Last updated: August 7, 2026, 4:51 PM ET
Transfer Window Roundup
Manchester City are reportedly eyeing Enzo Fernández as a potential replacement for Rodri, while both Arsenal and Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Shakhtar Donetsk forward Kauã Elias. Premier League newcomers Coventry City have completed a club-record signing of Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi. Former Mexico star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano has joined the LA Galaxy on an initial loan deal through the rest of the 2026 season from San Diego FC. Crystal Palace completed the signing of Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu following a successful pre-season trial. Newcastle United have told Manchester United that full-back Lewis Hall is not for sale after an initial enquiry was rejected. Hull City signed Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl on a five-year contract from Tromso. Leeds United have signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a club-record deal worth £40m. Millwall signed Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes on a one-year deal following the end of his contract with Charlton Athletic. Wrexham signed midfielder Ben Whiteman from Preston on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Everton completed the signing of Denmark international Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal. Cardiff City signed Lincoln midfielder Jack Moylan for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal. Bournemouth announced the signing of right-back Juanlu Sanchez from Sevilla in a deal worth up to £11.1m. Swansea City signed free agent Ross Stewart on a three-year deal following the Scotland striker's departure from Southampton. Liverpool have explored the conditions of a deal for PSG's teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye. Chelsea are set to clinch a deal to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria for a fee of around £16.3m plus add-ons. Birmingham City signed France youth international Chancelle Effa Effa from Le Havre for £100k. Hull City signed Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos for a club-record fee. Atletico Madrid are in talks with Tottenham over signing their captain Cristian Romero. Liverpool have no intention of pursuing Djed Spence this summer, while Juventus are looking to secure Joshua Zirkzee on loan. Arsenal have agreed a £75m fee with Newcastle for their captain Bruno Guimaraes, with Newcastle’s sporting director confirming the “very emotional” captain wanted to join Arsenal. Mohamed Salah has joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, ending his Liverpool career. Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is being targeted by Liverpool as a potential third £100m signing. Tottenham are reportedly targeting USMNT star Folarin Balogun along with Victor Osimhen and Nicolas Jackson. Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Real Salt Lake's Zavier Gozo, a 19-year-old wing-back. Rangers have completed the signing of winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96. Winger Jeremy Doku is the latest Manchester City player to commit his future after signing a new contract until 2031. Real Madrid added World Cup star Yan Diomande to their forward line. Vinícius Júnior ended speculation by signing a new six-year Real Madrid contract. Micky van de Ven is close to agreeing a new five-year contract with Tottenham. Franco Mastantuono joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan from Real Madrid. Manchester United continue to explore a move for USMNT's Antonee Robinson. Barcelona are set to approach Man City for midfielder Rodri and are hopeful of beating Real Madrid to his signature. Celtic and Rangers have submitted offers for wingers as Anderlecht hold advanced talks with Dundee United over Will Ferry. Celtic are pushing for a deal for Ghedjemis as their former left-back moves to Houston Dynamo.
Pre-Season and Friendly Results
Bayern Munich held off a late fightback from Aston Villa to secure a 2-1 victory in Hong Kong. Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players were "fuming" after defensive errors saw them fall to a 3-1 preseason defeat to Real Betis in Dublin. Barcelona canceled a pre-season friendly in Morocco because of the ongoing border crisis in Ceuta. Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong thanks to Edon Zhegrova's stunning second-half strike. Enzo Maresca won his first game in charge of Manchester City with a 3-1 win over the K-League All Stars in Seoul. Raul Jimenez returned to Wolves in what is described as the most romantic signing of the summer.
European Competitions and Scottish Clubs
Rangers fell to a 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying, with Derek McInnes still looking for his first win. Hearts endured a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Benfica in Lisbon, all but ending their Europa League hopes. Hibernian secured a vital win while Motherwell were held in Helsinki in their respective ties. A mixed night for Scottish clubs in Europe saw Rangers and Hearts lose, Motherwell draw and Hibernian win. The Scottish FA is to hold a "critically important" summit around the future of the national game. The Scottish FA has scrapped the key match incident review panel. Scottish clubs continue to struggle in Europe, with supporters reacting to a mixed night. Old habits haunt Rangers under Derek McInnes as they conceded cheap goals.
Domestic Cup Action
Walsall stunned Bristol City in the Carabao Cup curtain raiser. The Carabao Cup first round features 11 Premier League teams, with the second-round draw taking place on Monday. The bulk of EFL Cup first round fixtures will take place on a weekend despite traditionally being a midweek competition. David Sullivan is expected to attend West Ham's Carabao Cup tie against Portsmouth despite being advised to stay away. Live coverage of Carabao Cup matches includes Middlesbrough, Wrexham, and Wolves.
The Hundred and Cricket
Phoebe Litchfield hit the fastest fifty in Hundred history as Sun Risers Leeds eliminated Birmingham Phoenix. Sikandar Raza inspired MI London to a derby win, condemning London Spirit to elimination. Melie Kerr and Hayley Matthews helped MI London women to their first win of the season. Trent Rockets extended their lead at the top of the Hundred table with a fifth win in six games. SunRisers Leeds posted 241-2, the highest score in Hundred history, before cruising to victory. Trent Rockets went top of the women's table after a fourth win on the bounce. The qualification scenarios for The Hundred are explained for both men and women.
World Cup Fallout and FIFA Politics
Norway's soccer federation president called on Gianni Infantino to resign after his botched World Cup stake sale plans, while Mexico and Argentina expressed support. FIFA said Infantino apologized for errors over the failed plan, and senior staff reaffirmed their trust. UEFA's boycott of FIFA tournaments still stands, with the FA now joining them in opposing Infantino's re-election. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he no longer has confidence in Infantino. Portugal great Luís Figo has joined calls for Infantino to resign. Two senior FIFA executives distanced themselves from Infantino's plan, including Arsène Wenger. FIFA has been accused of blackmailing Jordan over World Cup money in return for support. The association of European soccer leagues called for FIFA governance reform. Potential challengers to Infantino for FIFA presidency are being circled. Spain "deserves" to host the 2030 World Cup final, according to the country's sports minister. Argentina will not put pressure on Lionel Messi to play at the 2028 Copa América. Argentina marked its World Cup win over England by declaring 15 July as National Football Teams Day.
Women's Football
Emma Hayes urged US Soccer to prioritize the U.S. Under-20 Women's team to help youth players match European development. France say they are still planning to compete in the U20 Women's World Cup despite a UEFA boycott threat. Midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England's U20 World Cup preparation squad. Assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis retired from officiating to take up a new role with the Football Association. Manchester United appointed Eva Olid as their new women's manager on a two-year deal. Defender Gabby George completed a move to Brighton from Manchester United before the WSL season. Liverpool have signed Spanish midfielder Natalia Ramos from CD Tenerife. Mariona Caldentey explained why Arsenal are talking up their chances of winning the Treble. Key dates for the 2026-27 women's football season have been detailed. The new season of "Ted Lasso" filmed at a real NWSL club for a key plot point. Partick Thistle's Ben Stanway signed a surprise new contract to boost their promotion bid.
Injury and Health News
England opener Emilio Gay retired hurt with a shoulder injury while batting for Durham. Jack Draper has been confirmed for the Cincinnati Open despite arm injury fears. Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to a wrist injury, raising concerns over his US Open defence. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is out of hospital and in "good form" after a procedure. British boxer Raven Chapman underwent emergency surgery for a bleed on her brain after collapsing in training. Charley Hull admitted injuries have prevented her from playing her best in 2026. Liverpool have big hopes for Jeremy Jacquet despite an injury disrupting his pre-season.
Other Notable Stories
The Football Association has banned solid perimeter walls around pitches after a safety review following the death of former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar. Myles Lewis-Skelly broke into the Arsenal first team at left-back but prefers to play in midfield. England striker Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm following a nightclub incident. Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel has been given a trading card made with real 24-carat gold. The top stories from Friday's newspapers include Liverpool and Arsenal eyeing Ezri Konsa. Chelsea will be working hard to cut their 41-man senior squad with 25 days until the transfer window closes. The National League kicks off on Saturday with a lot to live up to following the dramatic end to the 2025-26 campaign. Ebbsfleet United's first three National League South games are suspended due to financial problems. Former AC Milan and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato is part of a consortium set to buy a majority stake in League Two club Northampton Town. Alex Hughes, son of Mark Hughes, died of sudden adult death syndrome. Uganda international David Owori was killed by suspected robbers in a street gang attack. The World Darts Championship dates have been confirmed for December to January. Raymond van Barneveld has been fined and suspended by the Darts Regulation Authority. Max Verstappen praised Kimi Antonelli's "rock solid" performances in Formula. Larry Berg will succeed Don Garber as new MLS commissioner next year. Mauricio Pochettino will remain USMNT coach through the 2030 World Cup. The USMNT will host Peru, Chile, Canada and Mexico in September/October friendlies. Lionel Messi scored a brace to lead Inter Miami to a 4-2 Leagues Cup win over Atlético de San Luis. Inter Miami will be without Luis Suárez for the Leagues Cup due to suspension. Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker claimed a failed drug test was caused by exposure to cocaine from his nutritionist. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is still expected to be announced in August, even if moved to America. Dana White revealed the Fury-AJ venue will be "where the money is". Jake Paul's rematch with Tommy Fury "makes most sense" for his return to boxing. Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King led the Panthers over the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game. New Zealand's first full-scale tour of South Africa in 30 years began with a 38-21 win over the Stormers. Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors will play the first Super League fixture in Ireland in April 2027. Harvey Barron scored a hat-trick as Hull FC ended a seven-game losing run with a win over St Helens. Castleford head coach Ryan Carr will miss the game against Hull KR due to personal reasons. Simon Francis has collected more than 80 Mitre footballs which he displays above his stairs. Zeph Thomas tells BBC Sport about his career spanning 39 moves in 18 years before his FA Cup debut as a manager. BBC Sport's quiz asks readers to guess Premier League star No. 17. Afghan women's team reunites in Auckland after FIFA ruling, saying football has given them freedom. Chris Smalling discusses snubbing university, genetics testing, and his friendships with Ferguson and Mourinho. Kyle Walker says he is "at ease" with his decision to retire from England. Liverpool legend Ian Rush says new boss Andoni Iraola deserves time but should target silverware. Eddie Hearn believes Henry Pollock deserves a £1m salary to awaken rugby union. Eve Muirhead has come out of retirement to chase another Winter Olympics gold. Sam Hickey is described as Britain's best boxing prospect. Cherneka Johnson admits Dina Thorslund still occupies the bantamweight throne ahead of their undisputed fight. Aaron McKenna fights for the world title this Saturday and aims for unification and a heavyweight dream. Joe Ward is described as the unluckiest man in Irish boxing. Callum Walsh talks about his dangerous jobs and making of a fighter. Charley Hull surged up the leaderboard with a course-record 62 at the PIF London Championship. Cameron Norrie stunned third seed Alex de Minaur to reach the fourth round of the National Bank Open. Pakistan ended their eight-match away Test losing streak with an eight-wicket win over the West Indies. England recalled Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse for the Pakistan Tests, while Jacob Bethell misses out. Tomas Albornoz was suspended for four matches after Argentina's defeat to England.