FOOTBALL

Nashville Rout Miami As Messi Misses Third Penalty

Nashville SC, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi
Saturday

Nashville SC beat Inter Miami 4-1 in a meeting of the leading MLS sides as Lionel Messi had a penalty saved. It was Messi’s third consecutive missed penalty, following two failures for Argentina during the summer World Cup.

Hany Mukhtar scored twice after Andy Najar opened the scoring and Sam Surridge added Nashville’s third. The result gives Nashville a five-point lead over Miami in the Supporters’ Shield race and extends Miami’s losing run to three matches.

Bezos Consortium Can Take Liverpool Control Within Year

Liverpool, Fenway Sports Group and 1892 Holdings
Saturday

The Jeff Bezos-backed 1892 Holdings consortium has an option that could allow it to purchase a controlling stake in Liverpool within the next 12 months. The clause sits inside the newly agreed deal for roughly 30% to one-third of the club.

Fenway Sports Group remains Liverpool’s majority owner with operational control, and the clause does not commit either side to another transaction. However, it gives the new investors a defined route to majority ownership if both parties choose to proceed.

Salah Makes Trabzonspor Debut In Turkish League Draw

Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa
Saturday

Mohamed Salah made his competitive Trabzonspor debut as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 draw away to Kasimpasa. The 34-year-old Egypt captain entered after 58 minutes but could not produce a winner in his first Turkish Super Lig appearance.

Salah joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer after eight years at Liverpool and arrived to huge supporter attention. His league debut formally begins a major new chapter after a move reportedly worth €17m per season on a two-year contract.

Manchester City Reject Barcelona’s Third Rodri Bid

Manchester City, Barcelona and Rodri
Saturday

Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s third offer for Rodri as negotiations continue over the Spain midfielder. City remain fixed on an €80m valuation after previously turning down proposals around €50m and €70m, while Rodri prefers a Barcelona move.

The third rejection is a concrete escalation in a transfer saga that remains unresolved. Barcelona must decide whether to meet City’s valuation or walk away, while City risk eventually losing Rodri for nothing when his contract expires next year.

PSG Complete €55m Mika Godts Transfer From Ajax

Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax and Mika Godts
Saturday

Paris Saint-Germain have officially signed Belgium winger Mika Godts from Ajax in a deal worth up to €55m. The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract after producing 17 goals and 13 assists during his breakout Eredivisie campaign last season.

PSG completed the transfer after Ajax rejected two earlier bids, eventually agreeing €45m guaranteed plus €10m in add-ons. Godts strengthens Luis Enrique’s attacking options amid continued uncertainty over Bradley Barcola and becomes another major summer arrival in Paris.

La Liga Delays Barcelona And Real Madrid Openers

Barcelona, Real Madrid, La Liga and the AFE
Saturday

Barcelona and Real Madrid will not play during La Liga’s opening weekend after fixtures involving clubs with World Cup semi-finalists were pushed back. The arrangement gives affected players mandatory recovery time following the tournament and creates a staggered first matchweek.

Barcelona now begin their title defence on 23 August and Real Madrid start on 22 August, with their original fixtures moved later in the month. La Liga and the players’ union agreed the adjustment after concerns over mandated rest periods.

West Ham Break EFL Record With £22m Engels Deal

West Ham United, Celtic and Arne Engels
Saturday

West Ham have officially signed Belgium midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic for £22m, setting a new transfer record for an EFL Championship club. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract after winning consecutive Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic.

The fee surpasses Ipswich’s previous £17.5m Championship record and signals West Ham’s determination to return immediately to the Premier League. Engels arrives after contributing 17 goals and 22 assists across 100 Celtic appearances and becomes their fourth summer signing.

Bayern Confirm Musiala Fine After Heat Collapse

Bayern Munich and Jamal Musiala
Saturday

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl says Jamal Musiala is fine after the midfielder collapsed during a friendly against RB Leipzig and required emergency medical attention. Initial examinations found no worrying signs after dizziness and circulatory problems linked to the heat.

Musiala is expected to rest for two days while Bayern continue monitoring him before deciding when he can train again. The update materially eases fears raised by the collapse, which occurred in temperatures reported around 33 degrees Celsius in Munich.

Sunderland Agree £25.6m Deal For Dayann Methalie

Sunderland, Toulouse and Dayann Methalie
Saturday

Sunderland have agreed a £25.6m package with Toulouse for 20-year-old French left-back Dayann Methalie. The verbal agreement includes £23.9m guaranteed and another £1.7m in potential add-ons, with the defender now expected to undergo a medical.

The deal would give Sunderland major defensive reinforcement before their Premier League opener and first European campaign in 53 years. Methalie made 28 Ligue 1 appearances last season and arrives as Regis Le Bris adds depth to a thin summer squad.

Inter Complete €30m Djed Spence Transfer From Spurs

Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Djed Spence
Saturday

Inter Milan have officially signed England full-back Djed Spence from Tottenham for around €30m. The 26-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A champions after featuring in all eight of England’s matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Spence becomes Inter’s second England signing of the summer after John Stones and replaces the departed Denzel Dumfries on the right. Tottenham sell a player who made 85 appearances and helped them win the 2025 Europa League.