Arsenal signed Canada forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool in a deal worth a reported women’s world record fee of £1 million ($1.3 million) on Thursday.
Smith has joined the Champions League holders on a lucrative four-year contract.
The 20-year-old’s transfer surpassed the previous women’s record set when Chelsea signed Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for £900,000 in January.
“It’s my dream to compete for the biggest titles here in England and in Europe and I’m excited to get started and contribute to doing that here with Arsenal,” Smith said.
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Smith moved to Liverpool from Portugal’s Sporting for just £200,000 in 2024, scoring seven goals in 20 Women’s Super League games.
Liverpool are understood to have accepted the record offer after rejecting several bids for Smith, who made her Canada debut aged 15 in 2019.
Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said: “Olivia is an exciting young player and we believe she can make a big contribution here at Arsenal.
“We’ve been impressed by her mentality and character, excelling in two European leagues at such a young age.”
Croatia captain Luka Modric said Wednesday he had penned a one-year contract with AC Milan to “stay competitive and in Europe”.
“I’m happy to be here and I look forward to a new adventure,” the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner told AC Milan’s TV channel after joining from Real Madrid.
Modric, who turns 40 in September, joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham in 2012, going on to win six Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey trophies.
“I wanted to stay in Europe, to continue playing competitive football. I had some other offers, but when Milan showed up for me, it was clear from the first moment,” he said.
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Milan finished a disappointing eighth in Serie A last season and will not play in European competition.
But Modric insisted Milan remain “one of the biggest clubs in Europe”.
“Milan cannot be satisfied with average and needs to have the biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world, that’s why I am here.”
Modric signed a one-year contract, with an option for an additional season with the seven-time Champions League and 19-time Serie A winners.
“I’m never satisfied, I always want more,” he warned. “When you’ve experienced that feeling (of winning), you want to feel it even more. I still have hunger, desire, still wanting more.”
To explain his longevity, Modric said “the most important thing is the love for the game, for football”.
“That’s what I still have, what I still feel in my belly, this fire, that’s what pushes me … there is no secrets, for me it’s the passion, the love for football. I am never satisfied.”
The 2018 World Cup runner-up also spoke of his childhood memories of Milan.
“When I was a kid, I watched the Italian league a lot, Milan was my favourite team,” he recalled.
“Also because Zvonimir Boban was there, who was my idol,” he added, referring to his compatriot who wore the Rossoneri jersey from 1992 to 2001.
Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal inherited the club’s number 10 shirt, previously worn by all-time great Lionel Messi, on Wednesday.
“Messi made his path and I will make mine,” Yamal told reporters at an event at the club shop at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.
“I will work as hard as I can, give everything, and try to make those Barca fans who are there happy and those who are at home.”
The 18-year-old winger, often compared to the Argentine superstar who also came through the club’s La Masia youth academy, helped the Catalan giants win a domestic treble last season.
A picture taken on July 16, 2025, shows Barcelona’s Spanish forward Lamine Yamal’s new #10 jersey displayed at the Camp Nou stadium’s shop in Barcelona. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP)
He signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2031 in May, becoming one of the best-paid players at the club.
“I hope to enjoy myself more than last year and make my dreams come true,” continued Yamal, who said he wanted to win the Champions League with the Catalan giants, and also the World Cup with Spain.
Yamal has scored 25 goals for the club in over 100 appearances, making his debut in 2023 at the age of 15, wearing the number 41 shirt.
“Barca is my life, I’ve been here since I was seven, for all kids from La Masia, their dream is to make it to the first team, and I’m doing it and I have to keep working,” said Yamal.
“When I was little, I dreamed of being at Barca and having this number.”
After a season wearing the 27, last summer Yamal followed in Messi’s footsteps by taking the number 19, which the Argentine wore at the club between 2005 and 2008.
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Barcelona’s Spanish forward Ansu Fati (L) vies with Dynamo Kiev’s Ukrainian forward Viktor Tsyhankov during the UEFA Champions League group G football match between Barcelona and Dynamo Kiev at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on November 4, 2020. LLUIS GENE / AFP
Ansu Fati inherited Messi’s number 10 shirt in 2021, when now Inter Miami player left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain.
Beset by a series of injuries, Fati was unable to fulfill his potential at Barca and signed on loan for Monaco earlier in July.
File photo: Ex-Barcelona forward Lionel Messi looks downwards during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on July 16, 2020. LLUIS GENE / AFP
Other star names, including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo, have worn the Barcelona number 10 shirt in the past.
“(Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho) are three legends of football, three legends of this club,” said Yamal.
“I am grateful for what they gave the club, and I will try to continue this legacy.”
Yamal made headlines after celebrating his 18th birthday last weekend with a private event involving hired entertainers with dwarfism.
Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights asked the public prosecutor to investigate the party after a complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE).
“In the end, I work for Barca, I play for Barca, but when I’m away from (the club) I enjoy my life, and that’s all,” he added.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to miss up to 12 weeks recovering from a shoulder operation after the Spanish giants said Wednesday he had successfully undergone surgery.
“Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation,” said Real Madrid in a statement.
“Bellingham will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work.”
While Madrid did not specify the expected length of his recovery time, Spanish media have reported it will take around 12 weeks for him to return to action.
Bellingham has been struggling with shoulder discomfort after dislocating it in a La Liga match in November 2023, and playing with a brace under his shirt since then.
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England’s midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham celebrates after winning at the end of the Euro 2024 qualifying group C football match between England and Italy at Wembley, in London, on October 17, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP
The England midfielder held off on the operation until after Madrid’s participation in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso’s side reaching the semi-finals.
Bellingham is set to miss the La Liga visit to face rivals Atletico Madrid in late September, as well as the club’s first two Champions League matches.
The 22-year-old midfielder should be back in action by the time Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season in late October.
“I’ve got the point where… I’m fed up with the brace, and having to tug on it and having (other) players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time,” said Bellingham during the Club World Cup.
The midfielder will also miss World Cup qualifiers with England against Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9 respectively.
Germany’s Florian Wellbrock won the men’s open water 10km at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Wednesday, after the race had been postponed for several hours because of poor water quality.
Wellbrock, the gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, won his third open water world title in a time of 1hr 59min 55.50sec at the Sentosa Island course when the race eventually began at 1:00 pm (0500 GMT).
Winner Germany’s swimmer Florian Wellbrock celebrates on the podium after the final of the men’s 10km open water swimming event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships at Sentosa Island in Singapore on July 16, 2025. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)
Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver 3.70sec adrift, followed by Australia’s Kyle Lee in bronze.
Second-placed Italy’s swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri celebrates on the podium after the final of the men’s 10km open water swimming event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships at Sentosa Island in Singapore on July 16, 2025. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)
“It was really tough today. I think it was the warmest waters that we’ve had to race in,” said Wellbrock of the sea temperature, which was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).
“I had one year to prepare for this. We did a lot of heat training and I think that was the key today to me taking the gold.”
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Governing body World Aquatics delayed the race because water quality was “exceeding acceptable thresholds”.
The women’s 10km race had already been postponed on Tuesday and moved to Wednesday.
When it did finally get under way at 4:00 pm (0800 GMT), Moesha Johnson added world championship gold to the silver medal she won at the Paris Olympics last year.
The Australian came home first in 2hr 7min 51.30sec, finishing ahead again of Paris Olympics bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy (2:07:59.70).
Lisa Pou of Monaco (2:07:57.50), who was 18th in the Paris Olympics last summer, came in third for a surprise bronze medal.
World Aquatics said early Wednesday morning that the new afternoon time slots for the races were “subject to acceptable test results”.
But soon after, they confirmed both races would proceed in the afternoon as further analysis had found “significant improvement” in bacterial content and water temperature.
“Regular water quality monitoring and testing continues throughout the competition period to ensure athlete safety,” World Aquatics said in a statement.
“The health and safety of all participants continues to guide all competition-related decisions.”
The governing body said levels of E. coli bacteria had dropped to between the ranges of “good” and “excellent”, according to World Aquatics and World Health Organization regulations.
Water quality was a big problem for events held in the River Seine at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Of the 11 days of events and training scheduled in its murky waters, only five got the green light.
The river remained dogged by pollution problems despite a 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) upgrade to improve the Paris sewerage and water treatment system.
COAS Shooters claimed a narrow 32–31 victory over Safety Shooters in a pulsating encounter that headlined day 8 of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025 Phase 1, taking place in Benin City, Edo State.
The match, which kept spectators on the edge of their seats, saw COAS Shooters overturn a 14–13 halftime deficit to snatch the win late in the game in one of the most evenly matched fixtures of the competition so far.
In other results from the men’s category, Osun United put up a determined display to defeat Rima Strikers 28–24 after establishing a commanding 18–11 lead at the break while Correction Boys were clinical against Benue Buffaloes, securing a 26–18 win.
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De Defenders had to dig deep to edge past Lagos Seasiders 28–25 despite trailing 12–13 at halftime.
Title holders Tojemarine Academy continued their fine form in the league with a 31–25 triumph over former champions Niger United.
Tojemarine Academy took a 16–13 lead into the break and never looked back until they won the matxh.
In the women’s category, Rivers Queens defeated Ekiti Queens 31–23, building on their 17–12 first-half advantage to seal the win.
Defending champions Safety Babes maintained their unbeaten run with a solid 31–26 win over Imo Grasshoppers.
Rima Queens edged out Defender Babes 29–28 in a tightly contested affair that was separated by just a single goal at the break to make it 15–14.
