Football

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentAug 16, 2024, 06:31 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MANCHESTER, England — There’s nothing like a late winner from a new striker to fuel early-season optimism, and Joshua Zirkzee delivered it for Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag. Just when it looked like the Red Devils’ campaign would get off to a

A late goal by new signing Joshua Zirkzee earned Manchester United a nervy 1-0 victory over Fulham in their Premier League season opener at Old Trafford on Friday. Home supporters were in buoyant mood ahead of the first game of the English top-flight campaign, with four new signings unveiled on the pitch and new faces

Open Extended Reactions How do Arsenal improve on a record-breaking year this time around? In the 2023-24 campaign, they posted their most wins (28), most goals (91) and best-ever goal difference (plus-62) in a Premier League season, yet still missed out on a first title since 2004. Some connected to the club could be forgiven

ESPN News Services Aug 15, 2024, 04:15 PM ET Open Extended Reactions If Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique thought the theme of his conferences would change without Kylian Mbappé, he was mistaken. The long-running saga of Mbappé’s transfer to Real Madrid from PSG finally ended at the beginning of June when the French forward joined

Open Extended Reactions Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to become the new United States coach with the responsibility of leading the team into the 2026 World Cup, a source has told ESPN. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Pochettino, 52, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this summer after just one season

Aug 15, 2024, 07:51 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The 2024-25 European soccer season is finally here! After months of waiting — and with a brilliant summer of drama and excitement thanks to Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympics — we are back with a new club season on the continent, and there’s

Open Extended Reactions It’s not even a month since Spain captain Álvaro Morata and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi held aloft the Euro 2024 and Copa América trophies, yet we’re about to usher in the new Premier League season. It all kicks off on Friday when Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, which will be

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Aug 14, 2024, 05:15 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Kylian Mbappé is available to play his first competitive game for Real Madrid as they face Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed, although the coach wouldn’t say whether the star forward will start the match. Mbappé,

Adriana Garcia Aug 14, 2024, 07:05 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Canadian rapper Drake has become an investor of Serie A club Venezia after joining global sports-focused firm APEX Capital. APEX, who acquired a minority stake of the north Italian outfit in July shortly after the team gained promotion to Serie A, confirmed Drake’s addition

Aug 13, 2024, 03:41 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United have completed the signings of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich, the Premier League club announced Tuesday. A source has told ESPN that the deal is worth a combined £60 million ($76.6m) including add-ons. Netherlands centre-back De Ligt has signed a

Open Extended Reactions Football is at a breaking point. If anyone doubts that, just ask Erling Haaland. Should all go to plan for the Manchester City forward during the 2024-25 campaign, his season will be 354 days long. Ready or not, the new football season will be the longest and most physically demanding ever. Haaland,

Aug 13, 2024, 06:59 AM ET Open Extended Reactions West Ham United have signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United, the London club announced on Tuesday. “It was a no brainer for me to join West Ham,” Wan-Bissaka said of his move. “I’m excited and happy to be here. “It’s an amazing feeling to be back

ESPN News Services Aug 12, 2024, 03:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Brentford signed attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho from fellow Premier League side Liverpool on a five-year deal, the West London club announced on Monday. The financial details were not disclosed but British media reported that the deal was worth around £27.5 million ($35.10 million).

Aug 12, 2024, 09:55 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Vinícius Júnior is the latest target for the Saudi Pro League, a source has told ESPN, and the Real Madrid player is considering a proposal to move to the Gulf country. Vinícius, 24, helped lead Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double last season and

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Aug 12, 2024, 04:56 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Samu Omorodion’s move to Chelsea is off. Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images Samu Omorodion‘s move to Chelsea from Atlético Madrid collapsed on Sunday, sources told ESPN, but the clubs are working on a deal for João Félix to return to the

Aug 11, 2024, 06:36 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Chelsea have completed the signing of Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the west London club announced Sunday. The Portugal winger signed a seven-year contract with his new club and was introduced to the fans at Stamford Bridge during halftime of Chelsea’s friendly against Inter Milan. “I

Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 11, 2024, 10:25 AM ET Close Sam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions PARIS — One day last winter, Crystal Dunn sent Emma Hayes a text. The message was something along the lines of, “Ma’am, I hear rumors!” Dunn recalled recently, and it was rooted in

Jeff Kassouf Aug 10, 2024, 02:10 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Rumors of the United States women’s national team‘s demise were greatly exaggerated. One year ago — nearly to the day — the USWNT had reached its nadir, crashing out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 for the first time.