Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 25, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Club Transfers and Signings

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. Celtic are also considering a move for Serie A winger Nicolo Cancellieri as a potential replacement for Daizen Maeda. Crystal Palace are showing interest in signing 19-year-old Brest centre-back Raphael le Guen. In a significant move, Barcelona have signed German forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, with speculation suggesting coach Hansi Flick could unlock his potential. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have had an £85.4 million bid rejected for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, though the forward is back on the radar of Premier League clubs. Forest Green Rovers are set to sell midfielder Laurent Mendy to Heart of Midlothian for a potential club record fee of nearly £1 million. Newly-promoted Birmingham City have signed goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley as a free agent after her departure from Brighton.

League and International News

Liga MX announced Francisco Iturbide as its new president, replacing Mikel Arriola, who will now serve as commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation. The Mexican women's top-flight, Liga MX Femenil, has undergone a rebrand to Liga Femenil BBVA and will implement a new regular season format. In international football news, Senegal's appeal against being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title will be heard on October 8. The International Olympic Committee will not investigate allegations that FIFA president Gianni Infantino breached Olympic rules regarding political neutrality in his dealings with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Argentina centre-back Nicolás Otamendi has announced his retirement from international duty at the age of 38. The Norwegian Football Federation president stated she will ask her board to pursue a formal ethics complaint regarding Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban. England's men's amputee football team faces a potential World Cup absence due to funding shortages.

Player News and Injuries

Gotham FC and USWNT defender Emily Sonnett was stretchered off the field in the opening minutes of her team's 2-2 draw with the Portland Thorns after a non-contact injury. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is facing months on the sidelines with a knee ligament tear, potentially missing the start of the new season. Real Madrid is reportedly confident of signing Manchester City's Rodri, while Arsenal is eyeing a player-plus-cash deal for Atletico striker Julian Alvarez. Manchester United is also reportedly looking to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. Liverpool's owners are in talks with a consortium led by Amit Bhatia over the sale of a minority stake in the club.

Coaching and Management Changes

Former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel has taken over as head coach of Belgium's national team following their World Cup quarterfinal run. Jürgen Klopp, following his departure from Liverpool, is being considered for the Germany national team coaching role. St Helens Rugby League fans have expressed their views on the dismissal of head coach Paul Rowley, with some stating fans "voted with their feet". Players have admitted their performances let Rowley down, expressing feelings of being "gutted" and "embarrassed".

Other Football Notes

Barcelona has unveiled its 2026-27 away kit, featuring a collaboration with Kobe Bryant's signature brand. Real Madrid's new away kit is their first green jersey since the arrival of José Mourinho. Arsenal has also revealed its 2026-27 away kit, inspired by their iconic "Bruised Banana" jersey from the early 1990s. The Premier League title race is shaping up to be a compelling one, even ahead of the new season's kickoff.

Other Sports News

In boxing, Anthony Joshua weighed in at 251lbs for his bout against Kristian Prenga. Tyson Fury remains unconvinced that Joshua will face him in a future fight, questioning his rival's courage. Fury secured a seventh-round TKO victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand. However, Fury stated he will not attend Joshua's fight on Saturday. In golf, Jenny Shin holds a commanding five-shot lead at the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open. Michael Kim recorded a 12-under par 59 at the 3M Open, falling just one shot short of a PGA Tour record. In Formula, Fernando Alonso reported his Aston Martin was "much better" after a significant upgrade package was debuted during Hungarian Grand Prix practice. Charles Leclerc set an impressive pace for Ferrari during practice, though Aston Martin's Lance Stroll suffered a suspected suspension failure. George Russell acknowledged Mercedes' fears about Ferrari's pace materializing at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In darts, Gian van Veen defeated James Wade to set up a semi-final showdown with Gerwyn Price at the World Matchplay. Luke Littler expressed his ambition to dominate darts similarly to Phil Taylor. In cricket, the Birmingham Phoenix were skittled for just 64 by Trent Rockets in The Hundred's women's competition. However, Birmingham Phoenix later secured a 10-run victory over Trent Rockets thanks to a strong batting performance from their top order.