Connect with us

Sports

Transfer deadline: Enzo completes City move, Chelsea loan Sanchez, Mudryk, Fofana joins Sunderland, others

Published

on

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.

See also  18 teams qualify for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

“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.

See also  Nigerian wrestlers arrive Mongolia for 3rd Ranking Series

“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

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Afghan cyclist who disguised as man wins Asian Games silver

Published

on

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi, who once disguised herself as a man to pursue cycling in Afghanistan, has won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Hashimi finished second in the road race final at the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday, according to Amu TV.

China’s Guo Li won the gold medal, while Leung Wing Yee of Hong Kong took bronze.

The silver came two days after Hashimi finished seventh in the women’s individual time trial, where she competed against 14 riders.

The 23-year-old completed the 24.2-kilometre time-trial course two minutes and three seconds behind Kazakhstan’s Rinata Sultanova, who won the event, Amu TV reported.

Hashimi’s journey to the Asian Games podium has been marked by the dangers she faced while pursuing cycling in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, Hashimi began cycling at 15 after following her sister, Yulduz, into the sport, but had to disguise herself as a man to attend training in her home province of Faryab.

“I always dressed as a man to go to training, wearing two or three different masks so people would not recognise or attack me. I was scared of them finding me,” Reuters quoted Hashimi as saying.

She also told Reuters that stones and bottles were thrown at her while she and her sister trained.

“I sometimes had a big stone thrown at my head. People were throwing bottles at me. They were trying to make us go home by being aggressive and attacking us,” she said.

See also  Nigerian wrestlers arrive Mongolia for 3rd Ranking Series

Hashimi fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and is now based in Italy.

Afghan women and girls have faced sweeping restrictions on education, employment, movement and participation in public life.

Hashimi moved to Italy, where she and Yulduz continued their careers. The sisters subsequently represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reuters reported.

Reflecting on her experience, Hashimi said her participation was about more than her individual performance.

“For me it’s not just about my performance but showing my country a woman in this situation. We are still alive and still fighting,” she said.

Hashimi had also expressed hope that Afghan girls would one day be able to pursue their ambitions and compete internationally from inside the country.

“I hope something can change so the next generation can come from inside of the country to compete at the Asian Games, exploring the world and winning medals,” she said.

Hashimi’s silver medal in the road race is Afghanistan’s latest achievement at the Asian Games, following her seventh-place finish in the individual time trial.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Sports

Sadio Mané builds $20m mango processing plant in hometown

Published

on

Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has launched a CFA11.7bn ($20.4m) agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal, aimed at expanding mango processing and creating jobs.

Ecofin Agency reports on Monday that the project, known as SM10 Agro, was launched on September 19 in Bambali, Sédhiou Region.

The complex will include a processing plant with an annual capacity of 8,500 tonnes of mangoes, producing mango pulp, dried fruit and mango butter.

It will also include a 500-hectare plantation of Kent mangoes.

The project is located in Casamance, Senegal’s leading mango-producing region, where limited processing facilities have contributed to significant post-harvest losses.

Senegal loses an estimated 30 to 45 per cent of harvested fruit annually, with poor farming practices, harvesting and transportation challenges, and limited processing outlets among the factors contributing to the losses, Ecofin Agency reported.

Speaking at the launch, Mané said he wanted his legacy to extend beyond football.

“I don’t want to be remembered only for the goals I scored. Before the stadiums, the lights and the victories, there was, of course, Bambali. This is where my dreams began… We want to help create jobs and develop agriculture,” Mane was quoted as saying.

The facility is expected to allow more mangoes to be processed locally, including fruit that may not qualify for export to European Union markets because of phytosanitary requirements.

A 2023 study by the Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale, cited by Ecofin Agency, found that existing mango processing facilities in Casamance were concentrated mainly in the Ziguinchor region, while Sédhiou and Kolda remained poorly equipped despite producing local mango varieties.

See also  Olympics set to ban all transgender athletes across all sports.

The study also identified limited access to packaging and labelling services in Casamance as a challenge for processors, forcing some businesses to depend on Dakar for the services.

Mané’s investment comes as Senegal’s mango export industry recovers from recent difficulties linked to fruit-fly infestations and other phytosanitary problems.

Senegal exported about 27,000 tonnes of mangoes in 2021, but export volumes subsequently declined following problems that affected access to the European market.

Exports to Europe reportedly rose to more than 19,000 tonnes in 2026, up from about 14,000 tonnes the previous season, following improved phytosanitary measures, particularly efforts to control fruit flies.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Sports

Fury’s uncle predicts Joshua knockout

Published

on

Peter Fury, uncle and former trainer of Tyson Fury, has warned that Anthony Joshua could knock out his nephew when the pair finally meet in the ring, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking on the Fight Your Corner podcast, in partnership with Midnite, Fury said he could see only two outcomes; his nephew outboxing Joshua, or Joshua handing him the first stoppage defeat of his career.

“I have not really thought about it, to be honest. He (Fury) is either going to outbox (him) and he will get to Joshua or Joshua is going to find the target and he will clean him out. So, it is one or the other, is it not? So, we will see which one,” he said.

“I think it all comes down to what game plans they are going to do.”

An announcement on the long-awaited fight was expected after both men won their warm-up bouts in July, against Mariusz Wach and Kristian Prenga respectively, but talks stalled.

Organisers reportedly wanted to stage the all-British contest in New York City, even though Joshua had signed a contract for a fight in the United Kingdom.

After prolonged negotiations, the latest reports suggest the fight is back on and is likely to take place in Cardiff, Wales, this December.

It remains unclear whether the main event will be held in the early hours of the morning to suit Netflix’s US audience.

Fans are still waiting for official confirmation, but a deal is said to be nearing completion for one of the biggest events on the 2026 boxing calendar.

See also  Cape Verde captain, Ryan Mendes, under probe for raping translator

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading

Trending