Kevin de Bruyne has completed his move to Napoli after the Belgian midfielder left Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season.
De Bruyne will link up with former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who is head coach of the Italian champions.
In moving to Italy on a free transfer, De Bruyne rejected an offer from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, and the switch means he can play in the Champions League next season.
Napoli announced the signing of the 33-year-old with a computer-generated image of De Bruyne sitting on a throne wearing a crown, captioned “King Kev is here”.
De Bruyne notably helped City to win six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups – plus their first Champions League title in 2023, completing the Treble as Pep Guardiola’s team became only the second English side ever to achieve the feat.
His departure from City was announced before the end of the season, and De Bruyne bid an emotional farewell at Etihad Stadium following his final home league match against Bournemouth in May.
He also briefly appeared at Fulham in City’s final game of the domestic season.
“It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It’s been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure,” De Bruyne said of his City exit.
“It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the club the success we enjoyed. I’m super proud to have played a part in that.
“Manchester has been my home and my family’s home for these past 10 years.”
City have moved quickly to fill the creative gap left by De Bruyne, signing midfielders Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.
They could face De Bruyne in the Champions League next season, with the Belgium international continuing his career at the top level.
Rose Namajunas says she has no plans to move back down to strawweight as she is still targeting becoming a two-weight UFC champion at flyweight.
The American is a two-time strawweight champion and considered one of the best fighters ever at 115lb, but her fortunes at flyweight (125lb) have been mixed with a 2-2 record since 2023.
Namajunas, 32, faces Miranda Maverick on Saturday in Atlanta and says she would only return to strawweight for a big fight.
“I know that people try to tell me what to do or advice about my career. I know myself and I know what I’m doing. Yeah maybe I had some mixed results. But there are a lot of factors that go into it, that people don’t know about,” Namajunas said at a UFC media day.
“I’ve already got to the top of [the strawweight division]. With the time I have left in my career, this is the next biggest challenge.
“It got to the point at 115lb I had so many rematches and I was fighting the same people. I have that goal of becoming two-division champion.”
Namajunas lost a points decision to Erin Blanchfield in her last outing in November, describing it as hitting a “speed bump” and has also been beaten by title contender Manon Fiorot.
The Milwaukee native, who is 13-7 overall in her MMA career, says her goal is to earn a title shot.
“I still feel like it’s possible and it’s very in reach. I was actually in this position before at 115lb where I was making a title run and I fought Karolina [Kowalkiewicz] in Atlanta many years ago,” she said.
Namajunas makes Shevchenko v Weili & Harrison v Nunes predictions
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Namajunas may soon welcome an old rival to the strawweight division with champion Zhang Weili tipped to move up and fight flyweight belt holder Valentina Shevchenko.
Namajunas is also chasing a bout with Shevchenko and has two wins over Weili at strawweight.
Asked how she thought that fight could go, she said: “Weili has a chance, she probably has a better chance than most other people.
“Valentina, she’s my favourite. I look up to her, she’s amazing. I believe she’s the better martial artist and I think that would make the difference in the fight.”
Another big fight on the horizon in women’s MMA is Kayla Harrison v Amanda Nunes.
Two-weight champion Nunes will come out of retirement to fight new bantamweight champion Harrison.
“It would be interesting to see how Kayla Harrison deals with Amanda’s striking.
“That might be the big question. Kayla, her striking is getting better and better every time she gets in there. It will be interesting if Kayla can get her hands on Amanda.
Matheus Cunha said he had “dreamed of wearing the red shirt” of Manchester United after the club confirmed his signing from Wolves on Thursday.
United effectively sealed the deal, which was subject to the completion of a visa and medical, on June 1 after activating a £62.5 million ($85 million) release clause in the 26-year old’s contract.
“It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player,” said the Brazil international, who has signed a five-year deal with the option of another year.
“Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother’s house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt.
“I want to thank my family and everyone who has helped me make that dream a reality.
“I can’t wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my teammates and prepare for the season ahead.
“All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team, and helping get this club back to the top.”
READ ALSO: Man City Sign Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders From AC Milan
Cunha scored 17 goals in all competitions for Wolves last season, winning the Premier League club’s players’ player of the year award.
He became Ruben Amorim’s first signing of the summer transfer window as the head coach sets about overhauling his squad after a miserable domestic campaign and a lacklustre Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Cunha will add his predatory instincts and creative guile to a United attack that struggled throughout this season.
The striker helped his country qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday when he set up the only goal for Vinicius Junior in a 1-0 win over Paraguay.
United’s director of football Jason Wilcox said: “Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window.
“He has all the qualities we are looking for as we seek to build a strong, dynamic and entertaining team capable of challenging for the biggest honours.”
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has also been linked with a move to United, whose transfer business has been made harder by their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Singer Dua Lipa has finally confirmed she and her beau Callum Turner are engaged after months of speculation, as she made rare comments about their romance.
The Levitating singer’s fans spotted she was wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger in an Instagram post on Christmas Eve and the 29 year old has now confirmed the 35 year old actor popped the question with a custom piece of jewellery he had made with the advice of her sister Rina and her best friends.
Dua told the new issue of Britain’s Vogue magazine: “Yeah, we’re engaged. It’s very exciting.” Of her ring, she added: “I’m obsessed with it. It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.”
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are engaged!
However, the couple – who began dating in January 2024 – have yet to set a wedding date because of their busy work schedules. As she made rare comments about her romance, Dua said: “I want to finish my tour, Callum’s shooting, so we’re just enjoying this period.
“I’ve never been someone who’s really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be.
“All of a sudden I’m like: ‘Oh, what would I wear?’” Although Dua has seen people get engaged in the past, she had “never really understood the weight of it” but now she thinks committing to another person is “special”.
The couple began dating in January 2024 ( Instagram)
She said: “This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever – it’s a really special feeling.”
The Dance the Night Away hitmaker is keen to have a family of her own but admitted she doesn’t know when would be a “good time” because of the demands of her pop career.
She said: “I’d love to have kids one day. But it’s like the constant question of when would there ever be a good time – how it would fit in with my job and how it would work if I went on tour, and how much time out I’d have to take.
“I think it’s just one of those things that’s going to happen when it happens. I love kids, but I think there’s so much more to raising a child than just loving children.”
Dua and Callum had “many Sliding Doors moments”, where they were in the same place at the same time without realising, before being introduced to one another at the River Cafe in London.
A year later, she was having dinner in Los Angeles with her friend Mustafa the Poet when “all of a sudden” Callum appeared. She thought: “Oh, it’s that really hot guy from The River Cafe.”
During their conversation, the pair realised they both “just happened to be reading” Hernan Diaz’s novel Trust. The couple began dating in January 2024 before going Instagram official later that year with sweet snaps of themselves at Glastonbury Festival.
Asked if she feels they were destined to be together, she replied: “One thousand per cent.”
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In this episode of The Stream, we explore how the race to conquer space will affect the world’s environment.
In recognition of World Environment Day, we examine the environmental toll of the new space race and what’s at stake as climate change accelerates here on Earth. Billionaires are racing to conquer the cosmos, launching hundreds of rockets yearly for exploration and profit. But the cost to our planet is mounting. Are we turning our backs on the planet we still call home?
David Beckham, who has been tipped for a long-awaited knighthood in King Charles’ upcoming birthday Honours list, is rubbing shoulders with celebrities and the royals today
David Beckham is all smiles at King Charles’ royal event ahead of knighthood(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Smiling David Beckham looks all set for his upcoming knighthood as the football star has been snapped attending a Royal event today, hosted by King Charles himself.
David, 50, has today been snapped attending the King’s Foundation Awards ceremony at St James’ Palace in London – ahead of the official announcement of his long-awaited knighthood. The hunky football star looked dapper in a navy blue double breasted blazer, striped blue shirt and a grey tie.
The football star, who received an OBE for his services to football in 2003, sported an OBE badge in his lapel and a silk pocket square in his jacket pocket. David, who’s knighthood hangs in the balance over a gaffe, smiled widely as he stood next to Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep, who were also in attendance at the event today.
READ MORE: Brooklyn Beckham’s brothers band together with eye-opening posts after he ‘cuts ties’
David Beckham beamed at the event as he stood alongside Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet(Image: PA)
The trio were also seen posing with Alan Titchmarsh and Penny Lancaster as they stood in a regal red and gold decorated room inside St James’ Palace. Also in attendance was King Charles himself, who sported a dapper navy blue tuxedo along with grey pin stripped trousers and a grey patterned tie.
The King’s Foundation Awards celebrates the work of students, graduates, teachers, partners and collaborators associated with the charity, which aims to build sustainable communities and transform lives across the world. Today’s event comes just before the King’s Birthday Honours list is set to be shared, in which David is expected to be receiving a knighthood.
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The long-awaited title will make David and Sir and his wife, Victoria Beckham, a Lady. The upcoming announcement comes at a turbulent time for the head of the Beckham clan as it’s been reported the couple are facing a heartache over their eldest son Brooklyn.
Meryl Streep, Alan Titchmarsh, David Beckham, Penny Lancaster and Kate Winslet attended the King’s Foundation Awards today(Image: PA)
It has been claimed the 26 year old, who is married to Nicola Peltz Beckham, is embroiled in a feud in the Beckham family. Brooklyn was noticibly missing from his mum and dad’s birthday celebrations this year and failed to post his usual gushing tributes to mark their birthdays on social media, while his brothers Romeo and Cruz shared sweet messages online.
Then, in a joint interview with his wife Nicola, 30, Brooklyn distanced himself from his parents over his hot sauce brand C23. When a customer queried the brand’s name on the official website, a member of Brooklyn’s team explained, “The 23 included in our brand is a warm nod to Brooklyn’s father, David Beckham, who wore number 23 while playing for Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan.”
But during a recent interview, Brooklyn insisted that there’s no connection between the moniker of his sauce line, Cloud23, and his illustrious father. He told Glamour Germany in April: “The 23 stands for our engagement date and my age back then.” There was no reference to his father David during the conversation, who is also conspicuously absent from the Cloud23 website.
The event was hosted by King Charles(Image: Getty Images)
And it was later reported Brooklyn told his parents he ‘wants no contact’ with them. Sources close to Brooklyn, 26, told Page Six that he was thrilled his dad was finally receiving the honour and had known it was so important.
However, a separate source close to the Beckhams told the publication: “Brooklyn told his family he wants no contact and he’s not responding to those that try to connect.”
Yet a separate Brooklyn source denied the claim, saying: “This seems to be another deliberate attempt to misrepresent the truth, and it only serves to distract from this honor being bestowed on Brooklyn’s father.”
David’s son Brooklyn is said to have been embroiled in a feud with his family(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s brothers Romeo and Cruz have shared cryptic posts appearing to reference the feud in their brood. In a poetic upload, Romeo shared: “Life is short. Time is fast. No replays. So love and enjoy every moment as it comes.” Younger brother Cruz appeared to be in a similar mood and shared a number of song choices. Taking to his own Stories on the platform, Cruz posted snaps of The Beach Boys tune Sloop John B, while also uploading the track Family Affair by Sly & The Family Stone.
And Cruz had earlier posted an old image of his family, showing himself, Brooklyn, their siblings and mum Victoria Beckham in years gone by. However, Brooklyn offered a cryptic post of his own, sharing a photo of himself with his back turned to the camera.
