Major League Soccer
9 September 2026

Major League Soccer clubs spent a record $370 million on player acquisitions in 2026 while generating a record $218 million in transfer revenue. The league said 30 players with World Cup experience joined MLS clubs, including 20 from 2026 tournament squads.

Thirteen clubs completed either a record incoming or outgoing transfer, while almost 60 percent of signings were aged 25 or younger. The report also highlighted rising internal cash transfers and a possible future loosening of salary regulations as further growth drivers.

Feyenoord supporters and a Barcelona supporter
9 September 2026

Footage shared after Barcelona’s Champions League match against Feyenoord showed supporters in the visiting section making ape gestures toward a Black Barcelona fan. A second piece of footage showed another person in the away end making the same racist gesture.

Barcelona supporter Esia published one of the videos after the match at Camp Nou and described the abuse publicly. The supplied report does not mention any disciplinary action from Feyenoord, Barcelona, UEFA or Spanish authorities at the time of publication.

France Football and Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees
8 September 2026

France Football’s 30-player Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist has been revealed, with Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Rose Lavelle and Tessa Wullaert among the nominees. Reigning winner Aitana Bonmati is absent after missing much of the season injured.

No Italian player made the shortlist, although Como are represented by Belgian forward Wullaert. The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on 26 October, moving from Paris to honour inaugural winner Stanley Matthews on the award’s 70th anniversary.

Marc Overmars and Royal Antwerp
9 September 2026

Marc Overmars has stepped down as Royal Antwerp sporting director with immediate effect because of health concerns. The 53-year-old said accumulated fatigue and stress had become unsustainable, despite contract-extension discussions already being under way with the Belgian club.

Overmars said doctors warned of a high risk of a bad outcome if he ignored his condition, prompting him to stop professional activities for now. He plans to thank supporters at Saturday’s Union match before beginning a period of complete rest.

Kendry Paez and Chelsea
9 September 2026

Xabi Alonso confirmed Kendry Paez is not part of Chelsea’s first-team squad or current plans after the 19-year-old returned from a loan spell at River Plate. Chelsea failed to arrange another English loan before the September transfer deadline.

Paez officially joined Chelsea after an earlier pre-agreement and spent last season at Strasbourg. With England’s window closed, he can wait until January or pursue a temporary move in another open market, while Alonso says Estevao remains fully involved.

Federico Dimarco and Inter Milan
9 September 2026

Inter have exercised their unilateral option to extend Federico Dimarco’s contract by one season, moving its expiry from June 2027 to June 2028. The club has also begun discussions with his new agent over a longer-term agreement.

Sporting director Dario Baccin met agent Arturo Canales in Madrid to outline Inter’s plans. The club wants to retain Dimarco beyond 2028, but its contract policy for older players means any improved package may rely heavily on individual and team bonuses.

Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or nominees
8 September 2026

France Football announced the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, with Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice among the nominees. Paris Saint-Germain have nine players from last season represented on the list.

The winner will be announced in London on 26 October as the award marks its 70th anniversary. The venue honours Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural 1956 winner, while Messi is chasing a ninth Ballon d’Or after retiring from international football.

Inter Milan
8 September 2026

Inter Milan played their Champions League match at Real Madrid without their usual main sponsor logo because Spanish rules restrict advertising by betting companies. The club temporarily removed the gaming brand from the front of its shirt for the fixture.

The change was not ordered by Real Madrid or UEFA and does not represent a permanent end to the sponsorship. Inter altered the shirt specifically to comply with host-country advertising rules, which can require similar changes when playing in jurisdictions restricting betting promotion.

Alexis Mac Allister and Liverpool
8 September 2026

Alexis Mac Allister said Liverpool informed him over the summer that the club was not in a position to offer him a new contract. The midfielder also confirmed he had opportunities to leave but chose to remain at Anfield for the season.

Mac Allister said the decision disappointed him, particularly after Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai received new deals. Manager Andoni Iraola remained non-committal on whether the situation could change, saying the priority is that Mac Allister wants to stay and contribute.

Lionel Messi and Eldense
8 September 2026

Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-division club Eldense, according to the supplied report. The proposed deal remains subject to due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council before ownership can formally change.

If completed, Eldense would become Messi’s first professional club investment in Spain and his second Spanish club after fifth-tier Cornella. The report notes potential future ownership complications if both teams reach the same division, depending on Messi’s eventual shareholding structure.