Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare found the back of the net for the first time this season, but his goal was not enough to prevent KRC Genk from falling 2-1 to Standard Liège in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who topped the scoring charts in Belgium last season, began the match on the bench at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne. Head coach Thorsten Fink opted for Jarne Steuckers in attack from the start, leaving Arokodare to wait for his opportunity. Arokodare Standard Take Control Early The home side seized the initiative in the first half. Standard’s persistence in the…

Chelsea have agreed to allow striker Nicolas Jackson to leave the club this summer, with the 24-year-old left out of the squad for Friday’s pre-season clash against Bayer Leverkusen. The Senegalese international trained alone at Cobham on Friday as speculation over his future intensified, following interest from Newcastle United. Jackson joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 for a reported £32 million fee. Despite a mixed first season, he finished with 10 Premier League goals and remains a highly regarded talent within the club. However, with Chelsea making significant moves in the transfer market and signing two new…

The Premier League has ended its long-standing partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, confirming it will no longer participate in the Rainbow Laces campaign, a decision that marks a major shift in the league’s approach to promoting inclusion and diversity. First reported by The Daily Telegraph and later confirmed by the Premier League, the top flight of English football now plans to launch its own inclusion initiative to coincide with LGBTQ+ History Month in February. This comes after more than a decade of collaboration with Stonewall, whose Rainbow Laces campaign has been a visual and symbolic presence in English football since…

Chelsea have now generated over £250 million from academy player sales in just three years, a remarkable figure that reflects both the club’s youth development success and the financial pressures of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The latest addition to that total came with the sale of striker Armando Broja to Burnley, a deal reportedly worth up to £20 million with add-ons. His move follows several other summer departures, including Bashir Humphreys to Burnley for £14.7 million and Ishe Samuels-Smith to Strasbourg for £6.5 million, bringing the club’s academy sales this summer to £41.2 million. In total,…

Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has officially joined Turkish giants Besiktas on a permanent deal from English side Leicester City, bringing an end to an eight-year spell with the Foxes. The 28-year-old midfielder has signed a three-year contract with the option of an additional year, as he looks to embrace a fresh challenge in the Turkish Super Lig. Besiktas confirmed the signing on Thursday, describing Ndidi as a “proven leader and experienced professional” who will add strength and composure to their midfield. The deal marks a significant move for both the club and the player, as Ndidi seeks to rediscover top-flight…

AC Milan are reportedly exploring a potential deal to bring Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund to San Siro, as the Danish international’s future at Old Trafford comes under renewed scrutiny. Despite publicly committing to staying at United just last week, fresh developments have cast doubts over his role in Ruben Amorim’s plans, especially with the impending arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. United signed Hojlund for a staggering £72 million from Atalanta in August 2023, hoping the then-20-year-old would be the long-term solution to their striking woes. Now 23, Hojlund has had an up-and-down spell at United, showing glimpses…

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new season with confirmation that midfielder James Maddison has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will miss the majority of the 2025/26 campaign. The 28-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea last weekend. Manager Thomas Frank had initially confirmed Maddison had damaged the same knee that kept him out of last season’s Europa League final victory over Manchester United — and further tests upon the team’s return to London have now confirmed the worst. Maddison is set to undergo surgery…

Manchester United have struck a major blow in the summer transfer window by agreeing a £73.7 million deal with RB Leipzig to sign Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the hottest properties in European football, and United have moved decisively to beat Premier League rivals to his signature. The agreement with Leipzig includes an initial payment of £66.3 million, with the remaining £7.4 million tied to performance-based add-ons. Sesko will now undergo a medical and complete the formalities of his move to Old Trafford, bringing to an end United’s months-long search for a dominant presence…

Darwin Nunez time at Liverpool looks set to come to an end after Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal agreed a £46.3 million (€53m) deal to sign the Uruguay international striker. The 26-year-old is now expected to undergo a medical before finalising his move to the Middle East, where he will join a growing list of European stars lured by the Saudi project. Al-Hilal, coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, are adding Nunez to a squad already featuring high-profile names such as Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Yassine Bounou. Nunez joined Liverpool in the summer…

Barcelona have confirmed the temporary removal of Marc-André ter Stegen from his role as first-team captain following a disciplinary issue between the club and the Germany international. The decision comes in the wake of a reported disagreement surrounding Ter Stegen’s medical privacy, which has implications for Barcelona’s player registration strategy. The 33-year-old goalkeeper recently underwent back surgery and is currently sidelined. In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said, “Following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-André ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, by mutual agreement with the sporting direction and the coaching staff,…