With the winter transfer window set to open, the battle between Arsenal and Chelsea for Ivan Toney's signature has begun. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Sunday, 31 December 2023
Liverpool's Carvalho sees Leipzig loan cut short
Fabio Carvalho is returning to Liverpool after his loan spell at Leipzig ended early.
Barca defender Alonso to undergo back surgery
Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso will undergo back surgery in the coming days, the club said Sunday.
Arteta: Arsenal at their 'worst' against Fulham
Mikel Arteta has branded Arsenal's "painful" 2-1 defeat at Fulham as their "worst performance of the season."
Saturday, 30 December 2023
LAFC signs WC-winning GK Lloris from Spurs
France's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has joined MLS club LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur, both clubs said Saturday.
FIFA temporarily suspends new agent rules
FIFA has temporarily suspended its new agent regulations (FFAR) worldwide until the European Court of Justice gives its decision following injunctions against implementing some of the new rules, world football's governing body said on Saturday.
Friday, 29 December 2023
Serie A leaders Inter Milan draw 1-1 with Genoa
Serie A leaders Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw away to Genoa on Friday as Marko Arnautovic's goal was cancelled out by a header from Radu Dragusin.
Wasteful Napoli held to goalless draw by Monza
Napoli's pursuit of a top-four spot took a hit as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Monza in their Serie A clash on Friday.
Pep: Grealish family unharmed in home burglary
Jack Grealish's home was burgled when Manchester City were playing away at Everton earlier this week but fortunately none of his family members were harmed, his coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Thursday, 28 December 2023
Follow LIVE: Spurs travel to Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton eyeing top-four spot
Live updates as Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham head to Brighton looking for their fourth straight Premier League win
Source: United GK Onana wants AFCON delay
Andre Onana is in talks with the Cameroon FA in an attempt to delay his release for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a source has told ESPN.
Source: LAFC, Spurs in talks over Lloris transfer
LAFC are in advanced talks to sign Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, a source has told ESPN.
Wednesday, 27 December 2023
Chelsea ratings: Gusto, Mudryk shine in late win vs. Crystal Palace
Malo Gusto was solid in defence, Mykhailo Mudryk scored and Noni Madueke got the winner as Chelsea were able to snatch all three points in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
VAR hands Chelsea late pen in win over Palace
An 89th-minute penalty from substitute Noni Madueke earned Chelsea a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League London derby on Wednesday.
Tuesday, 26 December 2023
Fulham boss insists Leno didn't push ball boy
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno appeared to push a ball boy during his team's 3-0 loss at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Liverpool beat Burnley to go top of the table
Liverpool returned to the top of the table as Darwin Nunez's first league goal in almost two months helped them to a 2-0 victory at struggling Burnley
Source: Man City close to signing 17yo Echeverri
Manchester City are closing in on the signing of midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate, a source has told ESPN.
FIFA warns Brazil over court intervention in CBF
FIFA warned Brazil on Sunday it could suspend its national teams and clubs from international competitions if an intervention by its football body leads to the election of a new president in January.
Poch: Chelsea's ill-discipline due to inexperience
Chelsea manager has said that his team's league-high tally of 56 yellow cards can be attributed to a lack of experience.
Monday, 25 December 2023
Transfer Talk: Barcelona to trigger buy-back clause for Betis' Chadi Riad
Barcelona are set to trigger the buy-back clause to recall Chadi Riad from his move to Real Betis. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Arsenal and Liverpool spark title race, Pulisic's Milan struggle, Spurs stick to strategy
Arsenal and Liverpool showed their title credentials in a dramatic draw, while Christian Pulisic's Milan dropped points again. Gab Marcotti recaps the weekend.
What is on Ratcliffe and INEOS' to-do list at Man United?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has finally completed a deal to acquire a 25% stake in Man United, but what does he need to fix in the long and short term?
Sunday, 24 December 2023
Transfer Talk: Barcelona race with Man City, Chelsea and PSG to sign Estevao
Barcelona are aiming to sign Brazilian wonderkid Estevao, but they face competition from Man City, Chelsea and PSG. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Saturday, 23 December 2023
Klopp: 'I don't know how' VAR didn't award PK
Jürgen Klopp criticised VAR official David Coote after Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Anfield, saying his team should have been awarded a penalty following a Martin Odegaard handball.
Arsenal stay top after pulsating Liverpool draw
Arsenal had the better of a breathless 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Saturday to lay down their Premier League title credentials and climb back to the top of the table.
Inter cruise past Lecce to restore 4-point lead
Goals from Yann Bisseck and Nicolo Barella gave Inter Milan a 2-0 home win over Lecce in Serie A on Saturday as they restored their four-point lead at the top of the table.
Friday, 22 December 2023
Man City's Club World Cup trophy confirms it: This is perhaps the greatest club in history
Man City's win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup final on Friday erased any doubts about where the Premier League team ranks in the history of the sport.
Man City win 1st CWC title for 5th trophy of 2023
Manchester City were just too good and a bit lucky for overmatched Fluminense in the Club World Cup final by winning 4-0 and taking a fifth title in 2023 on Friday.
As MLS 2024 schedule releases, all eyes turn to Messi
Messi's arrival in Major League Soccer boosted ticket sales and global attention on the league, with higher expectations for Year 2. The trick, though, will be how to leverage his finite time in the league for long-term dividends.
Thursday, 21 December 2023
Greek tragedy: Ajax stunned by 4th-tier Hercules
Ajax Amsterdam's poor season went from bad to worse after they suffered one of the biggest shocks in their history with a 3-2 loss to fourth-tier amateur side USV Hercules in the last 32 of the Dutch Cup on Thursday.
Can Diniz's free-flowing Fluminense upset Guardiola's Man City?
The FIFA Club World Cup final between Manchester City and Fluminense will showcase two wildly opposing tactical approaches. Who will come out on top?
Source: Juventus in talks to sign City's Phillips
Manchester City are in talks with Juventus over a January deal for Kalvin Phillips, a source has told ESPN.
Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Barcelona survive scare from bottom-club Almeria
Two second-half goals from Sergi Roberto rescued a 3-2 home win for champions Barcelona against bottom side Almeria in LaLiga on Wednesday, putting an end to their three-game winless run in all competitions as they head into the Christmas break.
Sources: Russia-Serbia match set to be approved
Russia are expected to be granted clearance from FIFA and UEFA to play European opposition for the first time since being suspended from competitive football in 2022, sources have told ESPN.
Luton-Bournemouth game to be replayed in full
Last Saturday's abandoned Premier League match between Luton Town and Bournemouth will be replayed in full, the league confirmed on Wednesday.
Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Turkish team walk off pitch to protest ref decision
Turkish side Istanbulspor walked off the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision in their Super Lig game against Trabzonspor on Tuesday.
Police: PSG's Letellier victim of home invasion
Paris Saint-Germain reserve goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier, his wife and their two children, were attacked in their home in Paris on Tuesday, a police source told ESPN.
FFP set to restrict Man Utd in January
Manchester United have told fans not to expect a busy January transfer window, in part, because Financial Fair Play rules (FFP) have "real teeth."
Sources: Belgium GK Courtois to miss Euro '24
Thibaut Courtois has ruled out returning to international duty in time for Euro 2024 as he recovers from injury, criticising Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco's handling of the row which saw the goalkeeper walk out on the national team.
Monday, 18 December 2023
Transfer Talk: Chelsea won't let Madueke go on loan in January
Chelsea will deny any possible loan for forward Noni Madueke in the January transfer window. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Eriksen sends support to Lockyer after collapse
Manchester United's Christian Eriksen has sent a message of support to Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer who suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday's Premier League game at Bournemouth.
Veteran Marcelo helps Fluminense into CWC final
Jhon Arias and John Kennedy scored in the second half to give Brazilian side Fluminense a hard-fought 2-0 win over Egypt's Al-Ahly in their Club World Cup semifinal.
Arsenal reclaim Premier League lead, Liverpool-Man United draw, Alaba woe for Real Madrid, more
Arsenal's cool win over pesky Brighton was more impressive than it looked, while Real Madrid reclaiming top spot in LaLiga was tempered by a devastating injury to David Alaba. Gab Marcotti recaps the weekend.
Sunday, 17 December 2023
Kane hits 20-goal mark as Bayern rout Stuttgart
Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane struck once in each half to steer Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart on Sunday and cut the gap to leaders Bayer Leverkusen to four points with a game in hand.
Is Sunday's draw at Liverpool the confidence boost Man United needed?
Sunday's 0-0 draw at Liverpool was a lucky result considering the Reds' attacking efforts, but the way in which Man United hung tough for the point will give Erik Ten Hag & Co. the belief they need to turn things around.
Klopp: Liverpool more dominant than 7-0 game
Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool were more dominant against Manchester United in Sunday's 0-0 draw than in last season's 7-0 Anfield victory against Erik ten Hag's team.
Man Utd hold Liverpool in tense 0-0 draw
Liverpool missed out on reclaiming top spot in the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday -- ending their perfect home record this season.
Saturday, 16 December 2023
Barça held by Valencia to extend winless streak
Valencia fought back to snatch a 1-1 draw at home against Barcelona in their LaLiga clash on Saturday - a result that will do nothing to ease the pressure on Xavi Hernandez's side, winless in their last three games in all competition.
Sevilla fire coach Alonso after just 14 games
Sevilla fired coach Diego Alonso after his team remained winless in the Spanish league on his watch following a 3-0 home defeat to Getafe on Saturday.
Napoli beat Cagliari to go 4th in Serie A
Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in the second half as Napoli eventually broke down Cagliari 2-1 at home in Serie A on Saturday and moved provisionally up to fourth in the standings.
Friday, 15 December 2023
Turner blunder helps Tottenham beat Forest
Tottenham Hotspur beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 away with goals by Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski for a second straight win that nudged them closer to the Premier League top four on Friday although they had midfielder Yves Bissouma sent off late on.
Benzema scores, misses PK; Al Ittihad exit CWC
Egypt's Al Ahly cruised to a 3-1 win over Al Ittihad on Friday to book a place in the Club World Cup semifinals after Karim Benzema missed a penalty before scoring for the Saudi side.
Sources: Utd's Van de Beek set for Frankfurt loan
Manchester United have an agreement principle with Eintracht Frankfurt to loan Donny van de Beek, sources have told ESPN.
Thursday, 14 December 2023
Turkish club chief given life ban for punching ref
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said on Thursday its disciplinary board had imposed a permanent ban on Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca for punching a referee after a game this week in the country's top soccer league.
Follow live: Brighton and Marseille face off in a battle for top spot in Group B
Brighton host Marseille as both teams look to secure top spot in Group B and guarantee their place in the round of 16
Messi's Argentina 2022 WC shirts sell for $7.8m
Six of the shirts Lionel Messi wore during Argentina's historic 2022 World Cup campaign, including one from their victory over France in the final, sold for $7.8m at auction on Thursday.
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Barca fall to shock 3-2 loss at Royal Antwerp
Royal Antwerp won a first Champions League game with a surprise 3-2 home victory over Barcelona, securing their first points in Group H
Mourinho: Roma's reality is different to City's
Jose Mourinho rued the financial constrains he is bound by and added that his side's "reality is different" as compared to Man City.
Hamilton scores on debut in City win at Red Star
Man City's Micah Hamilton scored on his debut as they stretched their unbeaten run in Europe to 20 games with a 3-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Pep confirms Haaland to miss Belgrade game
Pep Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland will miss Wednesday's Champions League clash against Red Star Belgrade but added that he expects him to be back in training on Thursday.
Arsenal close out CL group stage with PSV draw
A much changed Arsenal were pegged back to draw 1-1 away at PSV in the Champions League on Tuesday as both sides concluded their Group B campaign
Monday, 11 December 2023
Turkish league club president punches ref in face
Turkish side Ankaragucu's president Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face at the end of their Super Lig home match after Rizespor scored a 97th minute equaliser on Monday.
Girona legit in LaLiga, Arsenal tripped up, Ten Hag trouble, more
Sunday showed Girona are in LaLiga's title race, while Barcelona need to move on quickly. PLUS: Arsenal lost ground at Aston Villa and is time running out for Erik ten Hag at Man United?
Sunday, 10 December 2023
Lukaku scores, sees red in Roma-Fiorentina draw
AS Roma managed to secure a 1-1 draw at home against Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday despite playing much of the second half with a reduced squad after first Nicola Zalewski and then Romelu Lukaku were sent off.
WSL: Arsenal close gap on Chelsea with 4-1 win
Alessia Russo scored twice as her side hammered WSL leaders Chelsea 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in front of a record crowd of 59,042
Son, Richarlison step up to put Spurs back on winning path
After five games without a win, Spurs needed to make a statement Sunday against visiting Newcastle. Leave it to Son Heung-Min and Richarlison to answer the call.
Spurs end winless run with 4-1 Newcastle win
Tottenham Hotspur secured a first Premier League win since October as Brazilian striker Richarlison also returned to form with two goals in a 4-1 drubbing of a jaded-looking Newcastle United on Sunday.
Saturday, 9 December 2023
Ten Hag: Utd 'not good enough to be consistent'
Manchester United are "not good enough to be consistent," according to manager Erik ten Hag, after their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Talk is cheap for Ten Hag as Bournemouth embarrass Man United
Man United were supposed to have turned (another) corner; instead they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth -- and it could easily have been worse. What next for Erik ten Hag?
Friday, 8 December 2023
Transfer Talk: Bayern linked to Araujo and Lenglet
Bayern Munich have set their priorities to sign Ronald Araujo and Clement Lenglet. Transfer Talk has the latest.
Ronaldo marks 1,200th game with goal, assist
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 1,200th professional match with a goal and an assist as he helped his Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr to get a 4-1 win over Al Riyadh on Friday.
Juve back on top after beating champs Napoli
Juventus delivered an efficient performance as they moved back to provisional top spot in Serie A on Friday, securing a 1-0 home win against a wasteful Napoli thanks to a header from Federico Gatti.
Thursday, 7 December 2023
LIVE: Spurs host West Ham in London derby
Follow live coverage of Tottenham's game against West Ham as Ange Postecoglou's team look keep pace in the race for Champions League spots
Vela, Chiellini may leave LAFC after MLS Cup
As LAFC prepares to defend its MLS Cup title on Saturday, it is also bracing for the possibility it will be the final game in Black and Gold for club icon Carlos Vela and longtime Italy international Giorgio Chiellini.
LIVE: Everton host Newcastle with Toffees looking to escape relegation zone
Follow live as Newcastle travel to Goodison Park, with a win taking the Magpies into within a point of the Champions League places
Juve say they won't rejoin European Club Assoc.
Juventus are not interested in rejoining the European Club Association (ECA), the Italian outfit said on Thursday, after ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi opened the door for their return.
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Injured De Bruyne in City Club World Cup squad
Kevin De Bruyne could be set for an imminent return after being picked in Manchester City's squad for this month's Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
LIVE: Ten Hag drops Rashford, Martial as they take on Chelsea
Cole Palmer starts for Chelsea as Marcus Rashford is dropped for Man United - follow live.
How the USWNT is already changing (and improving!) since Emma Hayes was named new manager
Emma Hayes hasn't officially started as USWNT's manager, but her influence was all over the team's two wins over China. Here's what we learned.
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
Ex-Man Utd MF Morrison pleads guilty to fraud
Former Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison has been fined for using a deceased person's parking permit.
Greek refs announce boycott after violent attacks
Greek referees and match officials on Tuesday announced they would not officiate any Super League matches starting from the weekend in protest at what they say are dangerous working conditions.
Source: Ratcliffe to conclude Utd stake next week
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.25 billion investment in Manchester United will be confirmed next week and could be finalised as early as Monday, a source familiar with the sale process has told ESPN.
Monday, 4 December 2023
Man City-Spurs drama, Barca brush past Atletico Madrid, more: Marcotti recaps the weekend
Man City's draw with Tottenham will be remembered mostly for the late drama, but there's a lot to unpack, writes Gab Marcotti. PLUS: How Barcelona powered to a big win over Atletico thanks to a pair of unlikely heroes.
Copa América reveals 14 U.S. host venues for '24
Fourteen U.S. cities will play host to Copa América next summer, with the semifinals at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of the July 14 championship in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Arteta wants Ramsdale at Arsenal amid exit talk
Mikel Arteta insisted he wants Aaron Ramsdale to stay at Arsenal despite mounting speculation over a January move away from the club.
USWNT seeks 'shift in mentality' for Olympic year
The U.S. women's team close out their 2023 schedule this week in Frisco, Texas, where they will hope to take another step toward forging a new identity and establishing better tactics, interim head coach Twila Kilgore said on Monday.
Sunday, 3 December 2023
Man City's defensive woes on display after winless run continues with Spurs draw
After exposing Man City's defensive frailties, have Spurs shown other clubs a blueprint of how to beat the defending champions?
Haaland fumes over late whistle in City draw
Erling Haaland could be charged by the English Football Association for criticising match officials after Manchester City's 3-3 draw with Tottenham, writing, "Wtf" in a post on X.
Kulusevski earns Tottenham dramatic draw at Man City
Tottenham Hotspur's Dejan Kulusevski headed a late equaliser to earn his side a 3-3 draw at champions Manchester City in a rip-roaring Premier League contest on Sunday.
Leverkusen stay unbeaten after Dortmund draw
Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored a 79th minute equaliser through Victor Boniface to snatch a 1-1 draw against visitors Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Saturday, 2 December 2023
McNeil strike takes Everton off bottom of PL
Dwight McNeil scored his first goal of the season to give Everton a precious three points with a 1-0 away win at Nottingham Forest.
Euro 2024 group-stage draw reaction, predictions, keys, more
The Euro 2024 group stage is complete, and there's a lot to talk about, as holders Italy are drawn against Spain and Croatia while England gets a favorable draw. Here's our predictions and group-by-group breakdowns.
Euro draw interrupted by apparent sexual noises
The draw ceremony for the European Championship in men's soccer was disrupted by unexplained noises that competed for attention with the team names being read out Saturday.
Friday, 1 December 2023
Juventus top Serie A after late winner at Monza
Juventus's Federico Gatti scored a stoppage-time winner in a frantic finale to secure a 2-1 victory at Monza on Friday that provisionally propelled them top of Serie A.
England beat Dutch, keep GB Olympic hopes alive
England clawed their way back from two goals down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a nerve-jangling Women's Nations League group game at Wembley on Friday and keep Great Britain's dreams of a Paris Olympic berth alive.
From 'Neverkusen' to Bundesliga title contenders: Inside Xabi Alonso's success at Bayer Leverkusen
In a remarkable transformation, Xabi Alonso has taken Bayer Leverkusen from a relegation fight to eyeing the Bundesliga title. Here's how he did it.
