
The PUNCH reports that there will be a reunion between United and former manager, Jose Mourinho, who is now with the Turkish side, Fenerbahçe.
All you need to know about the 36 teams competing in the 2024/25 league phase:
The line-up for the inaugural league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League is complete. UEFA.com profiles all the contenders.
This is as obtained from a Friday release on the Europa website titled, “UEFA Europa League: League Phase Draw.”
The format of the Europa League has changed for this season, along the same lines as the new-look Champions League.
The number of clubs in the competition proper is now 36, all of whom are placed into one league but split into four pots of seeds.
Each participant plays eight games, facing two clubs from each pot, one at home and one away.
The top eight at the end of the league phase, which runs until the end of January, will advance to the last 16, while the teams finishing from ninth to 24th will advance to a play-off round to decide the remaining last-16 spots.
READ ALSO: FULL LIST: UEFA Champions League Play-off Draw Unveiled
The bottom 12 in the league phase will be eliminated, with no clubs dropping down into the Conference League ahead of the knockouts, and no teams parachuting down from the Champions League as in the past.
UEFA have said that dates for all fixtures will be announced on Saturday. The first group games will be played on September 25 and 26, a week after the opening matchday of the Champions League.
This season’s Europa League final will be played in Bilbao on May 21 next year. Atalanta won the trophy last season, beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final in Dublin.
36 competing teams:
The 36 teams competing in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League league phase are Qarabağ (AZE), Anderlecht, Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Ludogorets (BUL), Slavia Praha, Viktoria Plzeň (CZE), Midtjylland (DEN), Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Athletic Club, Real Sociedad (ESP), Nice, Lyon (FRA), Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim (GER), Olympiacos, PAOK (GRE), Ferencváros (HUN), M. Tel-Aviv (ISR), Lazio, Roma (ITA), RFS (LVA), Ajax, AZ, Twente (NED), Bodø/Glimt (NOR), Braga, Porto (POR), FCSB (ROU), Rangers (SCO), Elfsborg, Malmö (SWE), Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray (TUR), and Dynamo Kyiv (UKR).
Here is the full draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League Phase:
Europa League Phase Pot 1
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