Author: James Brooks

Brighton manager Dario Vidosic will lead his side out at Wembley on Sunday carrying the memory of his late father, Rado, who passed away in January following a battle with cancer. Rado Vidosic served as Brighton’s head of women’s and girls’ coaching and was described as a much-loved figure at the club following his arrival a year before his death. His passing at the age of 64 prompted Dario to take a month away from the Women’s Super League campaign on compassionate leave. Brighton recovered strongly upon his return in February, climbing to seventh in the WSL and reaching their…

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a knee injury during Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao. The Scottish FA confirmed the 24-year-old Napoli player would not take part in the finals, saying: “We’re all with you, Billy.” Napoli and Scotland team-mate Scott McTominay wrote on Instagram: “Absolutely devasted for you brother, football is a cruel game and you don’t deserve this, keep your head up. The players, staff and country love you.” Gilmour started at Hampden but was withdrawn after pulling up in pain, with his replacement Findlay Curtis scoring Scotland’s…

Paris St-Germain have won the Champions League for a second successive year, defeating Arsenal in a penalty shootout. The French side retained their crown in dramatic fashion, with the match ultimately decided from the spot after normal time failed to separate the two sides. Arsenal suffered the agony of a shootout defeat, with Gabriel missing a key penalty during the decisive sequence. The loss will be a bitter blow for Arsenal, who came agonisingly close to claiming the biggest prize in European club football. PSG, meanwhile, can celebrate an extraordinary achievement in retaining the Champions League trophy they won twelve…

Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris St-Germain will forever be defined by Gabriel standing with his head in his hands, consoled by PSG captain and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos. It was a cruel conclusion to the defender’s first European final, with his penalty blasted over the crossbar proving decisive in the shootout. The miss ended Arsenal’s hopes of a rare Premier League and Champions League double, a feat achieved only by Manchester United and Manchester City since 1992. It was the first penalty Gabriel had taken for Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta revealing the defender had “prepared and trained for…

Paris St-Germain have become only the second club in the Champions League era to successfully defend their European title after beating Arsenal in Budapest. The French champions edged a 1-1 draw before claiming a nervy 4-3 penalty shootout victory to secure back-to-back Champions League crowns. It backed up their dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich twelve months earlier, confirming PSG’s place among the competition’s elite. PSG are now only the 10th club across the competition’s 71-year history to win successive European titles, a remarkable achievement in modern football. They become the first side to retain the trophy since…

Now that the football season has come to an end, the tradition of clubs teasing next season’s kits is in full swing. However, with the latest launches, you might notice a significant change in front-of-shirt sponsorship. Teams are finally moving away from acting as contentious hosts for legal and illegal casino brands, opting for a fresh look as they pivot away from gambling logos on the front of their shirts. You’ve probably noticed over the years a swathe of random, restricted offshore casino brands sponsoring football teams. Names like Fun88, Rollbit, Stake.com, or BC.game. If you attempt to access any…

Liverpool have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams this summer, with Spanish reports indicating the Basque club is now willing to accept a fee below the player’s official release clause to facilitate a move. Williams carries a €95 million release clause in his contract, but Athletic are reportedly open to a formula closer to €60 million upfront plus €20 million in add-ons, with Liverpool prepared to invest around €80 million in total to get the deal done. The Reds are described by Fichajes as “ready to make that investment” after identifying the 23-year-old Spaniard as…

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Newcastle United to sign England winger Anthony Gordon for a fee of £69.3 million inclusive of add-ons, with Sky Sports News confirming the 25-year-old will fly to Spain to undergo his medical this week. The deal represents one of the more dramatic late pivots in recent transfer memory, with Bayern Munich having agreed personal terms with Gordon and widely expected to win the race just days ago. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Barcelona moved quickly and decisively once it became clear Bayern were not progressing fast enough with Newcastle to formalise their…

Manchester United have moved to the front of the queue for Mateus Fernandes, with sources reporting the club has “barged rivals aside” and held fresh contact with the player’s camp over a potential summer switch from relegated West Ham United. The 21-year-old joined the Hammers from Southampton for around £42 million last August and immediately became one of their few consistent performers across a season that ended with the club dropping into the Championship. West Ham’s public asking price sits at £84 million according to Football Insider, double what they paid, a figure designed to deter clubs that might try…

Juventus are tracking Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori this summer according to Gazzetta dello Sport, with the Italian side keen to add more Azzurri internationals to their squad under new ownership priorities. The 23-year-old joined Arsenal from Bologna in July 2024 for £42 million but has found consistent starting opportunities difficult to secure, losing ground to Piero Hincapie in recent weeks. Multiple reports from Italy suggest Calafiori himself is open to a return to Serie A if the right offer arrives, with AS Roma his sentimental preference but Juventus and Inter Milan the clubs with genuine financial capacity to make it…