Uefa outlaw long contract transfer loophole exploited by Chelsea June 29, 2023 Chelsea and other clubs will no longer be able to exploit a transfer loophole by handing new signings long contracts after Uefa outlawed the practice. Eight of Chelsea’s most recent signings, including Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and new arrival Christopher Nkunku joined on extra-long contracts, some lasting until 2031. The strategy helped the Blues to [...]
Declan Rice: Arsenal poised to clinch British record transfer after Man City pull out June 28, 2023 Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice for a transfer fee that could reach a British record £105m. Manchester City’s withdrawal from the race to sign Rice has left the way clear for Arsenal to make the 24-year-old by far their most expensive signing. Last season’s Premier [...]
Bayern Munich end £17m-a-year Qatari sponsor deal following fan protests June 28, 2023 Bayern Munich have ended a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Qatar following sustained protests from some supporters. Germany’s most successful football club have sported Qatar Airways’ logo on their shirt sleeves since 2018 in a deal reported to be worth around €20m (£17m) a year. That replaced a similar sponsorship agreement with Doha Airport, while the [...]
Trevor Steven: Declan Rice should choose Manchester City over Arsenal June 27, 2023 There is no question that this is the right time for Declan Rice to leave West Ham United. Firmly established in the Premier League at 24, now is a natural juncture for him to move on and he can depart on good terms after helping the Hammers win a European trophy. I also don’t think [...]
Manchester United forecast record revenues as fans protest Glazers’ stalling on a sale June 27, 2023 Manchester United chiefs expect to achieve record revenues of up to £640m this year after raising their guidance for investors. United’s revenue for the three months to March 2023 increased 3.5 per cent on the same period last year to £481.1m. It comes after the 20-time English champions enjoyed a return to form on the [...]
Stormzy and Wilfried Zaha team up to buy hometown football club Croydon Athletic June 27, 2023 Rapper Stormzy and Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha have agreed to buy their hometown football club, AFC Croydon Athletic. Stormzy and Zaha are part of a three-man consortium, which also includes former Palace kit man Danny Young, that has exchanged contracts for a takeover with the current ownership. No financial details have been disclosed and [...]
Explained: What changes to transfer and loan rules mean for Premier League clubs June 26, 2023 Big clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City are unlikely to return to hoarding top talent and farming them out on loan despite the relaxation of post-Brexit transfer red tape. Chelsea turned recruiting promising players, loaning them out and ultimately selling for a profit into a fine art in the later years of Roman Abramovich’s [...]
Ryan Reynolds joins Wrexham co-owner and RedBird in buying stake in F1 team Alpine June 26, 2023 Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and RedBird Capital Partners, which has a stake in Liverpool’s owners, have invested in Formula 1 team Alpine. Otro Capital, Reynolds’ Wrexham AFC co-owner Rob McElhenney and their fellow actor Michael B Jordan, who owns a stake in AFC Bournemouth have also invested. The €200m (£171m) cash injection is for 24 [...]
Arteta: Arsenal must strengthen to challenge Manchester City next year June 25, 2023 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said his side will need to strengthen if they’re to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League next season. Arsenal topped the table for much of the season but dropped points towards the business end, and combined with a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in April. were pipped to the [...]
Euro 2024 mascot: London-based creator on how it was done June 24, 2023 City A.M. sat down with Darran Garnham, founder and chief executive of Toikido and creator of the Euro 2024 mascot. So, what makes a good mascot and what does Uefa tell you is off limits? Let’s find out. How did the Euro 2024 mascot come about? “There was an element of luck to it. The [...]