Archive January 28, 2026

Tyson Fury announces comeback fight in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov in his comeback fight in April, weeks after saying he would come out of retirement.

The bout between Fury and Canada-based Russian Makhmudov will take place in the United Kingdom on April 11, with no venue yet announced, and will be broadcast on Netflix.

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Fury, who was born in the UK and identifies as an Irish Traveller, quit boxing in January last year after suffering a second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk – the latest in a string of retirements.

The 37-year-old “Gypsy King” said earlier this month that he would return to the sport in 2026 and has been training in Thailand.

“Well it’s official, I’m back doing what I love to do,” Fury posted on Instagram.

“I’ve brought the biggest network along with me @netflix @netflixuk this is going to be astronomical. Blessed by God.”

Fury has a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw. He is a two-time world champion.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity,” said 36-year-old Makhmudov, who has won 21 of his 23 fights. “I’m coming to deliver a war.

“Tyson Fury has been a big champion. I will be more ready than ever to leave with a massive W.”

Fury had been expected to build towards a long-awaited fight against fellow British former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. But Joshua’s future is uncertain after a car crash in December in Nigeria, in which two of his close friends were killed.

Tyson Fury in action.
Tyson Fury, right, has not fought since losing a heavyweight world title bout against Oleksandr Usyk on December 22, 2024 at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters]

West Ham sign Bayern Munich defender Tuva Hansen

West Ham have signed Norway international Tuva Hansen from Bayern Munich.

The 28-year-old defender switches to the Women’s Super League having won three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles in Germany and playing in the Champions League.

With 60 international caps, she has also represented her country at the World Cup and Euros.

Hansen is West Ham’s fourth signing of this month’s transfer window, and club head coach Rita Guarino said she would bring “leadership qualities, versatility and game management both in and out of possession”.

Hansen, who had moved to Bayern Munich in January 2023 after claiming two Toppserien league titles in Norway with SK Brann, said she would bring “experience” and a “winning mentality” to the Hammers.

“The WSL has grown a lot over the last couple of years so I’m excited by the challenge and to test myself against the best teams in the world,” she explained.

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Spending in women’s game hits new high in 2025

A record £20.7m ($28.6m) was spent globally on transfers in the women’s professional game in 2025 – an increase of 83.6% from 2024 – according to a report published by Fifa.

There was an increase in the total number of cross-border transfers, with 2,440 completed in 2025, up 6.3% on the previous year.

But the report does not take into account deals done between teams in the same league, therefore, the actual total spend would be much higher.

England was responsible for the biggest outlay on transfer fees at £7.9m ($11m), with clubs bringing in a total of £1.5m ($2.1m) through sales.

The USA was the next biggest spender at £5.8m ($7.9m).

Grace Geyoro’s move from Paris St-Germain to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses for a reported world record £1.4m ($1.9m) in September was the biggest single transaction.

Of the five top transfer fees handed over, Chelsea were involved in two of them when signing defender Naomi Girma and forward Alyssa Thompson.

In the men’s professional game, there was also a new record set with £9.5bn ($13.08bn) spent on transfer fees, a 52.3% increase from 2024.

England topped the spending table with a total of £2.7bn ($3.8bn) in transfer fees.

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Will Bowie be next Scot to light up Serie A?

Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie is coveted by Serie A club Hellas Verona, who have made one bid for the Scotland forward.

That offer was rejected by the Edinburgh club, but it is thought Verona will return with another attempt to sign the 23-year-old and add him to a healthy list of Scotland players already shining in Serie A.

It would be the second player they have signed from Hibs, with left-back Josh Doig flourishing after joining in 2022 before being bought by Sassuolo two years later.

And it would make Bowie the latest Scot to play in an Italian top flight that increasingly has a tartan hue to it.

Why do Verona want Bowie?

Bowie was born in Kirkcaldy in Fife and joined the club he supported, Raith Rovers, after being spotted by manager John McGlynn.

He was a teenage prodigy and, aged just 16, he was training regularly with the first team before making his debut in a 4-1 win over Montrose in 2019.

Bowie played a pivotal role in helping Rovers lift the 2019-2020 Scottish League 1 title, making 37 appearances, scoring 10 goals and setting up five in his breakthrough season.

That brought him to the attention of clubs in England and Premier League club Fulham signed the young forward in July 2022.

He quickly moved to League Two on a season-long loan to Northampton Town and helped the Cobblers gain automatic promotion, scoring five times and providing three assists.

Bowie re-joined Northampton Town the following season and scored nine times with six assists in League One.

In the summer of 2024, Hibs signed the forward for “a significant fee” and the 23-year-old has scored 15 times in 52 games for the Easter Road side.

That form has earned him two Scotland caps and he is in a good position to go to the World Cup this summer.

He is the fifth top-scorer in the Premiership this season with eight goals, behind Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren, Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanihse, Heart of Midlothian’s Lawrence Shankland (all 11) and Tynecastle team-mate Claudio Braga (10).

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The Scots taking Serie A by storm

Che Adams: The Leicester-born 29-year-old is a favourite of Scotland boss Steve Clarke. He moved to Torino two years ago after featuring in the Premier League with Southampton. This season, he has scored five goals in 24 appearances for his 16th-placed side.

Josh Doig: The 23-year-old from Edinburgh is at his second Serie A club, after moving from Verona to Sassuolo in 2024. Doig has made 22 appearances, 18 of them starts, this season for his 11th-placed side.

Lewis Ferguson: The midfielder started his career with local club Hamilton Academical then spent four seasons with Aberdeen before being sold to Bologna in 2022. Ferguson, who has 21 Scotland caps, became captain the following October and led his side to a Coppa Italia win last year. He has made 25 appearances this season for the eighth-placed side.

Billy Gilmour: The 24-year-old started his career with Rangers but moved to Chelsea while still a youth. After a loan at Norwich City, he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion before being sold to Napoli in 2024 – on the same day as Scotland team-mate McTominay. He helped Napoli win the league last season, but this term he has been limited to 12 appearances, only six of them starts.

Scott McTominay: The Lancaster-born midfielder came through Manchester United’s youth ranks and made 255 appearances for them before being sold to Napoli. The 29-year-old was nominated for the Ballon d’Or award last season for his part in their title win. McTominay has made 31 appearances this season for his club, all but two of them starts, scoring nine times, for holders currently sitting fourth.

‘Verona move suits Bowie right now’

Forward Cillian Sheridan, who has played for Celtic, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock in his career, believes Verona would suit Bowie at this stage of his career – because he is not yet ready for a move to either of the Old Firm clubs.

“He’s coachable for them,” he said. “He has the attributes to go there and play in a physical league. It’s tough and demanding – that’s probably his biggest attributes. His physicality.

“I don’t think he’s quite there to go and be a Celtic striker now. I don’t think he’s at that prolific stage for that.

“Verona probably see him as another Scottish player that they can take over to Italy that can be successful.

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