Football / Sports

Man United confirm signing of winger Antony from Ajax

Manchester United have completed the signing of winger Antony from Ajax on a five-year deal, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Antony said: “This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world. I’m thankful to everyone who has believed in me, especially my family, and all my coaches and team-mates, because I could not have got here without them.

United agreed a fee for the Brazil international on Monday, which sources told was worth an initial €95 million with another €5m in add-ons — making it the club’s second-most expensive transfer behind the then-world record €105m (£89.3m) deal to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016.

Antony’s move to Old Trafford means he will be reunited with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, who has completed his fifth signing of the summer after deals for Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro.

Antony added: “Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.

“My time at Ajax was fantastic and I will always be grateful for the trust they put in me, but now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and play my part in bringing success to Manchester United.”

The 22-year-old winger gives Ten Hag more options in attack after Anthony Martial sustained an Achilles’ tendon injury in United’s 2-1 victory against Liverpool last week.

Antony scored 25 goals in 82 games for Ajax after joining the Eredivisie side from Sao Paulo in 2020, winning two league titles and a KNVB Cup during his time there. He has made nine appearances for Brazil, scoring twice, and helped his country to an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last year.

John Murtough, United’s football director, said: “Antony is one of the most exciting young talents …

Football / Sports

Chelsea sign Wesley Fofana on seven-year contract from Leicester City

Chelsea have completed the signing of Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana on a seven-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday.

On Saturday Chelsea agreed a fee in the region of £75 million for Fofana after Leicester demanded the same £80m fee they received for defender Harry Maguire when he moved to Manchester United in 2019.

Fofana, 21, joins Chelsea after spending the past two seasons at the King Power Stadium following his move from then-Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne.

“The two last days have been really big days for me and I’m very happy,” said Fofana after completing the move.

“I trained this morning with the team and it’s a dream for me. I’m very excited to start playing games for the fans and the club.

“I’m here to win trophies — the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, everything. I came here to win and the club is built to win trophies so I’m here to continue that.”

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly said the club is “delighted” to have Fofana joining their ranks.

“Wesley is a hugely promising defender who has already proven his quality in the Premier League at a young age,” Boehly said in an announcement.

“We are delighted we were able to bring one of Europe’s most exciting talents to Chelsea and further strengthen that area of our squad, both for this season and many more to come.”

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will welcome the arrival of Fofana after seeing centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave this summer and admitting the club granted Marcos Alonso’s request to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window.…

Football / Sports

Newcastle signs Alexander Isak for $70M

Newcastle made its most eye-catching move in the transfer market since coming under Saudi ownership, setting a club record to sign Sweden striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a reported 70 million euros ($70 million) on Friday.

It takes the spending of the richest club owners in world soccer to more than $130 million in the summer transfer window, though Newcastle still isn’t targeting the game’s top players despite its wealth.

The 22-year-old Isak burst into global consciousness through some impressive displays for Sweden at the European Championship last year. He is widely regarded as a potential star of the future thanks to his pace and dribbling ability but has a modest scoring record, having netted 44 goals in 132 appearances for Sociedad and nine in 37 for Sweden.

Isak joined Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17 and was sold two years later in 2019 after failing to break into the team.

“He is an outstanding talent who is capable of making a big contribution to the team,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

“He is technically very good, with a mix of attributes that will complement us, but he is also at a great age to grow with this club.”

Netherlands defender Sven Botman, England goalkeeper Nick Pope and left back Matt Targett have already joined Newcastle in this transfer window.

Joelinton was Newcastle’s previous record signing after joining for 35 million pounds (then $44 million) in 2019.

That was two years before the buyout by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that has moved the club from northeast England into a different realm.

Isak will compete with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood for a place up front. Wilson is facing time out of the team after getting hurt in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

“I’m delighted to have it done,” Isak said of his move. “It was a big, big decision for me but it is a decision I am really happy with.”

He added: “You always want to go into a team and know …

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.
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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.…

Football / Sports

NEWCASTLE SIGNS GOALKEEPER NICK POPE FROM BURNLEY

Newcastle signed goalkeeper Nick Pope to a four-year contract after the England international completed a move from relegated Burnley on Thursday.

The Premier League club paid a fee reported to be 10 million pounds ($12.3 million) for Pope, who made 141 league appearances in his six seasons at Burnley.

The 30-year-old Pope will compete with Martin Dubravka to be manager Eddie Howe’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“Nick is an exceptional Premier League and international level goalkeeper so I’m very pleased to be adding strong competition to a very important position,” Howe said.

Howe said there was “a lot of interest” in Pope from other clubs.

Pope, who has made eight England appearances, said “I can’t wait to get started” at Newcastle, where he will be reunited with former teammate Chris Wood. The New Zealand striker joined in the January transfer window.

Burnley was relegated from the Premier League after six seasons following a 2-1 loss — to Newcastle — in the season finale that allowed rival Leeds to survive.…

Football / Sports

SAUL NIGUEZ MOVES TO CHELSEA ON LOAN

On switching to London, Saul said: ‘I am very excited to start this new challenge with Chelsea. Blues fans, I am one of you now and I can’t wait to wear the shirt, start training and see all of you. See you soon!’

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘We welcome Saul to the Club and believe he completes our squad as we compete for honors in five different competitions this season. He is a proven winner, a player with huge experience and we know he will be very well-suited to the challenges that face us on all fronts in the coming year.’

The 26-year-old midfielder has up until now spent his entire club career in Madrid in his native Spain, having begun his youth career at Real Madrid before switching to Atletico, with one loan spell at another capital city club Rayo Vallecano.

During his time with Atleti, where he has played 447 matches and scored 53 goals, Saul has won the Europa League twice, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups, and as recently as last season, the league title in his homeland.

He played 33 of the 38 La Liga games in 2020/21 and scored twice as Diego Simeone’s side beat Real to the title by two points.

They were less successful in the Champions League however, with Saul starting both games of the round of 16 tie against Chelsea which the Blues won 3-0 on aggregate.

The previous time the two clubs were drawn together in the competition, in the group stage in 2017/18, Saul was also involved and indeed he opened the scoring with a header in our meeting at Stamford Bridge before an own-goal ensured the match ended in a draw.

Chelsea went on to play Barcelona in the knockout stages that season while the Spaniards dropped into the Europa League although they went on to lift that trophy. Saul scored a further three European goals in the campaign, against FC Copenhagen and home and away against Lokomotiv Moscow. Arsenal were defeated …