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Wales and Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow hopes to end his Wembley heartache against England – the country he once wanted to represent.

The Leeds stopper has twice been denied playing under the Wembley arch by red tape, at Newport in 2012 and in the 2023 Carabao Cup final for Newcastle.

Darlow was on loan from Nottingham Forest when he missed out on Newport’s FA Trophy final against York. The Exiles had failed to sign the then 21-year-old before the international clearance deadline and subsequently lost an appeal, claiming a paperwork delay was not their fault.

Over a decade later, Newcastle were unable to recall Darlow from a loan spell at Hull after Nick Pope had been ruled out of a Wembley date against Manchester United.

“I’ve been slightly unfortunate and it would be nice to finally tick it (Wembley) off the list.” Darlow said ahead of Wales’ friendly with England on Thursday.

“The Newport one was on the morning of the final. They were still waiting on confirmation and the manager Justin Edinburgh was optimistic it was going to be done.

“In the end I wasn’t even allowed to be part of the matchday squad and I watched the game in the stands. I’m 35 on Wednesday, so it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s one of the biggest and the best stadiums in the world. As a footballer you want to be playing in the biggest stadiums and testing yourself on that level.”

Darlow’s grandfather Ken Leek was a member of the 1958 Wales World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

Darlow once wanted to represent England over Wales

But Darlow was born in Northampton and grew up with aspirations to represent England, saying in a previous interview there “would be no bigger achievement”.

Having rejected previous attempts from Wales managers to get him on board, Craig Bellamy persuaded him to join up last year and he has since established himself as the number one goalkeeper and won eight caps.

Darlow enters the international break – Wales also play a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday – having started Leeds’ last four Premier League games.

He has taken over the gloves from the injured Lucas Perri and been in fine form, with one of his stops at Fulham nominated for September’s Premier League Save of the Month award.

“If you’re drip-fed a game here and a game there, it’s tough,” said Darlow.

“You like to get into a rhythm of playing week in, week out and knowing you can prepare properly for each and every single game

“It’s a massive plus that I’ve had a run of games now.”

England's record cap holder, Fara Williams, has weighed in with her opinion on Mary Earps, after the former Lionesses No.1 made comments claiming successor Hannah Hampton was rewarded for "bad behaviour" when Sarina Wiegman restored her to the squad. The former midfielder accused Earps, who retired just before Euro 2025, of lacking respect towards her team-mate and manager.

Williams: Earps should have provided detail

Recalling being asked to write a book of her own, Williams explained in a column for that Earps must have known that the comments made about Hampton would have generated headlines, but the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper has hit out at the situation.

Williams called on Earps to be more specific if she was going to bring up Hampton at all: "If Mary is going to be open and honest about the situation, she needs to go into more detail about the supposed bad behaviour rather than leave it up in the air.

"I personally don't know if there was bad behaviour from Hannah, but even if that was the case, she served her punishment after being left out of the squad. If you look at Hannah's career from that moment onwards, I feel she has shown great growth, reflection and development to bounce back."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Baffling' to see Earps talk publicly about a team-mate

Earps has admitted wanting to retire upon finding out that Wiegman was planning to make Hampton England's new starting goalkeeper for the Euros. She was initially persuaded to stay, but given the very sudden nature of her eventual decision and announcement, Williams suggested it was inevitable that something would eventually come out about how it happened.

But now that Earps has gone public, Williams said it lacks respect: "I honestly didn't like Mary’s comments about Hannah. It's quite baffling to see Mary come out publicly and talk about a former international team-mate in this way.

"Looking back at the way her retirement played out, I was expecting something to come out eventually. It was bound to happen when you consider a player as popular as Mary to retire on the eve of a major tournament, although I couldn't have predicted Mary to talk about Hannah in the way she did, because you need to respect your team-mates whether you like them or not. The extract from the book has confirmed my initial thoughts because she described that an uncomfortable environment in camp led to her decision."

How can a player question Wiegman?

Williams said that Wiegman even discussing her intention to bring Hampton back to the England squad following a brief spell out of favour was more than she ever got from a manager. The Dutch coach has won three back-to-back European Championships with two different countries and has led to teams to each of the last two World Cup finals. For those achievements and her known player management skills, she commands more respect than most in the game.

"Regarding her comments about Sarina, the fact that the England boss sat her down to explain the reasons why she was bringing Hannah back shows the respect she has for Mary," Williams continued. "I was in the England set-up for around 19 years and not once did a manager tell me that they were thinking about bringing a player back into the fold – it just doesn't happen.

"Sarina is a three-time back-to-back-to-back Euros winner and reached the World Cup finals for the last two tournaments – how can you as a player question her decision-making given her achievements? Mary also revealed that she was unhappy after Sarina didn't watch one of her games for Paris Saint-Germain. Unfortunately for her, the French league isn't as televised as the WSL, so if she wanted Sarina to get a closer look at her performances, maybe it would've been better for her to stay in [England]."

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Getty Images SportEarps needs to 'own' what she wrote

Earps has been accused by Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor of lacking class and Williams rounded back on the idea that Earps, for all her protestation this week, must have known the impact that the book and subsequent comments made in the press while promoting the release, was going to have.

"She will have to deal with the backlash because she decided to put these comments out in public, so there are going to be opinions," the pundit said. "It's time for Mary to own what she wrote in the book because if she tries to backtrack from them, that's not a good look. Mary is a very smart person and, for whatever reason, she must've known that her quotes on Hannah and Sarina would make the headlines.

"I'm sure the book contains more details about her journey in football and the difficulties that she had to overcome to become England No.1, but those comments about her former national team manager and international team-mate have become the biggest story."

Bayern Munich were "absolutely" correct to hand Vincent Kompany a new contract, says club legend Lothar Matthaus. The former Germany star says the positive effect of the Belgian coach's leadership is evident throughout the club, praising Kompany for his influence on team spirit and the positive atmosphere that has returned to the Bundesliga champions.

• Kompany's extension delights legends at Bayern

  The Belgian, who guided Bayern to the Bundesliga title in his first season in charge, has quickly become a symbol of leadership, calm authority, and unity in Bavaria. The announcement comes as Bayern continue their flawless start to the new campaign, winning all 11 competitive matches this season and equalling the best start ever recorded by a German club. Kompany, who arrived from Burnley in the summer of 2024, has already restored a sense of stability and togetherness that many felt had been missing since the era of Hansi Flick.

  “I’m grateful, honoured and would like to thank Bayern for the trust and the working environment they’ve given me from day one,” Kompany said after signing the deal this week. “It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer and that I know the club well. It’s been a great experience so far. We’ve started on a wonderful journey.”

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  'Not just about trophies' – Matthaus praises Kompany's impact

  Matthaus spoke glowingly about the 39-year-old’s impact, likening the current environment at the club to the eras of Jupp Heynckes and Ottmar Hitzfeld. “The contract extension with Vincent Kompany is absolutely the right decision for me,” Matthaus told . “The way Kompany leads the team is reflected throughout the entire club. Since Kompany has been here, that atmosphere has returned, and I think it’s wonderful.”

  Matthaus emphasised that Kompany’s contribution extends beyond just winning titles. “It’s not just about trophies,” he said. “We may have won a few titles under other coaches during the time of Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic, but in the long run, the climate at FC Bayern is crucial. The togetherness that was missing for many years seems to be working again.”

  He further praised the synergy between Kompany and Bayern’s leadership trio of Max Eberl, Christoph Freund, and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. “If you interact like this every day and create a positive atmosphere, then it also reflects the club to the outside world,” Matthaus added.

• Bayern's top brass united behind the Belgian coach

  Bayern president Herbert Hainer also lauded Kompany’s influence, describing him as a coach who has “brought a breath of fresh air and togetherness” back to the club. “He’s doing an incredibly good job,” Hainer said. “We’re playing very attractive football, scoring lots of goals. There’s an incredible sense of togetherness, that comes from the coach, who does that brilliantly both from a sporting and personal point of view.”

  CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen echoed those sentiments, saying Kompany has “brought the fun back to Bayern, and the spark has really caught on.” Dreesen noted that the Belgian’s style of play and man-management have turned Bayern into “a real team that plays dominant and attractive football.”

  Sporting director Max Eberl went a step further, calling Kompany “a lucky find for FC Bayern.” He added: “He’s made fantastic progress with the team. The togetherness, this energy, this desire to win, the coach has instilled that in the players. We want to keep riding this wave.”

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  Kompany leading from the front as Bayern chase European glory

  Kompany’s Bayern are now characterised by a modern, pressing-heavy philosophy combined with fluid possession play, a hallmark of his tactical vision. Under his guidance, Bayern have scored an astonishing 194 goals in 67 matches, while maintaining defensive discipline and collective energy.

  What truly sets Kompany apart, however, is his empathetic leadership style. Known for open communication and respect for every squad member, he has managed to rebuild the sense of family that once defined Bayern’s most successful eras. “I understand how the club thinks, but also the players,” Kompany said. “We have the same goals. I want to write history together, where people say: ‘This is Bayern.’” When asked about the contract news ahead of Bayern’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge, he replied: “My only request was that it’s not a big topic and we can quickly put the focus back on the next match. I just want to win tomorrow.”

  With 14 wins in 14 matches across all competitions, the Rekordmeister are currently top of both the Bundesliga and their Champions League league phase group. They will host Belgian runners-up Club Brugge next, as Kompany looks to extend the club’s perfect start and further solidify his growing legacy in Munich.

England raced into a 3-0 lead against Wales in their friendly on Thursday night. Bukayo Saka bagged the Three Lions' third with a stunning finish from 20 yards out, leaving Dragons shotstopper Karl Darlow clutching at thin air. Morgan Rogers had fired England ahead in the third minute before Aston Villa teammate Ollie Watkins doubled their advantage eight minutes later.

England battering Wales on home turf

Bukayo Saka wowed the Wembley crowd on Thursday night as he scored a sumptuous third to put England into a commanding lead early on against Wales, becoming Arsenal's highest ever scorer for the men's national team in the process. Playing an international friendly against their neighbours, Morgan Rogers had fired the Three Lions ahead in the third minute.

Aston Villa teammate Ollie Watkins then added his first and England's second in the 11th minute but it was Saka's strike that had the home fans on their feet.

Elliot Anderson's shot was blocked, and the ball worked its way back to Declan Rice. He then found Ezri Konsa before the Villa defender laid a pass to Saka in space on the right.

Konsa's underlapping run opened up a gap for Saka to make his move and despite pressure from David Brooks, the Arsenal sensation managed to pick out the top corner from 20 yards, leaving Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow to clutch at thin air.

AdvertisementWatch Saka's goal belowTuchel names strong England XI

Despite suggestions that Thomas Tuchel could name a weakened XI for the friendly meeting with Wales, the England boss named a surprisingly strong side at Wembley on Thursday night. Captain Harry Kane missed the game due to injury, with Watkins deputising on the frontline, but the likes of Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, Anthony Gordon and Saka all featured from the outset.

Marcus Rashford replaced Watkins for the second half in the capital as Tuchel sought to keep his players fresh ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier against Latvia. Tuchel also handed Djed Spence a full England debut after the Tottenham full-back became the first Muslim player to represent the men's national team when he came off the bench against Serbia last month.

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Getty Images SportWhat next for England?

England currently sit top of Group K in World Cup qualifying, with their 5-0 win at Serbia in Belgrade last month making it five wins from five. Their group rivals will have the chance to make up ground on the Three Lions this weekend as Latvia host Andorra and Serbia take on Albania.

Tuchel's side, meanwhile, are back in competitive action on Tuesday night as he takes his men to Latvia. England won the reverse fixture at Wembley 3-0 courtesy of goals from Reece James, Kane and Eberechi Eze.

Tuchel is expected to have Kane available for Tuesday's match after he sat out the welcome of Wales. The England boss said of the Bayern star earlier this week: "[Kane] got a kick in his last match with Bayern Munich. It was too risky he gets another kick and be in an up and down situation pain-wise. We gave him the chance that everything calms down. We are convinced he'll be ready for the match against Latvia."

Over recent years, Tottenham Hotspur have been lucky enough to have multiple top-level strikers on their books, subsequently giving the fanbase numerous incredible memories.

Harry Kane undoubtedly tops that list, scoring 280 times for the Lilywhites – cementing himself as the highest goalscorer in their history, taking the record off the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, other players haven’t been as impressive, with Roberto Soldado struggling to produce the goods during his own stint in the first team in North London.

The Spaniard joined the club back in the summer of 2013, costing a whopping £26m – a figure that was a club record during those years under Daniel Levy.

However, he only scored 16 times in his 76 appearances for the club, leaving two years later for a measly £10m and losing £16m on their previous investment.

This summer, current boss Thomas Frank has made a move to land his own centre-forward, but the player will undoubtedly be hoping to have a similar impact to the former rather than the latter.

What Spurs can expect from Kolo Muani

In a summer transfer window littered with multiple £50m+ additions, Spurs also made various loan deals to help make an immediate improvement to the current squad.

Joao Palhinha was added to the midfield department earlier in the transfer window, joining on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

However, on deadline day, Frank’s side also clinched the signing of PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan – despite huge rumours linking him with a return to Juventus.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A outfit, netting 10 goals in just 22 appearances – subsequently getting his career back on track.

He joined PSG in a £76m deal back in 2023, but only scored 11 times in two seasons, before falling down the pecking order – leading to his temporary spells away from the Ligue 1 outfit.

However, he’s showcased in his recent spell in Italy that he’s capable of thriving with regular minutes, registering 70 goals in the professional game over the last five years.

The former Spurs player who’s outscored Kolo Muani

As previously mentioned, the centre-forward position has been a troubled one for Spurs since Kane departed in 2023, with record-signing Dominic Solanke struggling with his fitness since his own move in 2024.

The Lilywhites forked out £65m for his signature, but he’s only managed 16 goals for the club to date – with injuries halting his progress in North London.

The Englishman has been restricted to just 31 minutes of Premier League action so far in 2025/26, opening the door for Kolo Muani to stake his claim for a regular starting role.

However, former strikers at Spurs have also struggled to match the expectations put upon them, given the stature of the club – none more so than Vincent Janssen.

He joined the club in a £18.6m deal from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2016, with such a move generating excitement after the Dutchman ended the previous year as the Eredivisie’s top scorer.

During his first campaign in England, the striker only managed to net six goals – only two of which were in the Premier League – ultimately struggling to match the expectations he arrived with.

Janssen would subsequently be sent out on loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce, a move that would spell the end of his stint with the Lilywhites – only making three appearances upon his return to the club.

Transfer Fee

£18.6m

Wages

£2.75m

Total

£21.3m

Appearances

42

Cost per appearance

£507k

Goals

6

Cost per goal

£3.5m

Assists

4

Cost per assist

£5.3m

Goal involvements

10

Cost per goal involvement

£2.1m

Such failures in England led to former striker Gary Lineker dubbing the Dutchman as “ a poor man’s Roberto Soldado” – a damning statement given the Spaniard’s own failures in North London.

However, in recent years, the 31-year-old has recaptured his best form away from England – now plying his trade for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, helping his current employers qualify for the Champions League.

He registered 13 goals across all competitions in 2024/25, subsequently outscoring new addition Kolo Muani (12) – highlighting his impressive form after his failed stint in the Premier League.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy made the right call in allowing Janssen to depart the club, with his transfer certainly one to forget given his lack of tangible impact.

However, Kolo Muani will be hoping to not emulate his disappointing spell in North London, undoubtedly wanting to hit the ground running in the clash against West Ham United on Saturday night.

Worth more than Kudus: Spurs have hit the jackpot on Postecoglou signing

Tottenham Hotspur’s excellent work in the market has previously been evident during Ange Postecoglou’s reign.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

Lamine Yamal has expressed his delight at being back fit again after a frustrating period with a groin injury. The 18-year-old missed Barcelona's games against Valencia, Newcastle United, Getafe and Real Oviedo in recent weeks but his time on the sidelines appears to be over. The winger declared he is "back" on Instagram, potentially paving the way for him to return to Hansi Flick's side.

Barcelona receive Yamal boost

The Spain international has not featured for Barca since before the September international break but his team have fared well enough without him, registering four straight victories. But on Friday, the teenager posted an Instagram reel of some of his career highlights and wrote: "Hey, I'm back."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick criticises Spain over Yamal injury

Yamal picked up the groin injury earlier this month, but still joined up with the Spanish national team. The youngster then aggravated that problem while playing for his country, prompting Barca boss Flick to accuse La Roja of not taking care of their young players.

He said earlier this month: "Lamine goes to the national team with pain, didn't train, had painkillers to play, they were three goals ahead in every match, and he played 79 and 73 minutes. Between the matches, he didn't train. This is not taking care of players. Spain have the best team in the world, in every position they are unbelievably good. I am really sad about this [situation]."

The former Bayern Munich manager also admitted the communication he has with Spain boss Luis de la Fuente could be better. 

"I never really spoke with [De la Fuente]," he added. "Maybe my Spanish is not good, his English is not good, so this is a problem. Normally, the communication, because we have more players there than just Lamine, could be better. I was also on this side as a national team coach, so I know how hard this job sometimes is, but the communication with the clubs was always good."

Spain boss dismisses Flick's Yamal concerns

Despite having his groin complaint, Yamal played in Spain's World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkey earlier this month. Following those victories, De la Fuente said he neither remembered nor cared about Flick's complaints.

He stated, "Right now, I don't remember what Flick said. Neither is it of any interest to me."

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GettyWill Yamal return for Barcelona straight away?

With Yamal seemingly ready for selection, Flick will have to decide whether to give him some game time against Real Sociedad on Sunday in La Liga as they try to keep pace with top of the table Real Madrid, who are two points clear. The German coach may have an eye on their mouthwatering Champions League clash at home to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. It remains to be seen when Yamal will return.

Enzo Maresca mocked Manchester United as Chelsea boss bemoaned that Ruben Amorim's side have had an "entire week" to prepare for the Old Trafford showdown in the absence of Champions League commitments. The Italian couldn’t resist a jab in his press conference, insisting he’d rather have the chaos of Champions League football than a holiday week to prepare.

• Blues' big summer hangover

  Chelsea may have ended last season in style, qualifying for the Champions League, bagging the Conference League trophy, and lifting the Club World Cup, but that glory run is already coming at a price. The Blues’ start to the new campaign has been a mixed bag. Two wins, two draws, and a single defeat leave their early-season form teetering on the edge. 

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  Maresca: Prefer the Champions League

  When quizzed about United’s supposed advantage of a clear midweek schedule, Maresca didn’t hold back. 

  “If you ask me, I prefer to play the Champions League game, no doubt," he said. "But at the same time, the reality is that they have one entire week to prepare the game. And we played a game two days ago, 48 hours ago. But again, I prefer to play the Champions League games." 

• Maresca denies pressure

  With Chelsea winless in their last two, Maresca was asked if Saturday’s showdown comes with added weight. His response? A firm dismissal. 

  “Absolutely not," he began. "Personally, I have pressure on the game, that I want to try to win all the game. But it’s not because we didn’t win Brentford and we lost Bayern Munich away, that this game I feel more pressure.

  “I always have pressure because we want to win all the games. And again, I think Bayern Munich away, PSG away and Barcelona away, probably they were the worst stadium to go and play the first game in. And we were there, we competed face-to-face. And we’ll see in the next one.”

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  Amorim's big test at Old Trafford

  Saturday’s clash is dripping with narrative. Chelsea arrive battle-scarred but unbowed, while United come rested, hungry, and determined to make their mark under Amorim. The Portuguese, tasked with steadying the ship, will see the fixture as the perfect chance to deliver a statement win against a heavyweight rival. Only three points at home will save his skin after a 3-0 drubbing by Manchester City last weekend in the derby.   

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has lured a number of superstars to play their football in the Middle East, with big money on offer.

Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the first big names to make the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2023 and the Portuguese icon now picks up an eye-watering £178m per season.

Messi, Mbappe and Dembele rejected billions in Saudi Pro League contracts

Some big money has been turned down over the years.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 19, 2025

Some star players have turned down moves to the Saudi Pro League, including Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Kylian Mbappe. However, the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante swapped some of the best clubs in Europe for Saudi Arabia.

Darwin Nunez is the latest to do so, heading to Al-Hilal from Liverpool in a transfer worth an initial €53m. But where does he rank on a list of the 10 most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers of all-time?

Player

From

To

Fee

Neymar

PSG

Al-Hilal

€90m

Jhon Duran

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€77m

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

Al-Qadsiah

€68.25m

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€60m

Malcom

Zenit

Al-Hilal

€60m

Otavio

FC Porto

Al-Nassr

€60m

Ruben Neves

Wolves

Al-Hilal

€55m

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

Al-Hilal

€53m

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham

Al-Hilal

€52.6m

Galeno

FC Porto

Al-Ahli

€50m

10 Galeno €50m to Al-Ahli

Brazilian winger Galeno swapped FC Porto for Al-Ahli in 2025 in a deal worth €50m.

Arguably at the peak of his powers at the age of 27 when swapping Portugal for Saudi Arabia, Galeno helped Al-Ahli win the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title, scoring in the final against Kawasaki Frontale.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic €52.6m to Al-Hilal

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored goals everywhere he has been during his career, and after starring in England for eight years with Newcastle United and Fulham, caught the attention of Al-Hilal.

In 2023 they decided to pay those at Craven Cottage €52.6m for the Serbian striker, who has gone on to average more than a goal or an assist each game. Mitrovic helped Al-Hilal win a league title in 2023/24 and the Saudi Cup.

8 Darwin Nunez €53m to Al-Hilal

Looking likely to be Mitrovic’s replacement at Al-Hilal in 2025 is Darwin Nunez.

The former Liverpool striker was hit and miss at Anfield after costing the Reds £85m, with Arne Slot and those on Merseyside deciding to cash in halfway through a six-year deal.

7 Ruben Neves €55m to Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal have been big spenders in recent years and also splashed the cash on midfielder Ruben Neves in 2023.

The Portugal midfielder followed his national teammate Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, paying Premier League side Wolves €55m.

6 Otavio €60m to Al-Nassr

Another Portuguese star who headed to the Middle East in 2023 was Otavio, with Al-Nassr triggering his €60m release clause in his FC Porto contract.

Playing alongside Ronaldo in attack, the winger has made close to 100 appearances for Al-Nassr and is under contract until 2026.

5 Malcom €60m to Al-Hilal

Malcom cost Barcelona more than €40m in 2018, however, after selling the Brazilian winger to Zenit Saint Petersburg, he was then on the move again in 2023, joining Al-Hilal.

Still on the books in 2025, Malcom has won one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup and two Saudi Super Cups.

4 Moussa Diaby €60m to Al-Ittihad

Despite signing the likes of Benzema, Kante and Fabinho in recent years, Al-Ittihad’s most expensive signing is Moussa Diaby.

Costing €60m from Aston Villa in 2024, Diaby has turned into an assist machine for Al-Ittihad, registering 16 in his first Al-Ittihad season.

3 Mateo Retegui €68.25m to Al-Qadsiah

After finishing fourth in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League, Al-Qadsiah splashed the cash and broke their transfer record by signing striker Mateo Retegui from Atalanta.

Looking to topple the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, Retegui joins Al-Qadsiah after scoring 25 Serie A goals in 24/25.

2 Jhon Duran €77m to Al-Nassr

Like Diaby, Aston Villa also sold Jhon Duran for big-money to the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Nassr briefly partnering the Colombian alongside Ronaldo.

They paid a club-record €77m for the forward, however, Duran was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce for the 2025/26 season.

1 Neymar €90m to Al-Hilal

Topping the charts as the most expensive Saudi Pro League transfer of all time is Neymar, who cost Al-Hilal €90m from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

Unfortunately for Neymar and Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a serious injury shortly after joining and never starred in Saudi Arabia, making just seven appearances for the club.

He left in 2025 after having his contract terminated, returning to Santos.

Games

7

Goals

1

Assists

3

Minutes played

428

Spinner played key role in 2018 title but has been overlooked since 2021

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2024Offspinner Amar Virdi has been released by Surrey, having been overlooked throughout their run of three consecutive County Championship titles.Virdi, 26, claimed 39 wickets in Surrey’s Championship-winning season in 2018, and was at the time considered to be a future Test prospect, having featured for the England Under-19 side in 2016 and 2017. He was part of England’s training bubble during the 2020 Covid-19 season and toured the subcontinent at the start of 2021 as a reserve for series against Sri Lanka and India.On his first-class debut in May 2017, he made history by joining Sam Curran, Ryan Patel and Ollie Pope to form the first quartet of teenagers to play for a county since World War 2, and only the fifth in history.But unlike his contemporaries, all of whom have gone on to become fixtures in Surrey’s first XI, Virdi’s opportunities have waned in recent years, with Surrey tending to prefer a batting allrounder such as Will Jacks or Dan Lawrence to carry their spin burden.He spent the latter part of the 2024 county season on loan at Worcestershire, where he took 14 wickets in four matches, including a five-wicket haul against Hampshire in September, but a permanent move is understood to be unlikely. Previously he had been on loan at Somerset in 2022, with his most recent Championship outing for Surrey coming in September 2021.”Having been a part of the club since I was 11 years old, I will look back on my time at Surrey with great fondness and I have some incredible memories of playing for the club,” Virdi said.”Winning the 2018 County Championship was a personal highlight and it was incredible to be part of the team that brought success back to the club after many years.”Having had a tough couple of years at Surrey with selection and pitches, I still believe I have a huge amount to offer the game as shown in my recent loan stint at Worcestershire and I’m looking forward to whatever the next step is in my playing career.”Alec Stewart, Director of Cricket, added: “It’s always tough letting a player go from the club and especially when that player has been in our set up from a young age. With the balance of our bowling attack we’ve used in the Championship in recent years which has brought us great success, Virds hasn’t been able to find a way into the starting eleven.”I firmly believe his bowling has a lot to offer another county and hopefully he will find a new home where he can show case his talents and further his career. I will do everything possible to help him find a good solution.”In the meantime, on behalf of everyone at Surrey CCC, I would like to thank Virds for the service he has given and we should never forget the impact he had when winning the 2018 County Championship title.”

The last time Newcastle United played football, they celebrated a 1-0 loss against Everton in the Premier League.

That was because, owing to results elsewhere, the Magpies sealed their place in next year’s Champions League, finishing fifth. Given that Eddie Howe’s side beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup several months earlier, the 2024/25 campaign is etched down as one of the greatest in the club’s history.

The fruits of Newcastle’s labours can be found in the £55m acquisition of Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, and the submitted bid for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has mused “could reach world-class striker levels”.

These are statement moves. Era-defining moves. And Howe, not one to rest on his laurels, is already planning for another.

Newcastle plan talks with Premier League star

With Liverpool formally registering their interest in Alexander Isak, Newcastle have a tough call to make. However, if that iconic talisman is plying his trade somewhere else next term, Ekitike would certainly soften the blow.

And moreover, the line of communications opened from west to east could lead to Howe getting one of Liverpool’s most talented prospects.

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim Newcastle (and Tottenham Hotspur) have entered the race to sign Harvey Elliott, who is expected to leave Anfield due to limited opportunities in Arne Slot’s system.

The 22-year-old is valued at £40m and also has interest from overseas, but Newcastle’s desire to initiate contact with the player’s representatives signals a strong curiosity about getting a deal done.

Why Newcastle want to sign Harvey Elliott

Elliott has long been regarded as one of the Premier League’s most talented young players, having featured 147 times for the Reds (notching 15 goals and 20 assists) and having won a range of prizes.

But his opportunities were reduced in Slot’s system last year, and it’s understandable that he wants a fresh start to ascend to the next level in his development.

Newcastle could give the young creative this chance, partnering him with another blooming talent in Ekitike – especially if Joe Willock leaves Tyneside, as has been mooted.

In spite of Elliott’s second-string role on Merseyside, he’s established himself good and proper. The quality is undeniable, and have Newcastle not tasted the fruits of signing an upcoming star from Liverpool in recent years?

24/25

28

5

3

23/24

53

4

14

22/23

46

5

2

21/22

11

1

0

*20/21

1

0

1

19/20

8

0

1

Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley once said that Elliott is capable of “some real bits of magic” on the ball, and it’s this silky style that the Magpies would add to a brood that might contain Ekitike over the coming seasons.

Such a partnership really could be a thing to be feared. The French forward’s blend of high-speed running, off-the-ball intelligence and unrelenting shooting lends itself to Elliott’s playmaking prowess.

As per FBref, Elliott ranked among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal contributions, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90.

For a player so frustrated out on the fringes, this isn’t bad data at all. Certainly, entrusted with a more prominent role at St. James’ Park, he could go from strength to strength.

Furthermore, the England U21 superstar also knows how to unleash a fizzling strike into the back of the net, thus widening the offensive proportions of Howe’s set-up.

Howe’s is a system built on swiftness, sharpness and success in the transition. Such flowing attacking play is something that Ekitike would thrive as the frontal piece of, but also something that Elliott could use to establish himself, settled in the middle, collecting and shepherding the ball forward.

There are many variables at play; who knows how Newcastle will shape up come the end of the summer transfer market?

However, there’s plenty of reason to be excited for those of a Magpies persuasion right now.

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