Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: August 5, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Club Football News and Transfers

The European football season is gearing up for its mid-August restart, with excitement building around the upcoming campaigns. Fans eager to delve deeper into the club game after the World Cup will find a wealth of information available, including detailed guides and team-specific analyses. Our writers are examining the transfer business of each big WSL club, posing critical questions about their strategies and squad compositions. The concept of "winning the summer transfer window" is being re-evaluated, with some suggesting it's a misleading metric for success.

Several European leagues are demanding governance reform from FIFA, adding to the pressure on president Gianni Infantino. This call for change comes amidst ongoing "crisis" talks within the sport. Portugal great Luís Figo has joined the chorus of voices calling for Infantino to step down, specifically citing his failed plan to sell the World Cup to private investors. Two senior FIFA executives, Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström, have publicly distanced themselves from Infantino's controversial World Cup sell-off plan. FIFA has also been accused of blackmailing Jordan over World Cup funds in exchange for support for Infantino's presidency.

Under-pressure FIFA president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to hold a crisis meeting with senior staff in Morocco on Wednesday. He has also summoned senior leaders of the world governing body to a meeting amid mounting criticism of his scrapped plan to sell off FIFA's commercial and event operations. UEFA has issued a threat of legal action against FIFA regarding Gianni Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan. It remains to be seen if Infantino will face repercussions, with discussions ongoing about who might replace him as FIFA president should he depart.

In player news, Argentina fly-half Tomas Albornoz has been handed a four-game suspension following misconduct charges related to Argentina's Nations Championship defeat against England. Liverpool's preseason tour in the U.S. highlighted concerns about squad depth and potential injury issues for coach Iraola & Co. ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Liverpool has also explored the possibility of signing teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain. Mohamed Salah reportedly set to join Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer after mutually agreeing to terminate his Liverpool contract a year early.

Chelsea is reportedly close to securing a deal for Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria for a fee of approximately £16.3m (€19m) plus add-ons. The Blues also suffered a lackluster 1-0 defeat to Juventus in a Hong Kong friendly, with Edon Zhegrova scoring the decisive goal. Chelsea confirmed the signing of England midfielder Jordan Henderson, with the player stating he "couldn't turn it down." Additionally, Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is expected to complete a season-long loan move to Strasbourg.

Several clubs are active in the transfer market, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly offered USMNT striker Folarin Balogun. AS Monaco has also been linked with the player. Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi expressed his enthusiasm for the transfer window, hoping to leverage it to improve his team's standing. Crystal Palace is reportedly set to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer after a successful trial and are also considering a move for winger Solly March. Crystal Palace also in advanced talks to sign 19-year-old wing-back Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake.

Arsenal has agreed to a £75m fee with Newcastle United for their captain Bruno Guimaraes, and direct talks are underway between the clubs. Arsenal has also unveiled their new third kit for the 2026-27 season, which bears a resemblance to a past design. Jeremy Monga's £10m transfer from Leicester to Manchester City has been noted, with the teenager aiming for a prominent career. City's Mateo Kovacic insists the club "count on me" despite speculation linking him with a move away.

In other transfer news, Franco Mastantuono is set to join Fiorentina from Real Madrid on a season-long loan. Barcelona is reportedly interested in signing Manchester City's Rodri, ahead of Real Madrid. Ajax has completed the signing of Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a season-long loan. Bernardo Silva stated he "didn't think twice" about joining Real Madrid after his first training session with the club. Hansi Flick Barcelona must address their need for a striker in the transfer market.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town has completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Florentino Luis from Burnley for an undisclosed fee. Queens Park Rangers has secured the signing of Finland midfielder Glen Kamara from Rennes on a season-long loan. Como has agreed to a deal worth over £30m to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. Bosnia Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko, aged, has signed a one-year contract extension with newly promoted Bundesliga side Schalke.

In Scotland, Celtic made a winning start to their Scottish Premiership title defence with a 1-0 victory over Dundee. Kieran Tierney's impact was highlighted in Celtic's win, and extended highlights of the match are available. Celtic also appear to be bidding for Fares Ghedjemis, alongside Rangers. Rangers have reportedly agreed to a deal for Hannover winger Daisuke Yokota.

The EFL Cup will feature a significant portion of its first-round fixtures taking place on a weekend, a departure from its traditional midweek scheduling. Lincoln City midfielder Jack Moylan has joined Championship rivals Cardiff City. Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes expressed that his team has a "chip on their shoulder" that can help them win the Championship. promoted Women's Super League club Crystal Palace has signed Tottenham defender Molly Bartrip.

Women's Football and NWSL

Erica Meg Parkinson, an 18-year-old midfielder, has been named in England's preparation squad for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. The new season of "Ted Lasso" featured a cameo filmed at a real-life NWSL club, serving as a key plot point for the show. Washington's loss to San Diego saw the Spirit surrender the No. 1 spot in ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings, with Utah now holding the top position. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) plans to commence its 2027 season on February 11 in Los Angeles, aligning with the Super Bowl happening nearby.

Bay FC has agreed to a deal to sign United States winger Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal for approximately $200,000. It has been revealed that Kerolin's transfer from the Women's Super League to Barcelona broke transfer records, making her the English top-flight's most expensive export after only 18 months. Manchester United defender Gabby George is reportedly close to a move to Brighton before the start of the Women's Super League season. Sacha Lewis of Rico Lewis, has signed her first professional contract with Women's Super League side Manchester City.

Rugby Union and League

The association of European professional rugby clubs have agreed to a new deal with Sky Sports for international rugby rights from 2026-2030, extending a partnership of over three decades.

Formula 1 and Motorsport

Max Verstappen has lauded the "rock solid" performances of Kimi Antonelli, who has ascended to the top of Formula 1's Drivers' Championship in the first half of the 2026 season. Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that contingency plans are in place for the 2027 F1 calendar should the conflict in the Middle East persist into next year.

Boxing

British boxer Raven Chapman underwent emergency surgery for a bleed on her brain after collapsing during a sparring session in Denmark. Joseph Parker has announced his intention to resume his boxing career soon, following the lifting of his suspension after a failed drug test last year. Moses Itauma is set to challenge for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title against Filip Hrgovic in London on August 29. Aaron McKenna face Etinosa Oliha in a middleweight showdown in Dublin on Saturday.

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist injury, raising concerns about his US Open title defense. Serena and Venus Williams have been awarded a wild card for the women's doubles draw at the Cincinnati Open, marking their return to competition together. Emma Raducanu miss the US Open due to a stress fracture, and it has been suggested that she could benefit from ending her season early to focus on recovery and secure a protected ranking for her 2027 return.

Other Sports News

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year contract extension with Bijan Robinson, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The qualifying process for Luke Donald's 2027 European Ryder Cup team begins this month at the British Masters. Dame Laura Davies has urged Charley Hull to "step up and lead" Team Europe at the Solheim Cup in September. Leona Maguire been included as one of Team Europe's captain's picks for the Solheim Cup, with Anna Nordqvist adding three rookies to the lineup. Ben Stokes expressed his desire to coach England one day and questioned the decision to overlook Harry Brook for the captaincy. Several athletes reportedly "unaccounted for" following the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, according to Police Scotland. Slica Bay Suite, and Ben Nevis are scheduled to compete in the Brighton Mile this afternoon. Unbeaten Irish contender Callum Walsh is aiming to break through into the highest echelons of his division. Premier League has introduced new financial rules, including SCR and PSR, for clubs to adhere to. Retired referee Taylor has been appointed as the director of elite refereeing for the Turkish Football Federation. West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky has sold a small stake in the club, potentially impacting Amanda Staveley's investment hopes. Ham's co-owner has been advised to stay away from home matches amid fears of fan unrest following sexual misconduct claims. The Northern Ireland Football League has a record number of new managers for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Boreham Wood rejected a £1m bid for one of their forwards, who is reportedly valued at that amount. A decade after Euro 2016, key figures are reflecting on the summer that transformed Welsh football. Formula 1 has contingency plans in place for the 2027 calendar amid potential disruptions from the conflict in the Middle East. Tuesday's racing will take place at Ffos Las and Lingfield, with seven races from each track broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Atlético Madrid reportedly interested in signing Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. Scottish Premiership season has begun with Celtic securing a win, and analysis is being provided on the prospects of Scottish clubs in European competitions. Meet Jacob a Mjallby striker and former sandwich maker who cycles to Champions League games. The BBC is offering live score updates for football teams on lock screens for the 2026-27 season. Inter Miami not expressed interest in signing Kevin De Bruyne or Juan Fernando Quintero, according to club sources. MLS launched an investigation into reported antisemitic and discriminatory language from fans directed at New England Revolution striker Dor Turgeman. Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos stated that Luis Suárez cannot be replaced as the team navigates the Leagues Cup without the suspended forward. concluded their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 loss to Sunderland in Philadelphia. Premier League returns later this month, and a young prospect from each club has been identified as one to watch for a breakthrough season. Riders at the Tour de France Femmes will undergo additional clothing checks before Tuesday's stage due to claims of competitors using extra padding in their bras for aerodynamic advantage.