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    Villa Complete Gomes Signing

    Aston Villa, Wolves and Joao Gomes
    Monday

    Aston Villa have completed the £38m signing of Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves. The deal is worth an initial £34m plus £4m in add-ons, giving Unai Emery another major midfield reinforcement.

    Villa moved after Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury, Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United and Morgan Rogers neared a Chelsea move. Gomes brings Premier League experience after 130 Wolves appearances since arriving from Flamengo.

    Hearts Learn Possible Fenerbahce Tie

    Hearts, Fenerbahce, Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz
    Monday

    Hearts will face Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze in Champions League qualifying if they beat Sturm Graz. The third-round ties are scheduled for 4 or 5 August and 11 or 12 August.

    The draw also mapped possible routes for Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian in European qualifying. Hearts last played Champions League qualifiers in 2006-07, making this route a significant early-season test for the Edinburgh club.

    Argentina Declare Runner-Up Holiday

    Javier Milei, Argentina and Lionel Scaloni’s squad
    After Sunday’s World Cup final defeat

    Argentina president Javier Milei announced a national holiday to celebrate the team’s World Cup runner-up finish despite their 1-0 final loss to Spain. The exact celebration date will be chosen by players and staff.

    Milei skipped the final because of personal superstitions, but praised the team’s achievement after they reached back-to-back World Cup finals. The decision shows how deeply Argentina’s national team remains tied to public identity and politics.

    Mbappe Takes Golden Boot

    Kylian Mbappe, France and Lionel Messi
    After the World Cup final

    Kylian Mbappe officially won the World Cup Golden Boot after Messi failed to score in Argentina’s final defeat. Mbappe finished with 10 goals, becoming the first player since Gerd Muller in 1970 to hit double figures.

    Mbappe moved ahead by scoring twice in France’s 6-4 bronze-match defeat by England. He also became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 22 goals, one ahead of Messi, sealing another historic individual tournament.

    Swansea Close Elijah Just Deal

    Swansea City, Motherwell and Elijah Just
    Sunday

    Swansea City are close to agreeing a deal for Motherwell winger Elijah Just. The New Zealand international scored three goals at the World Cup and could command a fee that breaks Motherwell’s club record sale.

    Just made 43 appearances for Motherwell after joining in 2025 and was nominated for Premiership player of the year. Swansea would reunite him with Marko Stamenic and Stephen Welsh if the move is completed.

    Capdevila Cleared for Final Trip

    Joan Capdevila, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Spain
    Sunday before the World Cup final

    Joan Capdevila was allowed into the United States to attend the World Cup final after previously saying his travel authorisation had been denied. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it reviewed the request and approved his arrival.

    Capdevila had appealed publicly to Donald Trump and Marco Rubio after linking the denial to a 2016 exhibition match in Iran. The reversal allowed Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner to watch his country’s second final triumph.

    Spain Win World Cup Final

    Spain, Argentina and Ferran Torres
    Sunday at MetLife Stadium

    Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the World Cup, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute. Argentina were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card.

    Spain controlled the final, held Argentina without a first-half shot and kept Lionel Messi largely quiet. Torres finished after Pedro Porro and Nico Williams combined, giving Spain their second World Cup and denying Argentina back-to-back titles.

    World Cup Half-Time Show Criticised

    FIFA, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and World Cup final viewers
    Sunday during the World Cup final

    The World Cup final staged its first major half-time show, stretching the interval to 27 minutes. The production featured Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Coldplay and several football celebrities.

    The Athletic called the show slick but unnecessary, noting heavy sponsor involvement and concern over football adopting a Super Bowl-style model. The long break added to wider criticism of FIFA’s commercial direction during the tournament.

    Rodri Faces Surgery Setback

    Rodri, Manchester City and Spain
    After Spain’s World Cup win

    Rodri is reportedly set to miss the start of Manchester City’s season because of surgery on an unspecified injury. The setback comes after he captained Spain to the World Cup and won the tournament’s Golden Ball.

    The issue adds uncertainty around his City future, with his contract entering its final year. City want a renewal, but his fitness, Spain dominance and Real Madrid links keep his situation under close attention.

    Rodri Wins Golden Ball

    Rodri, Spain, Unai Simon and Pau Cubarsi
    After Sunday’s World Cup final

    Rodri won the World Cup Golden Ball after captaining Spain to the title. Unai Simon claimed the Golden Glove, while 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi won the Young Player Award after playing every minute of the tournament.

    Rodri started all eight Spain matches and controlled their midfield as they conceded just once all tournament. Simon kept a record six clean sheets, while Cubarsi formed a dominant partnership with Aymeric Laporte in Spain’s defence.

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