Category Sports News

Brighton have agreed a £29.78m (35m euros) deal with Olympiakos for 18-year-old forward Charalampos Kostoulas.

The teenager was undergoing a medical with the club on Thursday, ahead of signing a five-year contract that will start on 1 July.

The deal represents by some distance the highest fee ever received by a Greek club, beating the £16.6m Wolves paid to sign Daniel Podence from Olympiakos in 2020.

Should an add-on of £1.7m for Kostoulas be met during his time at Brighton, it would be a record paid for a Greek player – topping the £30.63m Napoli paid Roma for Kostas Manolas in 2019.

The Greece Under-21 international made his first-team debut in 2024, having come through Olympiakos’ academy.

Kostoulas was a regular starter as the Olympiakos won the prestigious UEFA Youth League in 2024, beating Inter Milan and Bayern Munich on their way to the final, where they defeated AC Milan.

Greek agent Giorgos Panou is credited with launching the career of superstar Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and is now doing the same in football with Brighton’s soon-to-be new striker Kostoulas.

Just as he spotted Antetokounmpo, then a second division Greek basketball player in 2013, he spotted Kostoulas, nicknamed ‘Babis’, aged 15.

He is now on the verge of a record-breaking move and, when asked how the two talents compare, Panou replied: “I felt the same way when I first saw Babis playing three years ago in an under-19s game, aged 15, to how I felt when I first saw Giannis.

“I got the feeling immediately that he is cold-blooded, immense talent, with great body language and ready to take on older, bigger guys without feeling pressure. I saw a potential to grow.”

Chelsea have been credited with interest in Kostoulas in the past, while Brighton are believed to have beaten some of the biggest clubs in Germany to his signature. So why move to the south coast? The answer is, perhaps, unsurprising.

“They won the family and myself with how they talk, negotiate, give all the tools to thrive and have a good track record of developing similar young talents,” Panou added. “So we feel very comfortable, and I’m really sure that Babis will adapt really fast in this environment. It was a no-brainer for me.”

Britain’s Jake Stewart won his first World Tour race with victory on stage five of the Criterium du Dauphine after a bunch sprint.

Israel-Premier Tech’s Stewart beat stage hot favourite Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek by launching his effort early and getting a jump on the Italian.

Milan’s huge power was not enough to claw back Stewart, whose timing was perfect for what was a tailwind ride to the finish line in Macon after a 183km stage.

Overall race leader Remco Evenepoel of Belgium crashed in the peloton with 500m to go, ripping the material on the right shoulder of his leader’s yellow jersey, but he appeared uninjured.

Evenepoel, of Soudal-Quick Step, remains in the overall lead because of a new 5km rule introduced this season which awards all riders with the same time if there is a crash within the allocated distance.

There is also a longstanding 3km rule which is applied, usually for the flattest sprint stages.

“That feels good,” said Stewart. “It’s such a shame Pascal [Ackermann, his team-mate] crashed [earlier in the stage and abandoned] and they handed over to me.

“The team and the boys backed me and I’m so happy I could finish it off for them.”

When asked about his new prototype bike which has caused interest in the paddock for its aerodynamic front fork design, Stewart replied: “I’m not allowed to say too much about that.”

Stewart is expected to take part in next month’s Tour de France.

The Dauphine, which takes place across the region of the same name in south-east France, is the traditional warm-up for the Tour.

Only four times in the past 10 editions has the overall winner gone on to be victorious in the Tour.

The eight-day stage race now moves into the high mountains in the French Alps, with Friday’s 126.7km race to Combloux.

Stage five results

1. Jake Stewart (GB/Israel-Premier Tech) 4hrs 3mins 46secs

2. Axel Laurance (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time

3. Soren Warenskjold (Nor/Uno-X Mobility)

4. Laurence Pithie (NZ/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

5. Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek)

6. Paul Penhoet (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)

7. Emilien Jeanniere (Fra/TotalEnergies)

8. Fred Wright (GB/Bahrain-Victorious)

9. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck)

10. Bastien Tronchon (Fra/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

General classification after stage five

1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal-Quick Step) 18hrs 34mins 54secs

2. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) +4secs

3. Ivan Romeo (Spa/Movistar) +9secs

4. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +14secs

5. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +16secs

6. Eddie Dunbar (Irl/Jayco-AlUla) +30secs

7. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +38secs

8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma-Lease a Bike) +39secs

9. Louis Barre (Fra/Intermarche-Wanty) +1min 03secs

Controversial changes to the statutes of Formula 1’s governing body the FIA have been passed by members despite a warning the organisation is in a “dark period of democratic backsliding”.

Austria’s national motoring club, the OAMTC, criticised the statute changes in a letter to the FIA World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) sent on Wednesday before Thursday’s vote at the FIA’s General Assembly in Macau.

It denounced FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership and urged members not to vote for changes proposed by Ben Sulayem – and revealed by BBC Sport last month – on the basis that they “risk further contributing to the erosion of the FIA’s reputation for competent and transparent governance”.

However, members voted for the amendments by 83.35% to 16.65%.

The result came despite support from the UK, Belgian, Portuguese and Swiss representatives for Austria’s suggestion of a postponement so the FIA could conduct a “proper review and analysis” before making a decision on whether the changes were appropriate.

An FIA spokesperson described the result as a “resounding majority”.

The OAMTC letter adds that recent actions of Ben Sulayem “are inviting comparisons with the excesses of political leaders intent on deconstructing the checks and balances that come with responsible governance”.

OAMTC chief executive Oliver Schmerold told BBC Sport after the vote: “We brought forward the motion to postpone the vote on the changes to a future assembly as we believe that they inherit some consequences which desire more discussion.

“This was supported by several other members. The president underlined that the statutory process has been followed and asked for the vote.

“We still believe that it is not good governance to change the longstanding rules for elections only four months before the submission deadline for candidates.”

The OAMTC letter hints at the prospect of a legal challenge, on the basis that the changes were “endorsed by (FIA) world council meetings that were not properly constituted, having intentionally excluded elected members from participating and voting”.

David Richards, the MotorsportUK representative on the world council, was among those members barred from a meeting in March in a dispute with Ben Sulayem over refusing to sign a revised confidentially agreement.

Schmerold last year voiced his opposition to previous statute changes passed at the last General Assembly in December, describing them as “not good governance” and “not good in terms of checks and balances”.

The letter says of the proposed changes:

Ben Sulayem’s first term of office ends this December and he is so far the only candidate to have confirmed he is standing for election. Rally legend Carlos Sainz has said he is considering running but has not made a final decision.

The letter accuses Ben Sulayem of reneging on his promises during his election campaign in 2021 to ensure “governance structures are compliant with best practices”.

And it says he has implemented none of the “critical changes” that were recommended by a review and audit of the FIA’s governance structure commissioned from McKinsey in 2022.

It highlights a series of changes that have eroded accountability at the FIA, including:

The FIA spokesperson added: “The FIA has taken steps since 2021 to strengthen its corporate governance policies. These policies guide the FIA’s operations and ensure its rules, practices and processes are robust and transparent.

“The proposed amendments to the FIA statutes are designed to further strengthen processes around governance and confidentiality. They will grant the nominations committee more time to examine the eligibility criteria of candidates, and help to ensure consistency and rigour in the electoral process.

Eight years after being told he should be satisfied if he could walk again, 40-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla scored the goal that put boyhood club Real Oviedo into the La Liga play-off final.

The Spaniard came off the bench at half-time with his side trailing 1-0 to Almeria in the play-off semi-final second leg.

Within four minutes, the midfielder scored a free-kick with his weaker left foot to put Oviedo 3-2 up on aggregate.

The 1-1 second-leg draw was enough for Oviedo to reach the play-off final, where they will face either Mirandes or Racing Santander.

“I’m just trying to enjoy what is left of my career, knowing that the end is closer,” Cazorla said after the game.

“I try to enjoy myself, which is the most important thing. I was sad that I wouldn’t start the game but I knew that this game was important. I’m happy I was able to help the team.”

Cazorla, a two-time European champion with Spain, spent six years at Arsenal and made 180 appearances before leaving in 2018.

The final two years of his time in north London were plagued with injuries.

Cazorla suffered an Achilles injury in October 2016, with the midfielder going on to have 11 operations to cure the problem.

One of the operations led to gangrene with doctors telling Cazorla he should be satisfied to walk again.

However, the Spaniard pushed to restart his football career and he had his Achilles reconstructed, with doctors grafting skin from his left arm – featuring a tattoo – to his right ankle.

Cazorla spent two years at La Liga club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal in 2018, before a three-year stint in Qatar.

Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has said his family have “stuck together” after his grandson Clarke was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in January.

The club are raising money for Candlelighters Trust, which provides practical and emotional support to children with cancer in Yorkshire, at Sunday’s home game against Leigh (14:30 BST) which will be broadcast live on BBC2.

“It has been a really difficult and emotional time for my family, especially for my daughter Kegan and her husband Eamonn,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.

“It’s very difficult for families when something like this happens, particularly when it is someone so young – he was just before his first birthday when he went into hospital.”

Powell added: “He’s had six months of constant treatment. LGI [Leeds General Infirmary] and the oncology ward have been unbelievable in treating Clarke.

“We’ve done what families do and stuck together and supported one another.

“It’s the start of a journey and we’re hopeful that he’s going to be well. He’s happy and smiling at the moment whilst still going through a very difficult time.

Wakefield’s players will wear special jerseys in Sunday’s Super League game which will be auctioned for the charity.

Powell credited the players and the club for the backing he and his family have received.

“When he first got diagnosed I explained to the players and told them I just wanted them to treat me the same because I want to come here and this to be my diversion from the difficulties at home,” he said.

“The players have been phenomenal.

“The shirt has got Clarke’s name and the charity on the front of it and I’m proud and honoured that the club have done that.”

He added: “A lot of my family will be here on Sunday and it will be a big day for the charity. They’ve been unbelievable providing support in all sorts of different ways.