Football

N'Golo Kante may have moved to Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad but he will still have a link to club football in Europe after he agreed a deal to buy Belgian third division side Royal Excelsior Virton. The club said on Thursday that the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder is set to take over ownership from Flavio Becca from July 1. The club, which is situated near the Luxembourg border, did not disclose any financial details for the deal. "Flavio is obviously extremely

French soccer club Paris St Germain coach Christophe Galtier has been arrested for questioning along with his son as part of an investigation into alleged discrimination, AFP news agency reported on Friday citing a French prosecutor. PSG did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Source Reuter

Italy signed on Tuesday a letter of intent aimed at eradicating anti-Semitism from soccer stadiums across the country. Instances of racism and anti-Semitism are commonplace in Italian stadiums, with fans regularly booing or shouting abuse at Black players, using the word "Jew" as an insult and displaying Nazi or fascist symbols. The initiative represents a "great contribution" to soccer, said Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during the declaration signing ceremony in Rome, which also involved Italy's sports minister and the President of the

Leaving everything you own to a multi-millionaire soccer player would not be everyone's idea of a good cause, but one Brazilian fan could not think of a more deserving recipient of his worldly goods than Neymar Jr. The anonymous fan said that beyond a love for the national team and for Brazil's football legacy, he identified with Neymar, which led him to officially name the Brazil striker in his will. "I like Neymar, I identify with him a lot. I also suffer with

Switzerland's Alisha Lehmann, arguably as well known for her social media presence as her prowess on the pitch, is the top Instagram influencer heading to the Women's World Cup, according to Nielsen Sports, amassing 13.5 million followers to pass American Alex Morgan in the last year. "The soccer players participating at World Cup 2023 are not only exceptional sportswomen but also social media powerhouses, capable of driving impactful conversations and fostering genuine connections with their followers," Jon Stainer, Nielsen's global managing director, said

There are reminders around the city of Miami of Lionel Messi’s impending arrival: A mural of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner painted with pink and black Inter Miami colors in the artsy Wynwood neighborhood. Another painting of the soccer star at the entrance of a local Argentinian restaurant. No. 10 Argentina jerseys sprinkled throughout the city. Messi, who turned 36 this month, announced on June 7 that he was joining Inter Miami in a move that stunned the soccer world and will bring

Despite Sunil Chhetri's impressive performance, India were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Kuwait in their final group match of the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Chhetri displayed his skill and influence by scoring a crucial injury-time goal in the first half, seemingly setting India on the path to victory. However, in added time during the second half, an unfortunate own goal by Anwar Ali dashed the home side's hopes of securing the win. This marked the first goal India

The 2023 Club World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, soccer's world governing body FIFA said on Monday. The decision was made following a FIFA delegation visit to Jeddah last week to assess ongoing preparations for the tournament. "We are delighted that Jeddah, with its state-of-the-art facilities and reputation for hosting major international sports events, has been selected as host city for the FIFA Club World Cup," President of SAFF Yasser Al Misehal said. The tournament, which will be

That’s according to new reports emerging out of Arsenal following the signing of Kai Havertz as negotiations between West Ham and the Gunners continue for Declan Rice. As reported over the weekend, a source close to West Ham majority stakeholder David Sullivan revealed Rice is insisting on joining Arsenal despite genuine interest from Manchester City. Arsenal have already seen two bids rejected for Rice. And speculation has been rife over the possibility of certain players being included in the deal to make the

Liverpool is eyeing significant midfield upgrades for the upcoming season, with potential moves for Khephren Thuram and Ryan Gravenberch. According to journalist Dean Jones, the signings of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch would provide an “unbelievable” improvement to Liverpool’s midfield. It will surpass the quality of their outgoing players. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Liverpool has been in discussions with Thuram’s agent, indicating a potential move to Anfield this summer. Moreover, Thuram showcased impressive form for Ligue

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly is joining Al-Hilal from Premier League side Chelsea, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Sunday. “We’ll continue to make history together,” Al-Hilal wrote on Twitter, alongside a short video featuring Koulibaly. Koulibaly scored two goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea after joining them from Napoli last July. The 32-year-old is the second player moving to Al-Hilal from the English Premier League after Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday. The Saudi Pro league

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the greatest footballers of all time. They have been competing for individual and team honors for over a decade, and their rivalry has been one of the most compelling in sports history. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has been intense, but it has also been respectful. Both players have acknowledged the other’s greatness, and they have even expressed admiration for each other. However, in a recent interview when Messi was asked whether breaking Ronaldo’s

Changes by the Home Office over who qualifies for a UK work permit has presented Liverpool and their rivals with a fresh opportunity. And the Reds have already been linked with one potential move. Prior to Britain exiting the European Union, players from the EU could arrive into the English game without having to qualify for a work permit, although those from outside the EU still had to qualify, something that Liverpool have experienced previously with the likes of Mark Gonzalez and, more

Jurgen Klopp agent speaks out as Liverpool manager begged to take new job Jurgen Klopp's agent has dismissed the possibility of the Liverpool manager leaving the Reds to take over as Germany manager. Germany host next summer's European Championships, and have already qualified as a result. But that hasn't stopped current manager Hansi Flick from finding himself under pressure after a poor run of results in friendly matches before that showcase. When it comes to major career moves, it seems June is the

After Liverpool learned their 2023-24 Premier League schedule last week, we take a look at the key cup dates for the Reds in the season ahead. Europa League After finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, Liverpool will enter the group stage of the Europa League. The Reds last participated in the competition in 2015-16 and though they have never won it in its current guise, they were three-time winners of the UEFA Cup, a previous incarnation of the tournament. Jürgen Klopp’s

Every six months, Kicker publishes a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories. Today, the German football magazine has released the first part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Below, you'll find the rankings for defensive midfielders. International Class: Ellyes Skhiri, FC KölnKonrad Laimer, RB LeipzigEmre Can, Borussia DortmundRobert Andrich, Bayer LeverkusenJoshua Kimmich, Bayern MunichWataru Endo, VfB Stuttgart

The United States men's national team could not have dreamed a better start to the CONCACAF Nations League final on Sunday night. Center-back Chris Richards grabbed the game's opening goal -- the first of his international career -- to nod the USMNT in front of Canada at Allegiant Stadium. The US capitalized fully on an encouraging start in its quest to retain the Nations League title it won in 2021. Richards from Reyna Gio Reyna -- whose USMNT future could soon be under

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City are not willing to make a move for Kylian Mbappe, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs until the end of next season. The Catalan coach claimed that Mbappe has already made up his mind regarding his next team amidst interest from Real Madrid. "[Manchester City] will not make a move for Mbappe, everyone knows where he wants to go," Guardiola noted. The Sky Blues coach went on to congratulate the Spanish national team after La Roja

Homegrown defender Jimenez had a moment to remember from FC Cincinnati's game against Toronto FC, as the 15-year-old made his first-team debut just seven months after signing his first pro contract. Jimenez saw out the final moments of a 3-0 win for the hosts, who maintained their spot atop the leaguewide standings with their 13th win of the season. Who is Stiven Jimenez? A Maryland native, Jimenez joined FC Cincinnati's academy in 2019 and worked his way up to first-team consideration. He traveled

Women's World Cup co-hosts New Zealand need to lift ticket sales in coming weeks given the relatively modest "selling power" of the national Football Ferns team, FIFA executive Sarai Bareman has said. Bareman, FIFA's chief women's football officer, said she had less concerns about co-hosts Australia where a record crowd of more than 40,000 are expected for the Matildas' World Cup warmup match against France in Melbourne on July 14. "I have to say my focus is a little bit more on New