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.
Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the new season, with midfielder James Maddison confirmed to have sustained a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The England international is expected to be sidelined for the bulk of the upcoming campaign, leaving Spurs manager Thomas Frank facing an urgent challenge to fill the creative void left behind.
Christian Norgaard marked a personal milestone by scoring his first goal for Arsenal, yet the Danish midfielder offered a sobering reflection on his side’s performance following a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in a pre-season friendly. The Dane found the net just after the half-hour mark but former Tottenham star Arnaut Danjuma further increased the lead to inspire his side to a narrow win.
Cody Gakpo has set his sights on European silverware as Liverpool gear up for the 2025–26 season, aiming to follow up their Premier League triumph with Champions League success. The Dutch forward, who played a crucial role in the Reds’ resurgence under new manager Arne Slot, is eager to build on last season’s achievements and go even further on the continental stage.
In an emotional press conference, Mourinho was asked about the death of his former captain at Porto, who helped deliver the ex-Chelsea manager's first Champions League title in 2004
Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber has denied any formal approach from Manchester United regarding midfielder Carlos Baleba, despite growing rumours linking the Cameroon international with a summer switch to Old Trafford. While the Red Devils are exploring a transfer through intermediary-level conversations, Brighton maintain that the player remains a critical part of their plans.
Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa has reportedly rejoined first-team training after clearing the air with head coach Keith Andrews, although the player continues to pursue a move away from the west London club. The 28-year-old forward was seen participating in a full training session on Wednesday morning, marking his first involvement with the senior squad since walking out of the team’s pre-season camp in Portugal on July 21.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain, describing the French club as one of the most exciting and dominant forces in European football and expressed optimism about a potential matchup with the Blaugrana in the upcoming campaign. Luis Enrique’s squad clinched both the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League and the Barcelona chief was quick to highlight the style and substance of the Parisian outfit.