Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Arsenal Fight Back to Beat Chelsea 2-1, Join Man City Top of the Table
Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates, surviving an early scare to move level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League on nine points from three matches. Chelsea stunned the home crowd inside 77 seconds when Morgan Rogers volleyed the visitors ahead, but Arsenal responded emphatically. Kai Havertz equalised against his former club in the 25th minute, and Pedro Neto hit the post for Chelsea right before the break as the sides went in level at 1-1. Five minutes into the second half, Havertz's clever dummy set up Martin Odegaard to sweep home the winner. Chelsea pushed hard for an equaliser late on, with Reece James heading over and substitute Estevao denied by a superb save from David Raya in the 89th minute. Arsenal held on through four minutes of stoppage time to seal the win. The result extends Arsenal's perfect start to the season, with five goals scored and just one conceded through three matches, while handing Chelsea their first dropped points of the campaign, leaving them on six points. It also extends Arsenal's all-time head-to-head advantage over Chelsea to 87 wins to 66 in a rivalry dating back to 1907.
Gabriel Jesus in Line for Barcelona Debut Against Valencia
Gabriel Jesus could make his Barcelona debut against Valencia at Mestalla, with head coach Hansi Flick confirming the Brazilian is in contention for second-half minutes despite not yet being at full fitness following his deadline-day move from Arsenal. "I really liked what I saw from Gabriel during training. He's ready to play a few minutes; we'll see in the second half how the match is going," Flick said in his pre-match press conference. Jesus trained fully with the squad for the first time on Friday, having managed only a partial session on Thursday, and has been handed the number 9 shirt at his new club. The timing brings an unusual selection headache for Flick, with Jesus' return coinciding with midfielder Gavi also being available again after injury, leaving the German coach with 24 fit players for a squad that can only register 23 under La Liga rules. Reports in Spain suggest full-back Alejandro Balde could be the player left out to accommodate both returning names, alongside new goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic also included in the squad for the first time. Barcelona go into the match aiming for a fourth win from four to open their La Liga title defence, with Jesus expected to provide competition for Raphinha in attack after a €10 million move from Arsenal that was reportedly agreed within 24 hours following nine months of on-off interest.
Coventry Complete Signing of Yann Gboho From Toulouse Days After Deadline
Coventry City have completed the signing of winger Yann Gboho from Toulouse, three days after the transfer window officially closed, thanks to a little-known FIFA documentation rule. The deal, reportedly worth around £10.3 million , was agreed with Toulouse and submitted to the Premier League before Tuesday's 11pm deadline, but final confirmation was delayed while FIFA verified the paperwork was in order. With ratification now complete, the move is subject only to UK visa approval, and Gboho was registered in time to feature in Coventry's trip to Manchester City. Gboho, the cousin of PSG and France forward Desire Doue , made 83 appearances for Toulouse in Ligue 1, scoring 19 goals and adding 12 assists over two and a half seasons. Born in Ivory Coast and a former France youth international, he began his career at Rennes before spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Cercle Brugge preceded his move to Toulouse. The winger becomes newly promoted Coventry's 12th and final summer signing, completing their 25-man Premier League squad after a summer outlay exceeding £100 million, following a proposed move to MLS side Kansas City that fell through.
Liverpool Sporting Director Richard Hughes Departs, Successor Search Begins
Liverpool have confirmed the departure of sporting director Richard Hughes after just two years in the role, with the Scot expected to take up a similar position at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. "The process of appointing a successor is under way and the outcome will be confirmed in due course," the club said in a statement, with the search being led by Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon . Hughes departs having overseen roughly £670 million in transfer spending across five windows, including British record fees for Alexander Isak and Enzo Fernandez, plus the summer's marquee arrival of Bradley Barcola for £123m. Hughes had informed the club of his desire to leave earlier this year but agreed to stay through the transfer window, given his close working relationship with head coach Andoni Iraola , whom he had first brought in at Bournemouth before reuniting with him at Anfield. He was also the executive who appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's successor, with Slot winning the Premier League in his debut season before being dismissed following a difficult title defence. His exit follows the recent departure of longtime friend Michael Edwards as FSG's CEO of Football, continuing a period of upheaval in Liverpool's boardroom. In the interim, the club says other senior football operations figures, including FSG technical director Julian Ward and assistant sporting director David Woodfine, will maintain the department's strategy.
Tottenham Remain Winless and Goalless After 0-0 Draw With Nottingham Forest
Tottenham remain winless and without a single goal scored through three Premier League matches after a goalless 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, though it marked their first point of the season under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi . Brazilian summer signing Savio made his full Premier League debut on the right wing and was Tottenham's most dangerous outlet, completing eight take-ons and looking the player most likely to unlock Forest's defence. Forest thought they had snatched a late winner when Neco Williams found the net, but the goal was overturned by VAR after the ball was ruled to have struck his arm in the build-up. "Disappointing for the result, but for the performance, very happy," said De Zerbi afterward. "Considering we started working together on Thursday for the first time, we played well." The result comes after back-to-back opening defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, with Tottenham having spent more than £350 million over the summer without yet finding the net in the league. New arrival Omar Marmoush had a clear sight of goal but shot wide, while Mathys Tel struggled on the opposite flank and was substituted with 15 minutes remaining. The point comes with Tottenham also formally omitting Richarlison from their Premier League squad this week, adding further pressure on De Zerbi's misfiring attacking options.
Ben Chilwell's Late Winner Gives Crystal Palace First Points of the Season
Crystal Palace claimed their first points of the season with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Fulham, with deadline-day signing Ben Chilwell marking his return to the club with a late winner. Fulham led twice through Josh King and Cesar Palacios, with Tyrick Mitchell equalising on both occasions either side of half-time to keep Palace in the contest. Chilwell, signed from Strasbourg after previously spending half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea, was introduced as a 74th-minute substitute and needed just three minutes to find the winner, sealing new head coach Pierre Sage's first victory in charge. The result offers timely relief for Palace, who have been without top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta and winger Ismaila Sarr through injury this season, with Eddie Nketiah stepping in as a makeshift option in attack. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson made several important saves throughout to keep Fulham at bay before Chilwell's decisive intervention. The win moves Palace off the foot of the table after a difficult start to the campaign, while Fulham will rue letting two separate leads slip in a match that slipped away from them late on.
Haaland's 300th Club Goal Sends Man City Top With Win Over Coventry
Erling Haaland scored the 300th club goal of his career to give Manchester City a hard-fought 1-0 win over newly promoted Coventry City, sending Enzo Maresca's side top of the Premier League with a perfect three wins from three. Haaland powered in a 26th-minute header from an Antoine Semenyo cross, with debutant Enzo Fernandez involved in the buildup after being handed a surprise start following Nico O'Reilly's warm-up injury. It was the Norwegian's 165th goal for City, adding to his tallies from Borussia Dortmund (86), Red Bull Salzburg (29) and Molde (20), and his 20th goal against a promoted Premier League side, a run of dominance broken only by Sunderland last season. Coventry, still searching for their first top-flight goal since May 2001, gave City a real fright. Taiwo Awoniyi spurned a clear one-on-one chance, while goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action to deny both Jack Rudoni and Ellis Simms as the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser throughout. "It is an important win, different from the other two," said City boss Enzo Maresca afterward, with fellow deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye also making his full debut in the same match. Frank Lampard's Coventry remain without a point or a goal in their return to the Premier League after three matches.
Timber Boost for Arsenal Ahead of Chelsea Clash, But Guimaraes and Mosquera Doubtful
Arsenal could hand Jurrien Timber his first appearance of the season against Chelsea on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta confirming the Dutch defender is "in really good condition" after returning to full training following groin surgery that also ruled him out of the World Cup. Arteta faces a more uncertain picture elsewhere in his squad, with Bruno Guimaraes and Cristhian Mosquera both being assessed after picking up knocks during last week's 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Guimaraes, who made his competitive debut off the bench at Villa Park, missed Thursday's open training session, while Mosquera was withdrawn during the second half as a precaution. "It was more precaution than anything else, so we will have to see how he feels," Arteta said of Mosquera, with £51m signing Ezri Konsa in line to deputise if needed. William Saliba remains a longer-term absentee. Chelsea arrive at the Emirates unbeaten with three wins from three under Xabi Alonso and in free-scoring form, though they carry their own fitness concern over Moises Caicedo , who was forced off again with the same injury issue during last weekend's 4-3 win over Brighton after returning from a previous spell out. The London derby represents the toughest test yet of Arsenal's title defence, with both sides having made big-money additions to their squads over the summer ahead of Sunday's Emirates showdown.
Newcastle Fight Back From Two Down to Draw 2-2 With Bournemouth, Stay Unbeaten
Newcastle fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth at St James' Park, preserving their unbeaten start to the season under new head coach Matthias Jaissle in a dramatic finish. Bournemouth raced into a two-goal lead through Marcus Tavernier's close-range finish and a Malick Thiaw own goal, but Newcastle responded almost instantly when Harvey Barnes curled in a stunning finish just 101 seconds later. The hosts pushed for an equaliser throughout a tense second half before substitute Jacob Ramsey steered home the leveller in the 88th minute, sparking wild celebrations at St James' Park. The result extends a miserable statistical quirk for Bournemouth, who became the first side in Premier League history to score first in each of their opening three matches of a season without winning any of them, having also conceded stoppage-time goals against Manchester City and Everton in their previous two outings. "It's good that we're in situations to win games, but we have to talk about how we can finish games," said Bournemouth boss Marco Rose. For Newcastle, the draw means Jaissle remains unbeaten through his opening three matches in charge, following a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and a 2-0 win over Tottenham. "Happy for that spirit, that belief the lads were showing until the end together with the crowd," Jaissle said afterward.
Enzo Fernandez Handed Surprise Man City Debut After Nico O'Reilly's Warm-Up Injury
Enzo Fernandez made a surprise Manchester City debut from the start against Coventry City, promoted into the starting XI after Nico O'Reilly suffered a suspected lower back injury during the warm-up at the Etihad Stadium. Fernandez, City's £125 million record signing from Chelsea, had initially been named among the substitutes just four days after completing his British record-equalling move. But O'Reilly's late fitness issue forced an immediate reshuffle, with the Argentine drafted into midfield alongside fellow deadline-day arrival Iliman Ndiaye , who also made his full debut having replaced Phil Foden in the only other change from City's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace. O'Reilly had started both of City's opening two league matches and has been a key figure under Pep Guardiola since breaking through last season. His absence adds an unexpected complication for City just as they look to build early-season momentum with a revamped midfield following the departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. Fernandez's unplanned introduction means his first appearance in City colours arrives with minimal specific preparation for the occasion, though the club had always viewed him as a rotation option in Pep Guardiola's expensively assembled midfield alongside Elliot Anderson.
Alexia Putellas Debuts as London City Lionesses Beat Man United 2-1 in WSL Opener
London City Lionesses made a statement start to the newly expanded Women's Super League season, beating Manchester United 2-1 at a sold-out Hayes Lane as Alexia Putellas made her competitive debut for the club. London City took the lead after just nine minutes when Alanna Kennedy's header was inadvertently turned into her own net by United's Julia Zigiotti Olme, following a tussle in the box. Danielle van de Donk doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a clever flick to seal the points, before Simi Awujo grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for United with their only shot on target all night. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas started alongside fellow new arrivals Rosa Kafaji, Mapi Leon and Janni Thomsen, with further big-money signings Mary Earps and Kadidiatou Diani left among the substitutes, in what head coach Eder Maestre hopes signals the arrival of a genuine WSL title contender under owner Michele Kang. The club's only concern came when Lucia Corrales was forced off in the second half, later confirmed to be a rib injury. Backed by significant investment this summer, London City are targeting a first WSL title as the first fully independent club to do so, having finished sixth last season behind the established top five of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Brighton's Mats Wieffer Sidelined With Freak Knee Injury
Brighton have confirmed Mats Wieffer will be sidelined until after the upcoming international break with a freak knee injury sustained during last weekend's 4-3 defeat at Chelsea. The Dutch full-back was struck in the face by the ball during the match, causing him to lose his balance and twist his knee awkwardly as he fell. "I can explain this quite easily because I also like to watch boxing," head coach Fabian Hurzeler said. "Sometimes in boxing, when someone gets hit, you see how weak his legs go and then the legs get in very strange positions, and then it might happen that your knee gets injured. It was a similar situation with Mats." Wieffer had started both of Brighton's opening Premier League matches at right-back and was considered the preferred option in the position when fit. His absence adds to an already lengthy Brighton injury list that includes Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood. Summer signing Costinha is the most likely option to deputise, with Hurzeler praising his fitness and tactical understanding since arriving at the club.
Real Betis Stun Real Madrid 1-0 as Mbappe Misses Stoppage-Time Penalty
Real Betis stunned Real Madrid 1-0 at La Cartuja, ending Jose Mourinho's perfect start to his second spell in charge with a dramatic finish that saw Kylian Mbappe miss a stoppage-time penalty. Madrid dominated for long spells, with Vinicius Junior striking the post from an Arda Guler pass in the first half, and Mbappe twice denied by heroic blocks from Natan and Marc Bartra. But Betis snatched the lead nine minutes from time when Troy Parrott , on his home debut since a summer move from AZ Alkmaar, fired home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had saved Nelson Deossa's header, scoring his first goal for the club. Madrid thought they had salvaged a point when substitute Carlos Espi scored a stunning acrobatic volley from a Vinicius cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up. Deep into stoppage time, Vinicius won a penalty after being fouled by Natan in the box, handing Mbappe a golden chance to rescue the game. But Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles guessed correctly and saved to his right, sparking wild celebrations at La Cartuja. "I genuinely don't know why we lost. We played so well," said Mourinho afterward. "I have nothing to reproach my players for." The defeat ends Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga season under Mourinho, while Betis pick up a major confidence boost after a difficult opening to their own campaign.
Isak's Quickfire Double Gives Liverpool First Win of the Season at Ipswich
Liverpool secured their first Premier League win of the season, beating Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road as Alexander Isak struck twice inside the opening nine minutes, with both goals set up by Cody Gakpo . Gakpo cut inside just six minutes in and slid a defence-splitting pass through to Isak, who beat goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen at his near post. Three minutes later, Gakpo produced an even better assist, curling an outside-of-the-boot through-ball for Isak to run onto and slot home again. Isak nearly completed a hat-trick before the break, converting a Florian Wirtz pass, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Ipswich rallied after the interval through Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda, but could not find a way past Alisson. New £123m signing Bradley Barcola made his Liverpool debut as a 64th-minute substitute for Isak, receiving a warm reception from the away end. "I have no doubt with Cody. He has been very good all pre-season," said head coach Andoni Iraola afterward, praising Gakpo's versatility and continued excellent form despite interest from Manchester City and Tottenham in the closing days of the transfer window. The result moves Liverpool onto five points from three matches, ending back-to-back opening draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and sets up a Champions League return against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Sancho, Pogba, Ramos and Alaba Among Big-Name Free Agents Still Available
The European transfer window has shut, but a host of high-profile names remain free agents , still available to sign at any point since the free-agent market operates outside the standard transfer calendar. Jadon Sancho , 26, is available after a difficult spell tied to Manchester United, having spent the past two and a half seasons out on loan, most recently helping Aston Villa win the Europa League. He is reportedly closing in on a move to Brazilian side Palmeiras, with Borussia Dortmund and Roma also credited with interest. Paul Pogba mutually terminated his contract with Monaco after struggling with fitness, leaving the 2018 World Cup winner without a club just a year into a deal signed following his return from an 18-month doping suspension. David Alaba , 34, remains unattached after Real Madrid opted not to renew his contract, closing out a trophy-laden five years in the Spanish capital that included four Champions League titles. Sergio Ramos , now 40, has been without a club since leaving Mexican side Monterrey in December 2025 and has yet to announce his retirement, having recently led an unsuccessful attempt to acquire a controlling stake in former club Sevilla. Other notable names still on the market include Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Dani Carvajal, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jamie Vardy, who is separately being courted by Wrexham.
Liverpool Without Five Players for Ipswich Clash, Barcola Available for Debut
Liverpool remain without five first-team players for Friday's trip to Ipswich Town , head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, though new signing Bradley Barcola is available and in line to make his debut. Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all still sidelined through injury, with Gomez the closest to a return and expected to resume full training next week, while Leoni and Chiesa are targeting the upcoming international break. Bradley and Ekitike remain further away. Liverpool arrive at Portman Road still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after consecutive 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Ipswich , meanwhile, have received a timely boost of their own. Striker Emersonn , withdrawn at half-time against Manchester United after jarring his knee, has trained fully all week and was confirmed fit by manager Gary O'Neil , who said there are "no concerns" over his recovery. Florentino Luis is also available for the first time this season having overcome a calf issue, giving O'Neil a fresh central-midfield option alongside Marcelino Nunez and Sasa Lukic. Deadline-day signing Zian Flemming, a £20m arrival from Burnley, is also in contention, though Azor Matusiwa, Jack Taylor and Jaden Philogene remain out. Ipswich sit above Liverpool in the table following their opening-day win over Sunderland, and will look to cause an upset against a Liverpool side yet to find their rhythm this season.
Crystal Palace Confirm Sarr and Mateta Both Out for Fulham Trip
Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage has confirmed that Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta will both remain unavailable for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham. "Sarr needs time to recover. He is injured at the moment," Sage told his pre-match press conference, with the winger continuing to nurse a groin problem that has kept him out since the start of the season. Sarr's situation was complicated further by a failed deadline-day exit, with Liverpool showing interest before the move collapsed. Sage addressed the fallout from a pointed statement released by Sarr's agent following the collapsed transfer, saying: "I don't really agree with this position. I just want to say that the club and the people here are respectful and we want the best for our club and players." On Mateta , who was Palace's top scorer last season with 21 goals across all competitions, Sage confirmed: "As I said last time, Mateta is injured, now for three weeks." The club's only other long-term absentee is defender Chadi Riad, with Sage confirming everyone else in the squad has recovered well following the last match against Manchester City. The extended absences leave Palace light in attack for the trip to Craven Cottage, with the club needing others to step up in the final third in the meantime.
Genoa Sign Kingsley Ehizibue on Free Transfer From Udinese
Genoa have signed Dutch-Nigerian right-back Kingsley Ehizibue on a free transfer, returning the 31-year-old to Serie A after he left Udinese as a free agent earlier this year. Ehizibue has put pen to paper on a multi-year deal through 2027, with an option for a further season to 2028. The move gives Daniele De Rossi's side a replacement at right-back following the departure of Brooke Norton-Cuffy to Hull City, with Genoa's initial target for the slot, Woyo Coulibaly, falling through in the closing hours of the window despite the Leicester full-back having already arrived in Italy for a medical. "Ehizibue brings sprint, a wide range of coverage and knowledge of the league, always a point in his favour," said Genoa's Chief of Football, Diego Lopez. "With Kingsley we've completed the roster of wide players." Ehizibue made 115 Serie A appearances across four seasons at Udinese, scoring four goals, and previously spent time at 1. FC Koln in the Bundesliga and PEC Zwolle in his native Netherlands, where he began his senior career. The signing follows Genoa's earlier free-transfer capture of Stephan El Shaarawy, continuing a summer strategy built around picking up experienced players once their contracts had expired.
Women's Champions League Draw: Arsenal Face Barcelona Test, City Land Toughest Group
The Women's Champions League league-phase draw took place in Nyon, with Arsenal drawn to face Barcelona as they look to defend the European title they won in 2025, while Chelsea and Manchester City discovered tough schedules of their own. Arsenal, seeded in Pot 1, will travel to Barcelona and Paris FC and host Lyon, Benfica and HB Koge, with Inter Milan completing their six-match slate. Barcelona , aiming to reclaim the trophy they lost to Arsenal last season, face a similarly stacked group including Bayern Munich, Roma, Paris FC, Servette and HB Koge. Chelsea , also in Pot 1, will host Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Austria Wien, with away trips to Lyon, Hacken and OH Leuven. Manchester City , drawn from Pot 3, face arguably the toughest run of any English side, taking on both PSG and Bayern Munich from the top seeding pot, alongside Real Madrid and Hacken from Pot 2, plus Austria Wien and Inter. Real Madrid will test themselves against PSG and Bayern among their six opponents, while eight-time champions Lyon face a symbolic double header against both Chelsea and Arsenal. The new 18-team league-phase format sees each side play six matches, three at home and three away, with the top four advancing directly to the quarterfinals. The opening round of fixtures gets under way on September 22/23, with the full match schedule confirmed by UEFA on September 5.
Newcastle Fear William Osula's Foot Injury Could Keep Him Out Longer Than Expected
Newcastle forward William Osula could be sidelined considerably longer than first expected after suffering a foot injury in the club's season-opening 2-2 draw with Liverpool, though head coach Matthias Jaissle has pushed back against the most alarming reports. Osula picked up the injury in a collision with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and played on before being substituted early in the second half. He has since missed Newcastle's wins over West Brom and Tottenham and has continued wearing a protective splint. A report from Denmark's Viaplay claimed the Denmark international could be out for a "long time" and cast doubt over his availability for the upcoming international break, but Jaissle responded skeptically when asked about a specific seven-week absence claim, saying "I doubt that." Newcastle have avoided the worst-case scenario of a fracture, but a clear return timeline has yet to be established. In Osula's absence, Yoane Wissa and new signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo are expected to shoulder the workload at centre-forward, with the club already managing a lengthy injury list that includes Tino Livramento, Joelinton and Dan Burn.
Joe Gomez Set to Resume Liverpool Training Next Week
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set to resume full team training next week, head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed, edging closer to a first appearance of the season after picking up a muscle injury in pre-season. "The closest one is Joe. Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break," Iraola said in his pre-Ipswich press conference. Gomez was injured just minutes into Liverpool's first pre-season friendly and has missed the club's opening matches of the campaign, though he remains likely to sit out the Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid. Iraola also provided updates on two other long-term absentees, with Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa both expected to resume full training during the upcoming international break. No firm timeline was given for Conor Bradley or Hugo Ekitike, who remain further away from returning. Gomez's imminent return offers Liverpool much-needed defensive reinforcement after successive 2-2 draws to open the Premier League season, with the club still working through a thin central-defensive options list following a summer window that added only Ronald Araujo on loan alongside Jeremy Jacquet.
Arsenal Women Complete Signing of France Defender Elisa De Almeida From PSG
Arsenal Women have completed the signing of France international defender Elisa De Almeida from Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent deal, adding much-needed depth to their backline before the women's transfer window closed. "I'm so excited to join Arsenal. This is a very big club and I can't wait to get started," De Almeida said following the move. "I grew up watching Arsenal and seeing French players wear this jersey, so I'm proud to take this step." The 28-year-old made 154 appearances and scored three goals across five years at PSG, and can operate at both centre-back and right-back. The move addresses a pressing need for Arsenal, who had only three fit senior centre-backs available with Katie Reid still working her way back from an ACL injury not expected to return before November. De Almeida brings significant experience at the highest level, having reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2023-24 and featured at the 2023 World Cup and 2025 European Championships for France, for whom she has won 52 caps. "She's a highly experienced and versatile centre-back who will strengthen our backline and add further depth ahead of an exciting season," said Arsenal's Director of Women's Football, Clare Wheatley, with head coach Renee Slegers also welcoming the composure and mobility De Almeida brings to the squad.
FIFA Reports Record $9.89bn in Men's International Transfer Spending
FIFA has confirmed that global clubs spent a record $9.89 billion on men's international transfer fees during the 2026 mid-year window, the highest figure ever recorded for the period, with more than 12,500 international transfers completed worldwide, itself a new high. The spending surge was fuelled in part by this summer's World Cup, with clubs racing to secure players who had raised their profile on the biggest stage. England's Premier League once again led global spending, continuing a trend that has seen the English top flight dominate the international transfer market year after year. The figures represent a further escalation from FIFA's most recent full-year report, which recorded $8.59 billion in international spending across all of 2024. Women's football also posted record numbers within the same report, continuing the rapid financial growth the women's game has experienced in recent transfer windows as more clubs invest seriously in their squads. FIFA's snapshot lands just days after a frenetic deadline day across Europe that saw British transfer records fall, marquee moves completed for Enzo Fernandez, Bradley Barcola and Gabriel Jesus among others, and several clubs setting individual outgoing or incoming records of their own, underlining just how much of this year's spending was concentrated in the window's final hours.
Argentina to Pause All Domestic Matches at 10th Minute in Tribute to Messi
Argentina will pause every domestic football match this weekend at the 10th minute for a minute of applause in tribute to Lionel Messi , following his retirement from the national team. "For the upcoming matchday across all men's and women's divisions and disciplines, matches will be paused in the 10th minute of the first half for a minute of applause in recognition of Lionel Messi's career with the Argentina national team," the Argentine Football Association announced. The tribute spans men's and women's 11-a-side football, futsal and beach soccer, with the 10th-minute timing a direct nod to the number 10 shirt Messi wore for almost his entire international career. Stadiums equipped with video boards have also been directed to play a tribute video before kickoff. Messi confirmed his retirement earlier this week, revealing he had written the decision down back on July 21, just two days after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, but held off announcing it, later citing the death of his father Jorge as further reason to step away. He leaves as Argentina's record appearance-maker with 207 caps and all-time leading scorer with 125 goals , having played a record six World Cups and made a record 34 World Cup appearances across his 21-year international career. Liga Profesional action resumes with Sarmiento hosting Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto on Friday, before ten top-flight matches follow across the weekend, including Newell's Old Boys, Messi's boyhood club, hosting Central in Rosario, the city where he was born.