One swallow allegedly does not make a summer. One football match does not make club owners rush out and spend millions of pounds on new players… or does it? You may think the people who run the team you support are professional, sensible and rational. They don’t read social media, they don’t run a business…
Shirt numbers — they shouldn’t matter that much, but they do. From new signings taking iconic numbers to youngsters being given their first jersey for the senior team, there are always notable changes before a new season. Here, The Athletic’s Premier League writers analyse how shirt numbers have changed at your club, and their significance….
If you thought there has been an increase in Premier League-to-Premier League transfers, you could be forgiven. This summer, there have been numerous Premier League players who have moved clubs within England’s top flight, but the sense that intra-Premier League transfers are increasing is only a fallacy. At the time of writing, these moves have…
A number of Premier League clubs are growing increasingly frustrated by the competition’s US-based Summer Series – and may even call for it to be scrapped. Mail Sport understands officials at some top-flight sides are angered at the fact that the tournament is having to be propped up by central funds and believe those who…
Two clubs interested ©IMAGO Not so long ago Douglas Luiz was one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League. After joining Aston Villa from Manchester City in a deal worth €16.8 million, the Brazilian midfielder quickly established himself as an exceptional, central midfielder who could chip in with an impressive array of goals…
Marko Arnautovic is a free agent after leaving Inter and his brother ruled out a series of options, including Rapid Vienna, while admitting he was ‘very close to Manchester United’ in 2022. The striker is now 36 years old, but has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet, even after his contract with…
The summer can be a strange time for football fans. Showing my age here but, except in a major tournament year, summers used to be largely football-free from late May until the second half of August. You would pick up a newspaper in the UK and struggle to find much football coverage as sports such…
The first videos and photos have dropped on social media. Bleep tests are being sweatily run. Pre-season has begun at most clubs across the Premier League. But the group of players taking part in testing on day one of pre-season at each of the division’s 20 teams are not always the same ones that pull…
The brass at La Liga outfit Villarreal are preparing to open talks with their counterparts at Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, over the signing of Carlos Soler. That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, citing Estadio Deportivo, who have this weekend provided an insight into the situation. Advertisement It is common knowledge at this point that those…
Last year, Chelsea entered into a hefty deal with two days of their 2023-24 accounting period remaining. For £200million ($274m), Chelsea FC Holdings, the company which houses the club’s operations, sold Chelsea Football Club Women Limited (CFCW) to Blueco 22 Midco Limited, a fellow subsidiary of Blueco 22 Limited, the club’s parent company. In doing…