Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Manchester City have completed the signing of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for an initial £46.5m, strengthening Pep Guardiola’s midfield ahead of this month’s Club World Cup in the United States. Reijnders, 26, arrives on a five-year deal and becomes the fourth new face at the Etihad this summer, joining Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Marcus Bettinelli. The Netherlands international could make his debut on 18 June against Moroccan champions Wydad AC in Philadelphia. “I’m ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” said Reijnders. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach,…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered an emotional and deeply personal address on Monday as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester, speaking of his fear and heartbreak over the ongoing war in Gaza. In a powerful speech at the university’s Whitworth Hall, Guardiola, 54, said he was “so scared” and “hurt” by the suffering of innocent people, particularly children, amid the continued Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The conflict began after the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw more than 250 others taken hostage. In…

England’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup took a serious knock on Tuesday night as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Senegal at the City Ground. In a game labelled as a friendly but played with ferocity and intensity by the visitors, Thomas Tuchel suffered his first loss as England manager—one that raised big questions about direction, leadership, and tactical identity. Harry Kane’s early strike had given England the lead in just the 7th minute, latching onto a clever ball and firing home confidently past Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy. It was Kane’s fourth goal in as many games under…

Jobe Bellingham has completed a high-profile move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to £31m, marking the next step in a career path that mirrors that of his older brother, Jude. But the 19-year-old insists he is determined to carve out his own identity. Jobe joins Dortmund from Sunderland after a standout season in the Championship, where he helped the Black Cats secure promotion to the Premier League. Despite that success, he opted for a move abroad, penning a five-year deal with the German club that previously helped launch Jude Bellingham into global stardom. The similarities…

Manchester City have completed the signing of French midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon in a £30.45m deal, marking their third signing in just 48 hours as Pep Guardiola reshapes his squad ahead of the Club World Cup. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has penned a five-year contract until 2030 and will immediately join up with the City squad heading to the United States for the tournament, which kicks off on 14 June. With nearly 200 senior appearances already to his name, Cherki arrives with considerable experience despite his young age. “This is a dream for me,” said Cherki in his first…

Chelsea have had a £42m bid rejected by Borussia Dortmund for England Under-21 winger Jamie Gittens, as the London club look to bolster their wide options ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup. The 20-year-old is understood to be open to a move back to England and already has a long-term contract proposal from Chelsea on the table. Despite Gittens’ interest, negotiations between the two clubs have stalled over valuation. Gittens, who started his youth career in the Chelsea academy before moving to Manchester City and later Dortmund, is under contract until 2028. He made his Bundesliga debut in 2022…

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has extended a bold invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to spend a week in his home in war-torn Ukraine. The Ukrainian boxer’s emotional message comes as part of a continued effort to bring international attention to the daily horrors endured by his country amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of his July 19 rematch against Britain’s Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, Usyk shared a personal and passionate response to Trump’s controversial claim that he could end the Ukraine war “within 24 hours” if re-elected. “I advise American President…

Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from a potential return to Tottenham Hotspur following the club’s sacking of manager Ange Postecoglou. The Argentine, now head coach of the United States national team, insisted a reunion with the North London club is “not realistic” at this time. Speaking after the United States’ 2-1 friendly loss to Turkey in Connecticut, Pochettino addressed speculation linking him with the vacancy at Spurs, following Postecoglou’s dismissal on Friday. Despite winning the Europa League — Tottenham’s first major trophy in 17 years — Postecoglou was let go after failing to secure Champions League qualification and overseeing a…

In a dramatic and emotional news conference on Sunday, Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti announced that he would be leaving his role following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening World Cup 2026 qualifier. The 66-year-old revealed that Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina informed him of his dismissal after the disappointing result in Oslo. Despite the news, Spalletti confirmed he would still take charge of Monday’s qualifier against Moldova before officially stepping down. “Last night we were very together with president Gravina,” Spalletti told reporters. “He told me that I will be relieved of my position as…

France secured third place in the UEFA Nations League with a composed 2-0 win over hosts Germany in Stuttgart, thanks to a goal and an assist from captain Kylian Mbappé. The Paris Saint-Germain forward marked a personal milestone in the process, becoming only the third Frenchman to score 50 international goals. The MHPArena played host to a match filled with drama, missed opportunities, and video assistant referee (VAR) interventions. While the home crowd had hoped to see Germany respond positively after their semi-final defeat to Portugal, it was France who emerged stronger, showing more clinical edge and tactical discipline. Mbappé…