Football / Sports

Pascal Gross double ruins Ten Hag’s Old Trafford bow

Pascal Gross netted a first-half brace to inspire Brighton to a deserved 2-1 win over Manchester United and ruin Erik ten Hag’s maiden Premier League outing.

Ten Hag named Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench at Old Trafford and his players were left floundering by Gross’ close-range expertise as the German midfielder took his career tally against United to six. A scrappy own-goal from Alexis MacAllister reduced the arrears but, even with Ronaldo on the field as a second-half substitute, the sort of late rally often synonymous with United on their home ground never materialized.

The Seagulls follow the torpor at Old Trafford

“Let’s give Brighton some credit before criticizing Manchester United,” Roy Keane said on Sky Sports at half-time, before immediately speaking in scathing terms about his old club. And that’s what probably hurts the most for United today: it’s all so familiar. There were shades of Louis van Gaal’s debut defeat to Swansea City in 2013, which followed a preseason of hope, renewal and optimism. At least everyone is a little bit longer in the tooth now.

Keane’s sentiment was correct. On paper, this is the 20-time champions of England losing to a team that has traditionally resided a good distance away from the top division. But Brighton are a problem for anyone on their day. When Pep Guardiola refers to them as “A Graham Potter team” it speaks volumes of the esteem in which the Albion boss is held by his most celebrated colleagues.

Brighton had a look at the puzzle they had to solve for the first 10 minutes or so, then proceeded to take United to the cleaners, with each delicate pass, turn and switch of play pricking at wounds that have understandably not healed after United’s dire 2021/22.

Reality check for Ten Hag

Potter reverted to a back three in Brighton’s final preseason friendly and stuck with that ploy to fine effect here, mitigating against the effect of losing Marc Cucurella for blockbusting money. A couple of seasons of calm, clear management and a defined …

Football / Sports

Erling Haaland goals seal opening win for Manchester City

Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut as Manchester City opened their title defence with a dominant win at West Ham United.

The striker got off the mark in the first half at the London Stadium as he won and then converted a penalty to give City a deserved lead.

West Ham struggled in the heat as City took charge of the ball and it wasn’t until the hour mark that David Moyes’ side posed any questions of the champions.

But it left space at the other end and Kevin De Bruyne’s perfect pass released Haaland, as the 22-year-old finished under Alphonse Areola to double City’s lead.

Relive the action from the London Stadium below after Manchester United were beaten by Brighton

West Ham vs Manchester City

  • 35’ GOAL! Haaland wins and scores penalty to get off the mark in the Premier League
  • 65’ GOAL! Haaland races clear and finishes to double City’s lead with his second

West Ham United FC 0 – 2 Manchester City FC…

Football / Sports

Chelsea sign Marc Cucurella from Brighton for £63m

Chelsea have signed Marc Cucurella from Brighton and Hove Albion, it was announced on Friday.

Cucurella joins Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £56m with a possible £7m in add-ons. Chelsea’s Levi Colwill will join Brighton on a season-long loan in return for the Cucurella transfer. The loan deal does not include an option to make the transfer permanent.

In a press conference on Friday, Thomas Tuchel said: “Marc is a fantastic player, a young player. He is young, hungry, mobile and a very intelligent player who can play a lot of positions in our system.”

On signing for Chelsea, Cucurella said: “I’m really happy. It’s a big opportunity for me to join one of the best clubs in the world and I’m going to work hard to be happy here and help the team.”

Cucurella, 24, was wanted by Manchester City and Cucurella handed in a transfer request but the two clubs couldn’t strike a deal, with Brighton standing firm on a £50m valuation for the left-back. The deal stalled, as sources told ESPN that City weren’t willing to pay the asking price for the transfer, allowing Chelsea to battle for his signature

Sources told ESPN that City were only interested in signing the Spain left-back if the asking transfer fee was lowered to £35m.

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly said: “Marc is an elite defender of proven Premier League quality and he further strengthens our squad going into the new season. We continue to work on and off the pitch, and we’re delighted Marc will be a part of the present and future at Chelsea.”

Throughout the transfer window, Tuchel has looked to bolster his defensive options with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen joining Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Chelsea wanted to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde, but the two defenders opted to move to Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Cucurella, who won Brighton’s player of the season award last season, played 38 games during his one year stay with Graham Potter’s team.

.…

Football / Sports

Alex Telles Closing In On Move To Sevilla

Telles has suddenly fallen out of favour at United due to the addition of Tyrell Malacia at the club, with the Dutch full back already being named as direct competition for Luke Shaw.

Despite playing more league games than Shaw last season, it’s understood that Telles isn’t directly part of Erik Ten Hag’s plan and that a move away from the club is best suited.

Telles has been listed as a possible exit for some weeks now with many rumors about potential clubs floating around, however it looks like the saga is about to be closed.

The Brazilian full back has been an ever present face in United’s pre season fixtures despite practically being out of the plans.

Telles has picked up valuable minutes and fitness ahead of a move that could happen imminently.

According to a report from Tati Mantovani via TNT Sports Brazil, Telles is set to join Spanish side Sevilla on loan.

“Alex Telles to Sevilla is practically done. Only medical exams and details of the loan contract with Manchester United are missing.”…

Boxing / Sports

Hasim Rahman Sr. Says He’d Fight Both Jake, Logan Paul on the Same Night

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Hasim Rahman Sr. offered to fight both Jake and Logan Paul on the same night after his son’s scheduled bout with Jake Paul was called off.

Hasim Rahman Jr. and Jake Paul had been scheduled to clash on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, but Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions announced the cancellation of the fight last weekend due to Rahman Jr. allegedly planning to fight at 215 lbs. despite being contractually obligated to fight at 200 lbs.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Rahman Sr. offered to take on both Paul brothers in consecutive fights on the same night in order to make up for it:

“How about this? If somebody would sanction this, I will fight Jake and Logan back to back. We can go eight rounds apiece. Neither one of them will make eight rounds, but we can sanction for eight rounds and I promise you, if I don’t knock Jake and Logan out, they win.”

Rahman Sr. would be a significant step up in competition for Jake Paul, given his status as a former world champion who once defeated Lennox Lewis.

Now 49, Rahman competed in 62 professional fights during a career that spanned from 1994 through 2014, posting a 50-9-2 record with one no contest and 41 wins by way of knockout.

The 2001 win over Lewis was undoubtedly Rahman’s career highlight, but he also defeated some other notable names, including Trevor Berbick and Corrie Sanders, plus he fought James Toney and David Tua to draws.

Rahman Sr. would have a huge advantage over the Paul brothers in terms of in-ring success and experience, but he is also pushing 50 and hasn’t had a professional fight in over eight years.

Jake Paul, 25, is 5-0 as a pro boxer, winning four of those fights by knockout. He has been impressive, but he has yet to face a legitimate boxer.

Thus far, his wins have come over YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA guard Nate Robinson and former UFC fighters Ben …

Football / Sports

Premier League players will limit taking a knee before matches, league announces ahead of new season

Premier League players will no longer routinely take a knee before matches, the league has announced ahead of the new season.

Players began taking the knee during Project Restart, in the wake of George Floyd’s unlawful killing in the USA and the Black Lives Matter movement which followed.

More recently, a number of individual clubs and players have announced they will stop taking a knee and now, the Premier League have followed suit more than two years since the initiative was first introduced.

Players will still take a knee before certain rounds of matches, including the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals, as well as Boxing Day matches and the Premier League’s No Room For Racism rounds.

In a statement, the Premier League said: “Ahead of the new season, Premier League club captains have reaffirmed their commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.

“The players have decided to use specific moments during the upcoming campaign to take the knee, to amplify the message that racism has no place in football or society.

“The Premier League supports the players’ decision and, alongside the clubs, will use these opportunities to elevate anti-racism messaging as part of the League’s No Room for Racism Action Plan.”

Speaking as a collective, the 20 Premier League captains added that they would use “significant moments” of the forthcoming season to take the knee.

“We remain resolutely committed to eradicate racial prejudice, and to bring about an inclusive society with respect and equal opportunities for all,” they added.

The Premier League has also announced that £238,000 will be donated to a number of youth clubs on behalf of the club captains, with £119,000 coming from the royalties of the ‘No Room for Racism’ sleeve badges sold on club shirts …

Basket Ball / Sports

Man Utd’s Dean Henderson ‘fumes’ at ‘criminal’ waste of season before Nottingham Forest loan

Manchester United’s Dean Henderson, on loan at Nottingham Forest, has made a scathing assessment of his “criminal” season at Old Trafford last year.

Henderson said he was promised the United No 1 jersey after his club form in 2020/21, which had seen him talked about as unseating Jordan Pickford as England’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the European Championships last summer.

However, after returning early from the summer tournament with Covid, the then 24-year-old failed to make a single Premier League appearance for the club under either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick, and has subsequently been usurped in the England squad by Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale. A season on the bench left Henderson about his treatment at Old Trafford, and he said:

“The conversation I had, coming out of the Euro squad, was that you’re coming back here to be the number one goalkeeper. I got Covid – unfortunately, no one followed through with anything they told me. I turned so many good loans down last summer, and they wouldn’t let me go. It was frustrating. To sit there and waste 12 months is criminal really, at my age. I was fuming.” Now on loan at Forest, Henderson looks certain to start their season opener with Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday, as the Trees return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

On signing for the club last month, the goalkeeper called his discussions with manager Steve Cooper “outstanding” ahead of his decision to move to the City Ground, and told Sky Sports News he felt like a “caged animal” now unleashed ahead of the new season.

He told Sky Sports News: “I can’t wait to get back out there. For me personally, being a caged animal for the last year, to get out there and actually play in front of a full St James’ Park, being the underdogs, is sensational.

“I love playing, the manager has been fantastic with me. I want to play for him. He’s shown some good trust in me and …

Basket Ball / Sports

Bill Russell, NBA great and Celtics legend, dies at 88

Bill Russell redefined how basketball is played, and then he changed the way sports are viewed in a racially divided country. The most prolific winner in NBA history, Russell marched with Martin Luther King Jr., supported Muhammad Ali and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. The centerpiece of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, Russell earned his last two NBA titles as a player-coach — the first Black coach in any major U.S. sport. Russell died on Sunday at the age of 88. His family posted the news on social media, saying his wife, Jeannine, was by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death, but Russell was not well enough to present the NBA Finals MVP trophy in June due to a long illness. “Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said. “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. “That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.” “Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,” Silver said. “Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.” A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, …

Football / Sports

Chloe Kelly’s heroics gift Lionesses historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 victory

Chloe Kelly wrote her name in football history – scoring the winner to hand the Women’s EURO 2022 to England, who beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley.

A crowd of 87,192 – the highest attendance for any Euros final men’s or women’s – were present as it took extra-time to separate them, as one might have expected from these two teams whose defenses have proved impressively solid throughout the tournament.

Substitute Ella Toone put England in front against the eight-time European champions with a beautiful lob after a slide-rule pass from Keira Walsh. But Lina Magull equalized with another fantastic strike – her third of the tournament – to force the added half-hour.

And then Kelly – another sub – made herself a legend by bundling the ball over the line, and then stripping off her shirt in celebration, emulating the USA’s Brandi Chastain back in 1999.

England’s USA moment

It ended with a delirious Kelly tearing off her shirt and whirling it around her head – just as Brandi Chastain of the USA did as she scored the winning penalty in the final of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. That, too, was the most successful edition of that tournament up until that point.

But England’s matchup with Germany was a game that did not go quite according to plan.

England would have expected to set up to deal with Alexandra Popp, the Germany striker who had scored in every single match of the campaign up until the final, and Beth Mead’s nearest challenger for the Golden Boot.

That would have involved a strong aerial threat, with four of Popp’s six goals of the tournament coming from her head.

But seconds before the teams took to the pitch, word filtered through that Popp was out of the starting lineup due to an injury incurred in the warmup. She was replaced by Lea Schuller – a very different type of threat, with additional pace and tricky feet.

Either way, the match was always going to have plenty of determination and the additional …

Basket Ball / Sports

Draymond Green willing to leave Warriors if he doesn’t get max contract extension

The great era of the last great dynasty in NBA history, the Golden State Warriors, have three key players in each of their championships, they are the “Splash Brothers” Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but just as important has been Draymond Green, however, according to press reports about the controversial player, there is a likelihood that this legendary Big 3 is close to disintegrating.

Green is eligible for a contract extension as of August 3, and according to reports by Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, for the Warriors to keep their locker room leader, the cost is going to be as expensive as one can imagine.

What is Draymond Green’s contract situation?

Currently, Green has one more year on his contract with Golden State worth $25.8 million and has the option to accept one more year after that for $28.5 million, however, if he wanted a max contract extension (for 120% of his current contract) he would then have to decline that option for the 2023-2024 season, according to the same report.

That way, Golden State could pay Green $164 million to keep him for the next five seasons, however, those are Draymond’s claims, according to Slater and Thompson.

Warrriors paid the most expensive luxury tax in history

It is worth remembering that Golden State’s payroll situation is the most expensive in history and that they had to pay the highest luxury tax in NBA history, however, the procedure of this franchise is to pay their stars a year before their contract expires, as they did with Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole.

The report also indicates that if Green does not get the extension he wants, he is willing to seek that money with another team, an issue that would not be to the liking of the “Chef” who would be pressuring the Warriors management not to let Green go.…

Boxing / News / Sports / War

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko in an emotional interview: Today it is easier to die for our country than to live for it

Heavyweight brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko both reached the pinnacle of their sport as world champions, but since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February have been forced to fight much closer to home.

Vitali Klitschko is now the Mayor of Kiev, Ukraine’s capital city, a post that he’s held since 2014 whilst younger brother Wladimir joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense Brigade when Russia invaded.

“You know the simplest thing you can do? Die for your country. The most complicated? Live for your country,” Wladimir told Piers Morgan.

“That means fight for life, protect your people, protect your country, protect yourself.

“It’s so complicated that at some point you really catch a feeling like ‘you know I’m going to run to my death,’ so to speak, just to end this misery.”

Vitali talked about meetings a child who didn’t know he’d just been orphaned, and added: “This war can touch everyone in Europe.”

The war in Ukraine is into its fifth month with no end in sight, and tens of thousands casualties reported.

“The strength is of us Ukrainians that we don’t want to die even though a lot have already been killed and tortured and raped and now still putting life on the line,” Wladimir said.

“But, living for your country is more complicated and challenging and it’s definitely something that we don’t want to do as Ukrainians is run to our death.

“So, we stay strong, we stay alive and we fight for our choice not to live on our knees.”…

Sports / Tennis

Rafael Nadal: ‘I hope to be able to devote more time to it than…’

Flash Entertainment CEO John Lickrish revealed that he has a good relationship with Rafael Nadal and that the Spaniard once wanted to give him his Richard Mille watch. Flash Entertainment owns the Mubadala World Tennis Championships and Lickrish has once in the past praised Nadal’s jacket and asked if he could have it.

Nadal was a bit surprised by the request, but that started his good relationship. “I’ve been doing this trick to him every year, try anyway,” Lickrish told The National. “The last time I did it with his Richard Mille watch.

I was like, ‘that’s a great watch’ and he was like, ‘yeah you know it’s super light’ I like I wish I had that one and he actually took it off and handed it to me (Lickrish didn’t take it). He would have taken the jacket for me if he had given it to me, really”.

Emma Raducanu and Bencic were expected to meet in the only women’s match at this year’s Mubadala World Tennis Championships. Raducanu tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and is out of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships.

Lickrish revealed that the plan is to bring more women to the event in the future. “From the beginning we looked at it and thought, ‘how do we get women into the tournament?’ There have been a few different proposals internally that we’ve looked at, also through bringing in a women-only tournament,” Lickrish said.

“I always thought it would be better to combine the two things. First of all, it’s really what we’re doing with the budgets that we have, we’ve decided, and through some of our partners, we’re able to attract women.

I didn’t want to make it unique, I didn’t want to make it corny.

Rafa intends to continue being active

Speaking a bit more about the mental aspect of the sport during the interview, Rafael Nadal philosophized how players sometimes have to fight themselves in addition to their opponents as well.

“All elite sports are complicated and tennis especially being a one-on-one …

Athletics / Sports

Tobi Amusan wins historic World Athletics Championship gold for Nigeria

World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, in the early hours of Monday (Sunday in Oregon), won the women’s 100m hurdles gold at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

And she did it by going faster than the 12.12s world record time she ran in the semi-finals, but her 12.06s in the final wasn’t recognized as a world record owing to the over 2m/s wind speed.

Amusan had blitzed to a world record 12.12s in the semi-finals but obliterated that mark with a superb 12.06s to become the first Nigerian to win gold in the history of the World Athletics Championships.

Nigeria had won a total of nine medals, comprising four silver and five bronze before Amusan destroyed a strong field in the final.

Three years ago, Amusan had finished fourth in Doha, Qatar.

She had earlier taken eight hundredths of a second off American Keni Harrison‘s world record from 2016. Amusan’s previous personal best before the semi-final was 12.40, set in the first round on Saturday in Oregon.…

Athletics / Sports

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan breaks 100m hurdles world record with time of 12.12 seconds

Tobi Amusan broke the 100m hurdles world record with a stunning semi-final time of 12.12 seconds – before taking gold at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The Nigerian, 25, ran even faster in the final – but her 12.06 was ruled ineligible by an illegal tailwind.

The previous record of 12.20 was set in 2016 by American Kendra Harrison.

Jamaica’s Britany Anderson took silver and Puerto Rico’s Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn got bronze.

Amusan, who had already run a new African record of 12.40 seconds in Saturday’s heats, said: “I believe in my abilities but I was not expecting a world record at these championships.

“I wanted to get out and go. I did what I had to do.”

Great Britain’s Cindy Sember finished fourth in the semi-final won by Amusan, but qualified for the final with a British record of 12.50, beating sister Tiffany Porter’s 2014 mark by one hundredth of a second.

It was one of four national records, excluding Amusan’s, run in the semi-finals, with another seven athletes equalling or breaking their personal bests.

“That was a crazy race. I actually thought I was running slow. Tobi was amazing, I can’t deny,” said Sember, who went on to finish fifth in the final.…

Football / Sports

Lingard joins Forest after leaving United

Nottingham Forest pulled off its biggest signing since clinching a return to the Premier League by bringing in Jesse Lingard on a free transfer. The England midfielder was available after ending his 22-year association with Manchester United during the offseason.

Lingard’s move to Forest was announced late Thursday. He is the 11th signing made by the promoted club as it prepares for a first season in the Premier League since 1999. The length of Lingard’s deal was not disclosed.

The 29-year-old Lingard spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan at West Ham, scoring nine goals in 16 starts in the league, and he was linked with a permanent move to the London club.…

Football / Sports

Djed Spence: Tottenham sign Middlesbrough defender on five-year contract in £20m deal

The right wing-back, who completed a medical at Hotspur Way on Friday, has signed until June 2027 after Spurs agreed a deal that will see them pay an initial £12.5m, with a further £7.5m coming in performance-related add-ons.

The 21-year-old made 46 appearances on loan for Nottingham Forest last season and there was a chance he might have joined Steve Cooper’s side on a permanent deal this summer.

But Spence has become Spurs’ sixth major signing of the season, following the arrivals of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and loanee Clement Lenglet.
To play in the Premier League and for a big club like Tottenham, it’s a dream come true,” Spence told Tottenham’s official website.”I’m thankful I’m here and I’ve got the opportunity to play for the club. It’s a privilege to be here.
…
Football / Sports

Dybala set to join AS Roma on free transfer

Argentina international forward Paulo Dybala has agreed a deal in principle to sign for Serie A side AS Roma on a free transfer following his departure from Juventus, a source close to the club told Reuters on Monday.

Dybala, who was linked with a transfer to Inter Milan after his deal with Juventus expired, will sign a three-year contract with Roma worth 6 million euros ($6.09 million), Italian news agency ANSA said.

The 28-year-old won five league titles and four Coppa Italia trophies with Juventus after joining the Turin-based club from Palermo in 2015, scoring 115 goals in 293 appearances across all competitions.

Dybala will become Roma’s fourth signing of the transfer window after the arrivals of midfielder Nemanja Matic, goalkeeper Mile Svilar and defender Zeki Celik.

Roma finished sixth in Serie A last season and won the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho.…

Basket Ball / Entertainment / News

Khloé Kardashian expecting a baby via surrogate with Tristan Thompson

According to PageSix, a source close to the Kardashians revealed that the estranged couple are expecting their second child together. “We can confirm True will have a sibling who was conceived in November. Khloé is incredibly grateful to the extraordinary surrogate for such a beautiful blessing,” the source revealed.

“We’d like to ask for kindness and privacy so that Khloe can focus on her family.”

Multiple sources add that the baby was conceived via surrogate before it was revealed that Tristan, 31, was having a baby with someone else.

“Khloé and Tristan already had the baby in the works when the scandal hit. By then, Khloé was just like, ‘I’m going to be doing it by myself,’” PageSix revealed.

Tristan and Khloe already a have four-year-old daughter.

It would be recalled that Tristan welcomed a baby with fitness expert, Maralee Nichols.

Nicole has already filed for child support from the rich NBA star before giving birth to the child.

Tristan later admitted to fathering the child after he was dragged by the fitness expert.

“Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols. I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established I look forward to amicably raising our son,” he wrote.

He went on to apologize to his former girlfriend and baby mama, Khloe Kardashian.

“Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years,” he added.

…
Football / Sports

Chelsea complete signing of England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City

Chelsea on Wednesday announced that they have completed the signing of England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.

Sterling has signed a five-year contract with The Blues and has already linked up with the squad in Los Angeles where the team is currently on their pre-season tour.

The English forward has been a consistent performer for Manchester City over the past seven seasons, hitting double figures in goals in each of the campaigns and winning nine major honors during his time. He has also won the Premier League title four times.

Chelsea’s Chairman and co-controlling owner Todd Boehly expressed his happiness about signing Sterling and said that the forward is a serial winner and the move is an important step in strengthening the squad.

“Raheem Sterling is a serial winner and his signing is an important step in strengthening our squad. We are delighted for Raheem to return to London with Chelsea, and we look forward to seeing his world-class talent on display at Stamford Bridge,” said Boehly.

The 27-year-old also opened up on his happiness in joining Thomas Tuchel’s side and said he aims to achieve more success with the Blues. Sterling is also happy to be back in London, his hometown, and said it would be a great opportunity to play in front of friends and family.

“First and foremost, it’s a pleasure to be here. I’ve obviously achieved a lot in my career so far, but there is still so much more to achieve and I’m really looking forward to doing that in a Chelsea shirt, under Thomas’s management.”

“London is my home and where it all started for me, and it’s amazing I now have the opportunity to play in front of friends and family week in, week out at Stamford Bridge. I’m really looking forward to meeting the fans there soon.”

“I do want to take the opportunity to thank Todd, Behdad, the ownership group, Thomas, and all involved in the process of getting me here.”

“I can’t wait to get going now and continue …

Football / Sports

Sebastien Haller joins Borussia Dortmund from Ajax Amsterdam

German club Borussia Dortmund has sealed the transfer of striker Sebastien Haller from Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam, both clubs have confirmed. The 28-year-old former Eintracht Frankfurt striker returns to the Bundesliga after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Black and Yellows, the clubs said in an official statement on Wednesday.

We are very pleased that with Sebastien Haller we were able to sign a seasoned striker who caused a sensation in the Champions League. He also knows the Bundesliga and has already proven his class and quality in front of the goal,” said Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl on Wednesday.

Haller knows the Bundesliga very well as he played for the “Eagles” from 2017 until 2019 to provide 24 goals in 60 competitive matches. He most recently finished the season as a top scorer (21 goals) in the Dutch Eredivisie and ended up in third in the Champions League goal-getters standings after marking 11 goals, behind Robert Lewandowski (13) and Karim Benzema (15), reports Xinhua.

“It is a great stadium, but the greatest stadium is nothing without supporters. I can hardly wait to be able to feel the support of more than 80,000 spectators. Hopefully, we will achieve great things together in the coming years,” Haller told the club’s official website.

Dortmund’s new arrival received the number 9 jersey after the departure of Erling Haaland.

The eight-time German champions clash with lower league side TSV 1860 Munich in the first round in the German Cup on July 27 before they host Bayer Leverkusen for their Bundesliga opener on August 6.…