Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: August 14, 2026, 8:38 AM ET

Club Transfers and Signings

LAFC has secured forward Armindo Sieb from Bayern Munich through a permanent transfer that will keep him with the MLS club until the 2028-29 season. In Europe, PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech was spotted at Ibrox Stadium, fueling speculation of an imminent move to Rangers. Arsenal has reportedly entered discussions with Galatasaray regarding the potential sale of several players, including Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri. Galatasaray has since submitted a €45 million ($51.8m) bid for Martinelli. Chelsea has set a Friday deadline for any club willing to meet their £120 million valuation for Enzo Fernández. Meanwhile, Chelsea is also eyeing Arsenal's Martín Zubimendi as a potential replacement should Fernández depart. Manchester City has extended Jérémy Doku's contract, signing him to a new five-year deal. Enes Unal has completed a move from Bournemouth back to Spanish club Getafe. Celtic has bolstered their midfield with the signing of Mika Baur from Paderborn on a four-year contract. Aston Villa's defender Ezri Konsa is reportedly a primary target for Arsenal as they search for defensive reinforcements. Atlético Madrid and Tottenham have agreed on a €40 million deal for Argentine defender Cristian 'Cuti' Romero. Lionel Messi rejoined Inter Miami CF on the bench for their Leagues Cup match against Club Leon, following the passing of his father. CF Montréal has signed Chilean international forward Alexis Sánchez to a Designated Player contract. Wrexham is reportedly close to signing Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson in a deal that could break the club's transfer record. Portland Thorns and USWNT midfielder Olivia Moultrie will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to an ACL injury. Barcelona forward Roony Bardghji has torn his ACL, which has halted his transfer plans. Liverpool has signed Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo on loan, with an option to buy for €55 million. Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing Barcelona defender Jules Koundé. Coventry City has re-signed midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United on a long-term deal. Chelsea has completed the signing of left-back Pep Chavarría from Rayo Vallecano. Sheffield United has re-signed Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on a season-long loan. Ipswich Town has reached an agreement to sign Paraguay forward Julio Enciso from Strasbourg. Crystal Palace has re-signed Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. Rangers are in discussions with Brentford for a loan return of left-back Jayden Meghoma. Celtic has signed winger Haissem Hassan from Real Oviedo on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. Paul Pogba is expected to have his Monaco contract terminated. Coventry City is reportedly interested in a loan move for Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.

League and Match Previews

Celta Vigo's LaLiga opener has been postponed due to a fungus outbreak on their pitch. The Community Shield traditionally marks the lead-up to the Premier League season, but its predictive value for the upcoming campaign is questionable. The new Premier League season is approaching, with key individuals at each club poised to significantly influence their team's success. The Championship season is set to begin, with predictions suggesting Wolves to fall flat on opening night. Sky Sports will broadcast the EFL season, including Championship matches, with a detailed preview of the upcoming campaign. The Premier League kits will see a significant change this season due to the ban on gambling sponsors on the front of shirts. BBC Sport analyzes the prospects for West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves as they navigate the Championship after relegation. The 2026/27 EFL season is set to commence, with previews highlighting key changes and standout players. Football is back as the new season begins, and fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports.

Player News and Performances

Jack Draper was defeated in the first round of the Cincinnati Open by Martin Landaluce, failing to convert six set-point opportunities to level the match. In the UEFA Super Cup, Aston Villa's 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo made an eye-catching debut, scoring in the 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. PSG ultimately won the UEFA Super Cup with a second-half goal from Desire Doue. Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory in their latest pre-season friendly against Deportivo La Coruña, with Brahim Diaz scoring the sole goal. Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Leeds United in Dublin ended in a 1-1 draw, with the club winning 5-4 on penalties. Noussair Mazraoui scored the decisive penalty for Manchester United in their shootout victory over Leeds. Lionel Messi was on the bench for Inter Miami CF's Leagues Cup match against Club Leon following the death of his father. Youri Tielemans has apologized to Aston Villa fans for remarks he made suggesting a move to Manchester United was to a bigger club. Tielemans stated that he did not anticipate leaving Aston Villa for Manchester United this summer. In a friendly match, Everton comfortably defeated Newcastle 3-1 at Murrayfield. Ronnie O'Sullivan's poor start to the season continued with an early exit from the China Open, losing 6-4 to Noppon Saengkham. Joe Root has removed the curfew for the England Test team, urging players to act as "grown adults."

Club and League Management

Celta Vigo's opening LaLiga match has been postponed due to a fungus outbreak on their pitch. The FA has charged Everton's Martin Sherif with breaching betting rules, alleging he placed 61 bets on football matches. The South Korean FA has issued an apology amidst various controversies and a police raid on its headquarters. The PFA has initiated legal proceedings against the EFL concerning changes to salary caps in League One. Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari will step down from his role at the end of the 2026/27 season. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has officially withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, while the Irish Football Association (IFA) has confirmed its backing of UEFA's position. Six Arab football federations have expressed their "full support" and "confidence" in Gianni Infantino. The Chicago Stars have fired head coach Martin Sjögren, with the club at the bottom of the NWSL standings.

International and Tournament News

Cameroon has advanced to the Wafcon final thanks to Michaely Bihina's heroics, saving an extra-time penalty and three shootout spot-kicks against host nation Morocco. Malawi's Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, scored three goals in their 3-1 semi-final victory over Algeria to reach the Wafcon final. The Netherlands has appointed Barcelona great Xavi Hernández as their new national team coach, following Ronald Koeman's resignation after a disappointing World Cup. South America's role in the 2030 World Cup, which will be partially hosted across three countries, has raised concerns due to its limited involvement in the centenary tournament. Referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the U.S. for the World Cup, officiated the UEFA Super Cup after a series of events.

Other Sports

In boxing, Craig Richards is set to face Radivoje Kalajdzic in a 10-round light heavyweight bout on the Johnny Fisher bill. Caroline Dubois could face Elif Nur Turhan after the Turkish world champion signed with Most Valuable Promotions. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Damar Thomas aims to forge his own legacy, drawing comparisons to former Team GB stars. In tennis, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar's bid for ATP Tour ranking history was halted by Brandon Nakashima in the Canadian Open semi-finals. Jodar is on track to break records for the fastest rise into the top 10 of men's tennis. Rory McIlroy believes the FedEx St. Jude Championship will be a crucial event for assessing his current game as he returns to PGA Tour action. In horse racing, Bow Echo has been retired from racing following a setback in training. In darts, Gian van Veen will begin his Sky City New Zealand Darts Masters campaign against Jonny Tata, while Gerwyn Price faces Mark Cleaver. In F1, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is on pace to become the youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion, and his potential triumph is being compared to other surprise title wins. Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali stated that drivers are free to express their opinions on the sport's power unit regulations. In cricket, Bangladesh's bowlers outperformed Australia's renowned attack in the first Test, with Hasan Mahmud taking a career-best 6-55. Joe Root has removed the curfew for the England Test captaincy. In The Hundred, MI London's title defense concluded despite a close win against Birmingham Phoenix. Birmingham Phoenix secured a consolation win to avoid the wooden spoon in The Hundred women's competition, with Ellyse Perry scoring a half-century. Manchester Super Giants defeated Sun Risers Leeds to move closer to the eliminator round. SunRisers Leeds secured a spot in the women's Hundred eliminator by defeating Manchester Super Giants. In rugby, Alex Coles and Asher Opoku-Fordjour are among five England players to receive enhanced contracts from the RFU. Daly Cherry-Evans is reportedly in advanced talks to join Hull FC for the 2027 Super League season. In golf, Rory McIlroy is looking forward to assessing his game at the FedEx Cup Playoffs. In boxing, teenage sensation Ruby White aims for revenge after her Commonwealth Games final loss.