Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: September 3, 2026, 10:15 PM ET

Premier League Transfer Fallout

The summer transfer window closed with a flurry of activity, and the repercussions are still being felt across the Premier League. Chelsea recouped more than £500m by selling or loaning out a staggering 39 players, a record-breaking exodus. Meanwhile, the escalating cost of doing business is a major concern, with the Premier League premium now reportedly adding £20m to a player's value simply for being in the league. This has led to accusations that the transfer market is "dangerously out of control," with fees like Liam Delap's move to Nottingham Forest raising eyebrows.

Some clubs are scrambling for solutions after missing out on targets. Everton are weighing up a shock move for free agent Jamie Vardy to solve their striker problem, with Anthony Martial also an option. The gossip columns are also linking Wilfried Zaha with AC Milan. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr needs time to process the collapse of his proposed move to Liverpool, according to his manager. A host of big names remain available as free agents, with a squad once worth over £1bn still on the market, including Sancho, Pogba, and Wijnaldum. Chelsea have already made contact with the latter, Georginio Wijnaldum, over a potential deal. The free-agent market also features Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba among others.

Liverpool's Squad Concerns

Liverpool's decision to leave Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo out of their Champions League squad has raised questions about their depth. Analysis suggests that in terms of pure numbers, the squad is actually weaker than last season, with a failure to add the necessary reinforcements. Manager Andoni Iraola, however, is happy with the signings made, including the arrival of Bradley Barcola, who is set for his debut. Despite the optimism, pundits are predicting a potential slip-up, with Liverpool tipped to lose at Ipswich this weekend.

Major Moves and Squad Decisions

Arsenal have been active, completing a club-record £60m sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal, a deal worth $81M. The move was also confirmed by BBC Sport as a club-record sale. They have also bolstered their defensive ranks by signing France defender Elisa de Almeida from PSG. Tottenham have made a statement by omitting Richarlison from their Premier League squad, signaling he is not in the club's plans. The decision was also reported by BBC Sport. Manchester United's transfer strategy has been dissected, with their building blocks approach explained by Rob Dawson, which saw them miss out on a left back. A new manager, Eva Olid, has promised a "brave" Manchester United with a new-look style in the WSL.

Weekend Preview and Predictions

The weekend's Premier League action features a heavyweight London derby as Arsenal host Chelsea so early in the season. Elsewhere, PSG and Napoli are on the ropes in their respective title races and will be looking to bounce back. BBC Sport's Chris Sutton has made his predictions for the weekend fixtures, taking on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno, as well as BBC readers and an AI. For a more analytical take, the top tipster Lewis Jones provides his best bets and tips across the Premier League action.

Scottish Football News

In Scotland, Hearts' derby hero is being tipped for a call-up, with pundits asking if McPake is ready for Scotland after a 3-1 win at Easter Road. Rangers secured a 2-1 success at Falkirk, with Lawrence Shankland netting twice in what was described as a "proper captain's performance." The Ibrox side also had a busy deadline day, confirming the purchase of Venezuela striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers for £9m, and taking Badredine Bouanani on loan from Stuttgart. The deal was also confirmed by Sky Sports. The new striker has had an eventful career already, from hiding in a truck to playing in a war zone. They also rejected another bid from Besiktas for Nico Raskin. The wider issue of youth development in Scottish football is set to be addressed at a new forum on the future of the game.

England Cricket and Other Sports

Issy Wong starred with a maiden international five-wicket haul as England clinched the ODI series over Ireland with a game to spare. Her approach is simple, as she keeps things simple both on and off the field, where she solves Rubik's Cubes. There is also debate over where Kemp should bat in England's ODI side. In the county game, Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe took his second hat-trick in eight days to help condemn Essex to 177 all out. Pakistan's cricket crisis continues, with Nasser Hussain criticising the board's dramatic changes, saying they have made the team a laughing stock.

Tennis and Golf

At the US Open, Naomi Osaka overcame serving struggles to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2 5-7 6-1 and reach the third round. After the match, she urged the growing number of social media influencers at the tournament to respect tennis' etiquette. Carlos Alcaraz has taken a swipe at the hectic tennis calendar, calling it "impossible" and planning to skip tournaments from now on. In golf, England's Todd Clements is one shot behind leader Ashun Wu after posting a six-under 64 in the first round of the Omega European Masters at Crans Montana.

Formula 1 and Boxing

Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is considering the magnitude of potentially becoming the first black Ferrari driver to win a home race for the team. Kimi Antonelli has dismissed suggestions he could drive for Ferrari in the future, claiming he could spend his entire career with Mercedes. He is ready to help team-mate and title rival George Russell in qualifying, a race the championship leader will start at the back of the grid due to a penalty. Meanwhile, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua's promoters to "get the fight to London" amid speculation the clash could take place at Madison Square Garden.

More Transfer News and Off-Pitch Stories

Monaco are still seeking a move for Folarin Balogun after his Everton deal collapsed, potentially forcing the USMNT forward to consider a Turkey or Saudi move. The failed transfer sums up an underwhelming summer window for the USMNT. In a separate saga, Julian Alvarez is looking to rebuild trust at Atletico Madrid after his dream move to Barcelona did not happen, as detailed in this analysis. The transfer window winners and losers have been assessed across Europe, with an alternative awards list handing out eight off-beat trophies to those who didn't quite make the spotlight, including the best bargain hunters. Some clubs have found excellent value, with Karetsas, Yohanna, and Mora among the standout bargain deals. There are also rankings of the 11 summer transfers most likely to fail, which includes moves by Man United, Tottenham, and Chelsea, as well as the most game-changing transfers in Premier League history. Bill Connelly has also made his bold predictions for the season, including Michael Olise to win the 2027 Ballon d'Or and Brentford to qualify for the Champions League.

Club News and Ownership

Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky has agreed to become West Ham's largest shareholder, in a move that shuts out Amanda Staveley. Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has revealed he is in talks to buy a stake in Norwich City, which would make him a rival to Ryan Reynolds. Hull City have criticised the "abhorrent racist abuse" directed at new signing Robinio Vaz. Leeds United will be without centre-back Joe Rodon for eight to 10 weeks due to a serious hamstring injury.

International Football and Tributes

The Argentine league will pause all domestic matches in the 10th minute this weekend to pay tribute to Lionel Messi's international career. José Mourinho admitted he'll miss watching Messi, calling him a player we'll miss. Spain's World Cup winner Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football at the age of, as reported by ESPN. Carlos Queiroz has been reappointed as head coach of Ghana's national team, two months after appearing to step down. Real Madrid's Raúl Asencio was acquitted by a Spanish court of charges related to allegedly recording and distributing sexual images without consent, with the court clearing him of the explicit video charge. The acquittal was also covered by BBC Sport. FIFA has accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign against president Gianni Infantino in a court filing related to the failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. This follows UEFA's legal action in the discovery row, and the story was also covered by BBC Sport.

Women's Football

Manchester City have signed England international goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse on a short-term loan until the end of January 2027 from NWSL side Orlando Pride. The move was also confirmed by BBC Sport. The WSL transfer window has been assessed, with Arsenal looking to win their first title since 2019 after signing eight new players, while the winners and losers of the window are debated. London City Lionesses owner Michele Kang says they have signed the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in the women's game with Nike. Two-time World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn has joined the Portland Thorns as a technical consultant through the rest of the 2026 NWSL season. A controversial rule has the NWSL taking a cut of player brand deals, turning into a showdown between brands, players, and the league.

Rugby League and Other News

Bradford Bulls snapped a seven-match losing streak with a 32-22 victory over Castleford Tigers, thanks to a five-try first half display. In the Championship, the EFL had a chaotic deadline day that fell on the same day as matches, with clubs slamming the fixture clash. The Sky Sports column Dev's Digest reports that Mal Benning will be honoured, and Hamza Choudhury made a winning Sheffield United debut, in a round-up of key developments for British South Asians in Football. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has admitted he would stay in the centre circle for as long as he could during a match, saying he used to play in-match games as a laugh.

German Football and More

VfL Osnabruck showcased a tifo featuring a working rollercoaster that took months to plan before their German Cup tie against Bayern Munich, but Harry Kane ruined the fun by scoring. Schalke are back in the Bundesliga after a complicated few years, with their return described as humble but ambitious. Morgan Gibbs-White was left out of England's World Cup squad, but his continued good form for Nottingham Forest may make it impossible for Thomas Tuchel to ignore him. Finally, for those wondering about the rules, the BBC's Ask Me Anything team has explained how European squad lists work for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.