Author: David Great

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has retired from professional football, the 34-year-old said on Tuesday, weeks after leaving Serie A club Juventus by mutual agreement. Szczesny spent seven seasons at Juve and had one year left on his contract. He had been linked with a move to fellow Italian side Monza and Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Having started his career at Premier League club Arsenal, the Polish keeper won the Serie A title three times with Juventus as well as the Coppa Italia on three occasions. He also had spells at Brentford and Roma. He played 84 times for Poland.…

Chelsea’s main aim in the transfer window is to offload players from their squad so the club can balance its books, manager Enzo Maresca said on Tuesday. Chelsea have been busy in the market since American owner Todd Boehly took over two years ago. The West London club have spent over 160 million pounds on 11 new signings for this season, including winger Pedro Neto, forward Joao Felix, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. Chelsea sold Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid and defender Ian Maatsen joined Aston Villa, but they still have over 40 senior players registered are at…

Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders will join Chelsea from Genk next year in a deal worth a reported 20 million euros (£17m), the Blues announced on Tuesday. “Penders, a Belgium Under-19 international, will join Chelsea from next summer after agreeing a contract with the club until 2032,” Chelsea said in a statement. 19-year-old Mike Penders will remain with Genk for the rest of the season. He joins a long list of ‘keepers on the books of the English club. Chelsea already have seven senior goalkeepers under contract. Osimhen picks Chelsea over Saudi, Liverpool sign Mamardashvili for £30m The club’s policy of…

FA Cup champions Manchester United have agreed £42.29 million with Paris St-Germain for Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte is expected to fly to Manchester for a medical later on Tuesday. The move comes at the same time as midfielder Scott McTominay’s proposed £25.37m switch to Napoli. The Uruguayan international has been linked with United throughout the summer and is now poised to sign for the Old Trafford club, just one year after joining PSG from Sporting Lisbon for a reported 60m euros. The 23-year-old made 37 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side, including 25 in the league as PSG won their…

Russia launched several waves of missile and drone attacks against scores of Ukrainian districts, killing at least four people, Ukraine’s military said early Tuesday, a day after Moscow unleashed its largest air campaign on its neighbour. A hotel was “wiped out” in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing two people, according to regional officials. Drone assaults on the city of Zaporizhzhia, located east of Kryvyi Rih, claimed two lives. The Kyiv region’s air defence systems were deployed multiple times overnight to deflect missiles and drones aimed at the Ukrainian capital, according to the region’s military administration on Telegram.…

The Osun State Government, on Monday, said two confirmed cases of monkeypox otherwise known as Mpox had been recorded in the Ilesa West Local Government Area of the state. The government said the two cases are male, aged five and 25, and are currently on admission at the State Hospital in Ilesa West. The state Commissioner for Health, Mr Jola Akinola, who made the disclosure, urged the residents not to panic, as he assured them that the government is actively managing the situation. A statement by the Information Officer, Ministry of Health, Segilola Babalola, said the commissioner spoke on the…

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointment of a German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, as the new Super Eagles coach, with immediate effect. Labbadia’s appointment was disclosed in an early morning tweet on Tuesday via the NFF’s X handle, tweeting as #thenff. The statement read, “The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Super Eagles.” “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development sub-committee to appoint Mr Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the…

Nigeria’s economy grew 3.19% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter last year, lifted by higher crude oil production and the performance of its services sector, statistics agency data showed on Monday. The growth rate was quicker than the 2.51% growth recorded in the second quarter of 2023 and the 2.98% growth seen in the first quarter of this year. But growth is still well short of the 6% targeted by President Bola Tinubu when he assumed office in Africa’s most populous country last year. Tinubu has initiated reforms to try to boost output, which has…

Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, would prefer a move to Chelsea than the rumoured transfer to a club in Saudi Arabia. (i) Chelsea have reportedly abandoned the pursuit of Osimhen and are exploring the possibility of signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin. (Chronicle NG) England winger Raheem Sterling, 29, would consider a move to Manchester United but will not go ahead with a transfer until he has further discussed his contract with Chelsea. (Telegraph – subscription required) Atletico Madrid are exploring a potential loan signing of Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes, although they have not yet made an offer. (Athletic – subscription required) Crystal Palace are close to agreeing a deal to…

Chelsea are considering a move for Manchester United’s England winger Jadon Sancho, 24, and could look to include 29-year-old England forward Raheem Sterling in a swap deal. (Telegraph – subscription required) Selling Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 27, to Napoli will boost Manchester United’s pursuit of 23-year-old Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, whose club Paris St-Germain are holding out for £51m. (ESPN) Celtic’s Denmark midfielder Matt O’Riley, 23, is having a medical before his move to Brighton for what will be a record sale by a Scottish club. (Sky Sports) Crystal Palace are considering a move for Arsenal’s England forward Eddie Nketiah, 25, after his potential switch to Nottingham Forest broke down. (Athletic – subscription required) Nottingham Forest have submitted a third bid of…