📝Bio: Soham has been living and breathing football stories for almost a decade, carving his path as a news and SEO writer with an instinct for the big moments. Armed with an MA (Honours) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldn’t be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the game he adores. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up watching Bhaichung Bhutia scoring goals for fun in India, before falling head over heels for Real Madrid, a club that now dictates the rhythm of his everyday life.⚽My Football Story: It all began back in 2002. A cricket bat in hand, ready to step out, but then the skies opened up. The rain kept me indoors, and that twist of fate led me to the sofa, beside my father, who had a football match on TV. Little did I know at the time but it was the World Cup final: Brazil vs Germany. Forget the goals – what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldo’s haircut and his iconic celebration. From there, cricket slowly faded and football fever took over. By my teenage years, I was sneaking out of bed at 1am to watch the Champions League - fair to say I was hooked for life.
🎯Areas of Expertise:
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: The day Mohun Bagan demolished East Bengal 5-3 in the Kolkata Derby, with Chidi Edeh scoring four - a moment when the city turned maroon and green. But nothing beats the spine-tingling sight of Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madrid’s La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.📝My All-Time XI: Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude Makélélé, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Lionel Messi.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has admitted he is still haunted by his Ballon d’Or disappointment at Bayern Munich. The Poland international was favourite for the 2020 award before it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and then came second to Lionel Messi in the vote the following year.
Jack Grealish has reportedly sacrificed a hefty chunk of his Manchester City fortune to seal a shock loan move to Everton, who have the option to buy him outright for £50 million ($67m) next summer. The England international, kitted out in a sleek black velour tracksuit, ticked off his medical on Monday ahead of his official unveiling at Everton.
Manchester United's stance on a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma has been revealed with the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper reportedly nearing an exit from the Parc des Princes. The Italian goalkeeper is understood to be open to calling time on his PSG career, but only if the right club comes knocking. PSG offered him an upgraded contract in a bid to secure his long-term commitment, but Donnarumma rejected the terms.
Tottenham are reportedly "exploring" a transfer for Eberechi Eze as the Crystal Palace star has been lined up to replace the injured James Maddison. The 27-year-old England star has become the latest name on Spurs’ hit list as the club scrambles to inject creativity into their attack following the devastating loss of Maddison through a season-wrecking ACL injury.
Manchester United have unveiled their 2025-26 third kit in a video featuring Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Amorim. In a campaign dripping with nostalgia, swagger, and a touch of kung-fu theatre, Dimitar Berbatov has also starred in the role of a serene martial arts master to reveal what supporters are already calling the club's "best jersey in decades".
Barcelona’s dressing room has reportedly been rocked by an extraordinary bust-up between two of its brightest young stars, with Gavi allegedly demanding that his long-time friend Fermin Lopez be sold after a furious clash that nearly turned physical. The pair’s relationship stretches back to their teenage years at La Masia but those warm memories have been torched in recent days, as a personal dispute has spiralled into a full-blown feud.
Alexander Isak is reportedly "adamant" that his Newcastle career is over, even if his proposed transfer to Liverpool does not materialise. The Swedish striker is said to have no intention of pulling on a Magpies shirt again as his relationship with the club hierarchy has hit an all-time low.
Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly issued a bombshell ultimatum to Manchester United in order to push through his proposed transfer to Chelsea. The 21-year-old winger has made it clear that his future lies away from Manchester, with Stamford Bridge emerging as his preferred next destination.
Spanish football could be on the brink of a groundbreaking moment and it’s FC Barcelona leading the charge. According to reports in Sport, the Catalan club is pushing for its December league fixture against Villarreal to be staged not in Spain, but under the Florida sun at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. If approved, it would mark the first official La Liga match ever played outside Spain.
Harry Kane is set to lose his team-mate, Kingsley Coman, as the Bayern Munich star has reportedly agreed to join Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. According to German outlet Bild, the Riyadh-based club have been pursuing the French international relentlessly in recent days, and now, the finish line is in sight. The deal on the table would hand Coman an eye-watering salary of between €25-€30 million (£22m/$29m - £26m/$35m) a year.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has reportedly been left disgruntled after failing to make manager Ruben Amorim’s newly formed six-man leadership group. The squad hierarchy, headed by club captain Bruno Fernandes, also includes Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, and veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman and Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique are among the prominent nominees for the Johan Cruyff awards that will be given away at the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Both Chelsea coaches, Enzo Maresca and Sonia Bompastor, have been nominated as well, along with Barcelona's Hansi Flick, who inspired the Blaugranas to a domestic treble.
Everton have reportedly opened talks with Manchester City over a potential loan deal for Jack Grealish. The England international has seen his playing time under Pep Guardiola drastically reduced at City over the last two seasons. Grealish was handed just seven starts in the Premier League during the 2024-25 season, and Guardiola has hinted he is no longer in his plans for the future.
Chelsea could reportedly sell four players to the same club as they continue to balance their books after an extravagant summer that has seen over £200 million spent on new signings. The Blues appear determined to trim their wage bill to comply with financial regulations.
Leeds are preparing for life in the Premier League and have reportedly set their sights on a former Liverpool star to bolster their attack. The Whites have already made seven signings this summer and are keen to further reinforce their ranks to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Arsenal finally ended their protracted search for a new striker by landing Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon in a £64 million deal, but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes isn't convinced that he is the right man to lead Mikel Arteta's attack. Scholes has raised doubts over how Gyokeres will fit into Arteta's system while suggesting he may not be the "clever" No.9 that the coach really wanted.
Jamie Carragher has admitted he "doesn't feel right" about Liverpool's proposed £150m swoop for Alexander Isak. Despite already investing nearly £252 million ($335m) on signings including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike, the Reds are still chasing a deal with Newcastle for Isak, which Carragher believes veers away from the club’s historically cautious and strategic transfer philosophy.
Arsenal’s preparations for the upcoming season have been significantly bolstered by the return of key defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber to full training. The duo were spotted taking part in sessions ahead of the Gunners’ upcoming friendly clash against Villarreal and they are now in line to feature in the club's Premier League opener against Manchester United.
Reece James has been told that he is "worth £150m" and "better than Trent Alexander-Arnold" as the Chelsea captain bids to overcome his persistent injury woes. James has endured a tumultuous three-year spell plagued by recurring muscle and knee problems, resulting in sporadic availability. His 19 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season marked his highest total since the 2021–22 campaign.
Al Hilal have reportedly secured a verbal agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Darwin Nunez, as former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi inches closer to landing one of his top summer target. Negotiations between the two clubs have concluded positively, with both sides aligning on the financial package required to facilitate the striker's move.