Manchester City completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández from Chelsea on Tuesday as the summer transfer window closed with a flurry of high-profile moves across the Premier League.

The 25-year-old Fernández joined City on a five-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031, bringing an end to his spell at Chelsea.

The Argentina international, who won the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America, said he was eager to continue winning trophies after joining Enzo Maresca’s side.

“Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times.

“Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are.

“I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.

“If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player,” he said.

On the club website, City’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana, described Fernández as a “complete midfielder” and said the club believed he would improve the squad.

“At Manchester City, we are always looking to bring in world-class players and Enzo fits the bill,” Viana said.

“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer.

“To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything you need to know about his mentality, professionalism and technical quality.

“We are delighted to bring him here and feel very strongly he will improve our team,” he noted.

Elsewhere, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez completed a season-long loan move to Serie A side Como after making 112 appearances for the Blues since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in August 2023.

Sanchez was part of the Chelsea squad that won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup before his temporary move to Italy.

Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk also secured a season-long loan move, where he will reunite with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, having previously worked under the Italian manager earlier in his career.

“It’s a great feeling. I can’t wait to start training and playing for the Club, and I’m so excited to be reunited with Roberto De Zerbi,” Mudryk said.

“I’m a player who brings speed and creativity, and I want to help in both the offensive and defensive areas. I want to make the fans excited.”

De Zerbi said he was looking forward to working with the Ukrainian forward again.

“Having worked with Misha earlier in his career, I know exactly what he can bring to our team,” De Zerbi said.

“He has the quality to change a game with his speed and ability in one-vs-one situations, and is an exciting, attacking talent.”

Fofana joins Sunderland

Belgian winger Malick Fofana, meanwhile, joined Sunderland from Olympique Lyonnais on a long-term contract.

The 21-year-old, Sunderland’s fifth signing of the summer window, made 82 appearances for Lyon, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists.

Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said, “Malick has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League.

“He is a player with huge potential and Sunderland AFC will provide him with the right environment to continue to develop and prosper.”

Quinten Timber joins Palace

Crystal Palace also announced the signing of Netherlands international Quinten Timber on a contract until 2031.

The 25-year-old midfielder, who has won 13 caps for the Netherlands, joins Palace after featuring for Marseille and Feyenoord.

Palace chairman Steve Parish said, “With vast experience of representing his club and country at the highest level, Quinten is a player whose leadership, tenacity and ability we are confident will flourish in the Premier League.

“Welcome to Palace, Quinten.”

Jack Grealish returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the 2026/27 season after spending the previous campaign with the Merseyside club.

The 30-year-old England international made 20 Premier League appearances for Everton last season, scoring twice and providing six assists before a foot injury in February brought his campaign to an early end.

“It feels so good. I’m so happy. I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved,” Grealish told Everton’s official website.

“That’s what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me and especially what the fans have given me.”

Meanwhile, Premier League summer transfer window officially closed at midnight on Tuesday, meaning any deals announced afterwards would only be completed and confirmed if the required transfer documents had been submitted to the relevant authorities before the deadline.

Source: punchng.com

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Nigerian record holder Kayinsola Ajayi has been confirmed to compete in the men’s 100m at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium, on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Wanda Diamond League Final will take place at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels.

Although Ajayi did not qualify for the final through the points standings, he is eligible to compete as a global wildcard based on his world ranking this year.

According to the Diamond League rules, meeting organisers can invite up to four global wildcard athletes — two men and two women — to compete at the Wanda Diamond League Final.

“A global wild card athlete must have competed in at least one Diamond League meeting in the course of the season, and must fulfil at least one of the following criteria in their chosen discipline: World record holder, reigning world, Olympic or Diamond League champion, top five in the World Athletics rankings of their event, top 20 in the overall World Athletics rankings,” the rules state.

Ajayi makes the cut as the fourth-fastest man in the world in the 100m this year, behind Olympic champion Noah Lyles, world champion Oblique Seville and Commonwealth Games champion Emmanuel Eseme.

The 21-year-old has also won two Diamond League races this season, in London and at the Prefontaine Classic.

However, the Diamond League rules also state that, “No competition which already contains a national wild card athlete can also contain a global wild card athlete.”

Already, Belgium’s Simon Verherstraeten has been added as a national wildcard to the men’s 100m line-up, but Ajayi can still race following the withdrawal of African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala.

In the event of victory, Ajayi will be crowned Diamond League champion and receive the Diamond Trophy, but will not receive the full prize money.

Ajayi has had a remarkable season, breaking the Nigerian 100m record with a time of 9.84 seconds at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round in the United States in May.

His mark lowered Olusoji Fasuba’s 20-year-old Nigerian record of 9.85 seconds.

He also won the NCAA title before adding Commonwealth Games bronze in the men’s 100m.

On Sunday, he ran the 15th sub-10-second race of his career in Switzerland.

Source: punchng.com

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Nigeria’s women’s volleyball team staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in their 9th-12th classification match at the 2026 African Women’s Volleyball Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, with head coach Elishama Elam hailing the team’s never-say-die spirit, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerians appeared headed for defeat after losing the opening two sets 25-20, 25-22, but fought back to win the third 25-21 before levelling the contest with a dominant 25-13 victory in the fourth set.

Nigeria then held their nerve in a tense decider, edging DR Congo 15-13 to complete the comeback.

Reacting to the victory, Elam expressed his delight with his players’ resilience, insisting that the result reflected the character of the Nigerian team.

“I feel so great, and I’m happy to be a Nigerian. We never say die,” Elam said.

The coach also attributed the turnaround to determination and faith, giving credit to God for helping his side overcome the difficult start.

“We give God all the glory because, obviously, this is the Nigerian spirit that keeps us going. We thank God because He did it for us,” he said.

Despite the victory, Elam warned his players against complacency as they prepare for their final classification match of the championship.

“We will approach it with the same determination. Since it is going to be our last match, we will ensure that we give the last drop of our sweat on this court. We will give everything we have,” he said.

The victory gives Nigeria a confidence boost ahead of their final game of the championship after they showed the resilience to recover from two sets down and secure a 3-2 victory.

Source: punchng.com

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