Man City Sign Donnarumma From PSG As Ederson Departs

After selling the veteran Ederson to Fenerbahce, Manchester City made a signing announcement for Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on Tuesday.

Donnarumma, 26, has agreed to a five-year deal with the Etihad for a reported $ 26 million ($35 million).

Donnarumma, who will wear the 99 shirt, was a key member of the PSG side that won the Champions League last year and scored for Italy when they won Euro 2020.

However, his absence from PSG’s Super Cup squad made it clear that Lucas Chevalier, the club’s new signing, was insufficient.

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Donnarumma, whose signing came a day after the summer transfer window closed, remarked, “To have signed for Manchester City is such a special and proud moment for me.”

“I’m joining a team that has the best talent in football history, Pep Guardiola, and a team that has one of the best managers in the game’s history. Every player interested in world football would like to join this organization.

Donnarumma, who stands 1.96 meters (six feet, five inches) tall, made his professional debut at AC Milan when he was 16 years old, before making his 2021 PSG move.

He has won 74 international caps and 412 club appearances.

Donnarumma’s arrival, according to City’s football director, was a huge boost for the club, who have had a poor season so far.

We are all “absolute thrilled” that Gianluigi has joined us at City because of his pedigree, quality, and track record.

He “knows what it takes to achieve success on a sustained level” and has a wealth of top-level experience.

One of the most successful players in club history was described as the departing Ederson, who Fenerbahce reported signing for a reported £12 million.

The Brazilian goalkeeper contributed greatly to Guardiola’s possession-based philosophy thanks to his excellent distribution, but there were growing doubts last season about how well he shot shots.

On Tuesday, City posted images of Ederson celebrating trophies, including the Champions League in 2023, on social media, saying, “You helped us make history.”

In 276 league games, Ederson, 32, kept 122 clean sheets and six Premier League titles, as well as two FA Cups.

The goalkeeper, who made 372 appearances for the club in all competitions, said, “I arrived in Manchester eight years ago with full of hope, but I could not have predicted such a beautiful time together.”

He continued, “I will always be a fan of this special club, and playing for City has been the most special time of my life.”

“I’m leaving a large family here, but I’m going with my wife and kids.”

James Trafford, a goalkeeper for Burnley, was also acquired by City during the transfer window, but he has so far failed to persuade.

Osaka Crushes Gauff At US Open As Sinner, Swiatek Roll Into Quarters

As Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarter-finals on Monday, Naomi Osaka claimed a stunning victory at the US Open by defeating home favorite Coco Gauff in the final 16.

On the occasion of the Labor Day holiday in New York, the Japanese star defeated third seed Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a highly anticipated but uneven fourth-round showdown between former US Open champions.

In the first game, Osaka broke in front of a frightened Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, and the result was a brutal display of unforced serve in a failed attempt to stop a misfiring Gauff.

READ MORE:   Liverpool Unveil Striker Isak Following Record Deal

On Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025, Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a shot against Coco Gauff of the United States in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens borough of New York City. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)

Osaka, who is preparing to play in a fifth Grand Slam, said, “This is my favorite court in the world and it means so much to me to be back today.”

At this stage of my career, Osaka remarked, “This is kind of uncharted territory.” Simply put, I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying myself.

The 27-year-old, a two-time US Open champion, is enjoying her most recent major success since 2021 when she won her second Australian Open championship.

Osaka, who returned to tennis last year after giving birth to her daughter in 2023, has endured a difficult climb back to the top of the game.

Osaka also defeated a 15-year-old Gauff in their first meeting in 2019 by beating her at the US Open. “I just really wanted to come out here and play,” said Osaka, who was in the stands two months after giving birth.

Gauff acknowledged that her efforts to change her faltering serve had had had a significant impact on her after a difficult first week.

She said, “I think emotionally how intense this week was, and I believe I just stepped in today and perhaps felt a little empty.”

On day nine of the US Open tennis competition, which took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2025, Japan’s Naomi Osaka (L) and the USA’s Coco Gauff congratulate each other on the net following their victory. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP)

In Wednesday’s quarter-finale, Osaka will face Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova. With a 6-3, 6-7 (0/14), 6-3 win over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, Mehrova will now face her third straight semi-finale at Flushing Meadows.

In just 81 minutes, reigning men’s champion Sinner completely wiped out Alexander Bublik, who had to start the night session 6-1, 6-1, and 6-1.

Bublik, who was the only player to defeat Sinner this year, did not drop serve all tournament but had already seen eight broken by the world number one.

He had a very difficult match the previous match, and I broke him early because he didn’t serve as well as he usually does. “Overall, I’m very happy,” he said.

After the defeat, Bublik grinned as he waved to Sinner at the net and said, “You’re so good, this is insane.”

Since Roger Federer won the final of his five successive titles in 2008, Sinner is attempting to become the first man to defend the US Open.

In order to reach his first US Open quarter-final, he advances to an all-Italian matchup with 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.

Swiatek is “in the zone.”

On day nine of the US Open tennis competition, which takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 1, 2025, Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova plays a forehand return to Poland’s Iga Swiatek. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP)

In just under an hour, Swiatek defeated Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 to extend her Grand Slam winning streak to 11 matches as she fights for the title in the US Open.

She initially seemed to play quickly, but later on I felt trapped inside her and in the zone, Swiatek said.

In a repeat of the Wimbledon final, which Swiatek won 6-0, 6-0, Amanda Anisimova. Beatriz Haddad, the American, defeated the Brazilian 18th seed 6-0, 6-3.

Alex de Minaur, the eighth-seeded man, defeated Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the quarter-finals.

De Minaur made it to the sixth Grand Slam quarter-final by taking eight breaks to put the world number 435 to the test. However, he has never made it past the final eight.

The Australian next faces Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in three years.

The best Grand Slam win for Auger-Aliassime came in 2021 when he advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open.

Returning to the final eight of New York feels “even better than the first time,” according to Auger-Aliassime, 25.

“I believe that when I was 21 years old, I was sort of on my way up.” It feels much better to come back for a second time to the quarter-finals here after a few setbacks, injuries, and struggles with confidence.

Liverpool Unveil Striker Isak After Record Deal

After a lengthy search for the Sweden international who predominated the Premier League transfer window, Liverpool finally signed Newcastle striker Alexander Isak on Monday in a record-breaking £125 million ($169 million) deal.

After being able to persuade Newcastle to accept an improved bid, Isak reportedly has signed a six-year contract with the Premier League champions.

He stated on the Liverpool website, “I feel amazing. “It’s taken a long journey to get here,” he said. However, I’m incredibly excited to be a part of this team, this club, and everything it stands for.

I’m very excited about it and am proud of it.

“I’m just happy it’s finished and that I can resume my work,” she said. I’m eager to see my teammates, the fans, and return to the scene.

In August, Newcastle turned down Arne Slot’s £110 million offer, but Isak’s resolve to force the deal through paid off as the transfer saga grew more tetchy.

Isak informed Newcastle that he wanted to leave and instead chose to spend some time practicing at Real Sociedad instead of Eddie Howe’s side.

Read more about Erik Ten Hag being sacked by Leverkusen after two League games.

He claimed he broke a promise to leave if a top club made him a suitable offer and that he would not be able to do so during Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia due to what is said to be a thigh injury.

Isak, who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances for the team overall last season, had been repeatedly urged by Howe to keep him.

With a League Cup victory over Liverpool and Isak’s goals, Newcastle finally broke its 56-year trophy drought and qualified for Champions League play.

Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade’s swoop on Saturday, however, made it possible for the Swedish international to secure his career move.

Before the Premier League’s 1800 GMT transfer deadline, the 25-year-old completed his move to Merseyside for a medical on Monday before completing his contract.

With the signing of Isak, Liverpool has spent an estimated £416 million on new players since the end of last season.

The other notable newcomers to Liverpool include: Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi, and Giovanni Leoni.

Chelsea’s goal of $ 400 million was broken by the Reds’ spending in the previous summer window in 2023.

Before Isak’s move, the Reds had already broken their own transfer record by acquiring Leverkusen playmaker Wirtz for an initial $ 100 million.

With the signing of Enzo Fernandez for a sum of $ 107 million in 2023, Chelsea broke the previous record.

Slot will attempt to win a seventh Champions League title while also defending Liverpool’s hold on the title.

Liverpool would become the most successful team in English top-flight history, winning 21 titles if they were to win the Premier League once more this year.

Since winning three games in a row between 1982 and 1984, the Reds have not won the title in three seasons.

Slot will be under pressure to break the record-breaking title because of Isak’s position as Liverpool’s fulcrum.

With new signings Isak, Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike joining Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Federico Chiesa, the Dutchman has a wealth of forward options.

Chiesa is the only senior arrival at Liverpool during the summer of 2024 for an initial fee of £10 million, marking a significant change in policy.

Over the summer, Liverpool sold Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton, and Ben Doak, all of whom received around £190 million.

Leverkusen Sack Erik Ten Hag After Two League Matches

After only two Bundesliga games in charge, Bayern Leverkusen announced on Monday that Erik Ten Hag had been fired.

Ten Hag succeeded Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid after being let go by Manchester United in October.

“We had to make a difficult choice,” he said. No one wanted to make this decision, according to Simon Rolfes, the director of sport.

According to Rolfes, “the recent weeks have demonstrated that the efforts to create a new and prosperous team have not been fruitful.”

READ ALSO: Liverpool and Newcastle Agree Isak To Pay British Record Fee — Reports

Erik ten Hag, the new head coach of German Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, poses after a press conference on May 26, 2025 at the BayArena in Leverkusen, western Germany. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER/AFP)

The decision, according to club CEO Fernando Carro, was “painful but necessary.”

The 55-year-old Dutchman now has a bad record as the coach to be fired so soon after five matches, breaking the previous five-match mark for the former.

Ten Hag was appointed United manager in July 2022 after a run of just one win in eight games, which was the club’s worst Premier League start-up. Ten Hag won the FA and League Cups before being fired.

Ten Hag was given the task of guiding a dramatic rebuild after Leverkusen’s most successful decade, which included the club’s first Bundesliga title in 120 years and an unbeaten run in the league and cup from 2023 to 2024.

Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Amine Adli, and Lukas Hradecky were all left out of Leverkusen’s top team players this summer.

eric-ten-hag
On May 25, 2024, Manchester City and Manchester United play at Wembley Stadium in London’s FA Cup final football match. Erik ten Hag reacts as he passes the FA Cup Trophy. (Photo by AFP photographer JUSTIN TALLIS)

Ten Hag’s replacement was not named by the club, who stated that “the assistant coaching staff would take over the training duties for the time being.”

Ten Hag took over for Leverkusen in a 5-1 defeat for Flamengo’s under-20s team in a friendly game in Brazil on July 1.

Leverkusen won their first two Bundesliga games by claiming one point after prevailing over fourth-place Sonnenhof Grossaspach with a 4-0 victory in their opener.

After leading 2-0 and 3-1 at home to Hoffenheim, Leverkusen lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim, and on Saturday conceded two late goals to draw 3-3 against 10-man Werder Bremen.

Despite having a short time at the club, Ten Hag was reported to be facing the sack on Sunday by German media outlets Bild and Kicker.

In addition to a number of young players, Ten Hag was given the task of bedding in more than a dozen brand-new players in the offseason.

Liverpool Agree Isak Deal With Newcastle For British Record Fee — Reports

According to reports from Liverpool, Premier League champions Liverpool have agreed to pay a record transfer fee for Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

According to reports from The Athletic and The Telegraph, among other outlets, the Swedish forward is expected to sign with the Reds in a deal worth about £130 million ($176 million).

Before signing a six-year deal with the Merseyside club, Isak will go through a medical, according to The Athletic, which will take place on Monday.

According to the reports, the fee will surpass Chelsea’s £106 million purchase of Enzo Fernandez for the Premier League in 2023.

Isak, 25, helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League with 23 goals in the Premier League last season, behind only Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Salah.

Morocco Will Be the First African Country to Qualify for the World Cup in 2026.

After making clear that he wanted to move to Liverpool, he has been the subject of a drawn-out and agonizing transfer saga this summer. He has been training separately from the rest of the Newcastle squad.

Earlier this summer, Newcastle reportedly turned down an initial £110 million offer for Isak.

The deal grew closer on the heels of the Magpies signing of German international striker Nick Woltemade for a club-record fee that was said to be worth up to £69 million.

Isak will be Liverpool’s most recent major acquisition following its lavish summer spending spree, which also included the signing of German international midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Additionally, the Reds have signed Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Because of the impact a sale would have on Newcastle’s profit and sustainability calculations, manager Eddie Howe had made the first hint on Friday that he might be willing to let Isak leave.

A sizable return on their investment in Isak would ease any concerns about Profit and Sustainability Regulations, despite the fact that the northeast club was forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh last year to avoid a points deduction.

Liverpool haven’t yet appeared like the relentless team that won the Premier League title last year with four games to play despite the arrival of new players.

After defeating Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday to finish second place last year, they are still top of the table with three victories from three.

After a goalless draw with Leeds United, Newcastle are now 17th in the standings.

Morocco Set To Be First African Qualifiers For 2026 World Cup

This week, Morocco, which is led by Ballon d’Or nominee Achraf Hakimi, could become the first African team to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.

Without the Atlas Lions’ unassailable lead in Group E, which would only exist if they won on matchday 7 against Niger in Rabat.

However, a triumph for Tanzania will most likely only cause Morocco to finish in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.

In Ndola, Morocco will travel to the country on September 8 for a match against Zambia, and if they win, they will need just one point to win the expanded 48-nation global showpiece.

The Moroccans are top of the table with 15 points from five matches in a mini-league that was reduced from six to five before matchday 1.

Without any use, Tanzania has nine points, followed by Zambia and Niger, who each have six, and Congo, who temporarily withdrawn after violating government orders to give them three walkovers.

READ ALSO: Liverpool and Newcastle Agree On A British Record Fee Agreement

Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain defender who enjoys combining attacking and defensive play, is considered one of the best right-backs in the world.

In the 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League, he scored the opening goal for PSG to win the 2024-25 competition. Hakimi also played for the team that won the Club World Cup after finishing second to Chelsea.

Prior to the final club season, Hakimi led Morocco to bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games men’s football competition in third place and third place.

One of the 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is him along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

He told the Moroccan media, “My dream is to win a trophy with Morocco, either the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Morocco will begin hosting the 2025 Cup of Nations on December 21 as the hosts of the first-ever African Cup of Nations held there since 1976.

a good fit for Egypt

Egypt, led by Salah, is yet another excellent candidate to join the top 48 nations traveling to the US, Canada, and Mexico in June.

First place would be secured by Group A victories over Burkinabe in Ouagadougou and Ethiopia in Cairo.

After FIFA approved renovations to the national August 4 stadium, Burkinabe will look to recent Brentford signing Dango Ouattara for goals.

Nigeria, which qualified for the World Cup with a proud record, has only missed two editions since making their 1994 US debut, when they dominated a group before losing to Italy in the second round.

Three years ago, the Super Eagles lost a play-off game to fierce rivals Ghana thanks to away goals, but they were unable to win the previous World Cup in Qatar.

The star-studded Super Eagles have lost just one of their six games and are now fourth in Group C, six points clear of South Africa’s pacesetters.

Victor Osimhen, a star striker and former African Footballer of the Year, told reporters, “We are desperate to qualify this time.”

If we are unable to feature in a World Cup, Nigerians will still be praising us for being a talented generation.

Our squad is full of stars from Europe’s top leagues, but that alone does not guarantee success. There must be merit to be earned.

Nigeria travels to South Africa for a showdown that will likely have a significant impact on the final placings, hosting Rwanda, the only nation they have defeated so far.

Ghana are enjoying a successful World Cup campaign following their humiliating elimination from the Cup of Nations qualifying group and their failure to advance to the 2025 competition.

The Black Stars will face bottom-placed Chad and host Mali in Group I, and if they win, they could make it to the second World Cup.

Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao and Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth are among Coach Otto Addo’s embarrassment at attacking wealthy people.

With only six matches left, Mali were seeded to win the group and enter the World Cup for the first time, but they only managed six victories overall and are six points clear of Ghana.

Matchday 7 begins on Wednesday, followed by Matchday 8 from Sunday. October 8 through October 14 is when the final two rounds are scheduled. The World Cup will be held for each of the nine group winners.