Stewart Downing expects more signings to join him at Middlesbrough

Stewart Downing expects more eye-catching signings to follow him to Middlesbrough and help his hometown club push for promotion. The 31-year-old has returned to the Riverside after stints at Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham United and is hoping to be back in the Premier League sooner rather than later. Downing will be expected to spearhead that challenge of going one better than last season’s play-off...

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Crystal Palace sign Alex McCarthy from Queens Park Rangers on four-year deal

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of the goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from Queens Park Rangers on a four-year deal. The 25-year-old, who moved to QPR from Reading in August last year and made three appearances in the top flight, joins for an undisclosed fee. “When I first heard about Palace’s interest I was excited because I really wanted to be back in the Premier League,” the former England Under-21 international told his new club’s...

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Liverpool complete £32.5m signing of Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke

Brendan Rodgers has finally captured his No1 summer transfer target afterChristian Benteke completed his £32.5m transfer to Liverpool from Aston Villa. The Belgium international becomes the seventh new arrival at Anfield since the end of last season. Benteke is understood to have signed a five-year contract, with Liverpool paying £16m up front and the remainder of the fee payable over the course of his contract. Rodgers’ pursuit...

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Gabon denies paying Barcelona’s Lionel Messi £2.5m for Ali Bongo visit

The Gabonese government have denied claims that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was paid €3.5m (£2.5m) to visit the country to take part in a ceremony at one of the venues for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Messi, who has yet to link up with his Barcelona team-mates on their US tour, was pictured at the weekend in the country’s second largest city, Port-Gentil, where he helped to lay one of the first stones for the planned 40,000-capacity...

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PSG sign Benjamin Stambouli from Tottenham on five-year contract

Paris Saint-Germain have announced the signing of the midfielder Benjamin Stambouli from Tottenham on a five-year contract. Stambouli, 24, joined the London club from Montpellier, but has opted to move on after just one season at White Hart Lane. Stambouli, who made 25 appearances for Spurs in all competitions, said: “I am delighted and very proud to become a member of the Paris Saint-Germain family. “I wasn’t necessarily planning...

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Newcastle confirm signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic from Anderlecht

Newcastle United have signed the striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on a five-year deal from Anderlecht. The 20-year-old arrives subject to receiving the appropriate visa in a deal the club claims is the fourth biggest in their history. The Serbia international said: “There will be pressure here, for sure, but I like pressure. I also know about the famous players who have played for Newcastle United, like Alan Shearer who is a hero of mine....

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British comedian throws fake money at Blatter

The man behind the popular TV character 'Jason Bent' pulled off another audacious publicity stunt at the expense of the under-fire Fifa president A British comedian interrupted a Fifa press conference on Monday and threw fake bank notes at outgoing president Sepp Blatter. The man has been identified as television broadcaster Simon Brodkin, who is renowned for his publicity stunts, having most recently crashed rapper Kanye West's set at the...

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Fifa election set for February 26

Sepp Blatter was re-elected as president last month but then decided to stand down at the earliest opportunity amid a corruption scandal A new Fifa president will be elected at an Extraordinary Congress on February 26. The date was confirmed on Monday following an Extraordinary General Meeting of the governing body in Zurich. Outgoing president Sepp Blatter laid down his mandate back in June, just four days after he won a fifth consecutive...

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Stambouli joining PSG, confirms Blanc

The Tottenham midfielder moved from Montpellier last summer, making just 12 Premier League appearances and is now poised to complete his transfer back to France Benjamin Stambouli will finalise his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Tottenham on Monday, according to Laurent Blanc.The 24-year-old joined Spurs from Montpellier last summer for a fee believed to be £4.7 million (€6m) but made just 12 Premier League...

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Aston Villa sign France Under-21 defender Jordan Amavi from Nice

Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign the left-back Jordan Amavi from Nice, the Ligue 1 club have announced. The 21-year-old, who has represented France at Under-21 level, finalised his deal with the Barclays Premier League side on Saturday. Nice said in a statement on their official website: “An agreement was reached on Saturday for the transfer of Jordan Amavi to Aston Villa. “Jordan Amavi has not participated in the trip...

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Sunderland sign Tottenham’s Younès Kaboul for undisclosed fee

The Tottenham defender Younès Kaboul has completed his move to Sunderlandafter signing a four-year deal. The 29-year-old has joined the club for an undisclosed fee after travelling to Wearside for a medical on Thursday. Kaboul said: “I’m delighted to be a Sunderland player and it’s an honour to join this club. I would like to thank [the sporting director] Lee Congerton and the head coach [Dick Advocaat] for making this move possible,...

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Real Madrid agree Casilla deal with Espanyol

The Blancos have secured their replacement for Iker Casillas, potentially spelling the end of their interest in Manchester United's David de Gea Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla on a five-year contract, both clubs have confirmed. The Spain international - a Blancos youth product - left the Santiago Bernabeu side in 2008, but the departure of Iker Casillas to Porto triggered a pursuit from...

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Arsenal's Sanogo joins Ajax on loan

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger says that the young French striker "needs to play" as he heads to the Eredivisie to spend the full 2015-16 season with Frank de Boer's side Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has joined Ajax on a season-long loan deal. The France Under-21s international spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace but will now spend the entire 2015-16 campaign at the Amsterdam ArenA. Sanogo has struggled for opportunities...

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Delph completes Manchester City move

The England international midfielder signs a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, having made a second U-turn on his leaving Aston Villa through his £8 million release clause Manchester City have completed the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph less than a week after he vowed to stay at Villa Park this summer. The Villa captain made a second U-turn on his future earlier on Friday after receiving...

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Atletico Madrid sign Jackson Martinez

The Spanish side have confirmed that the Colombia international will join on a four year deal from Porto after they paid his €35 million release clause Atletico Madrid have confirmed the signing of Jackson Martinez from Porto. The Portuguese side had already confirmed that the player would depart to join Diego Simeone's team, but it has now been confirmed that he will sign a four-year contract in the Spanish capital. After...

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Stoke sign Barcelona youngster Moha El Ouriachi

Mark Hughes confirmed interest in the 19-year-old, who rejected a new Camp Nou contract, in April and now makes the forward his seventh summer signing Stoke City have completed the signing of teenage forward Moha El Ouriachi from Barcelona.The 19-year-old, who has represented Spain at youth level and is also eligable for Morroco, moves to the Britannia Stadium after opting to reject a new contract from the Spanish and European...

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Watford set to sign £3.5m Holland winger Steven Berghuis from AZ

Watford are set to continue their squad strengthening for their return to the Premier League with the purchase of the Holland winger Steven Berghuis from AZ Alkmaar. The 23-year-old, who has graduated through junior levels into the senior Holland set-up and had been heavily linked with PSV Eindhoven, can play on either flank or as a No10, and scored 11 times for AZ last season. Berghuis had trials with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur as a...

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Sunderland’s £5m deal to sign defender Nicolas Lombaerts collapses

Sunderland’s £5m deal to sign the Zenit St Petersburg defender Nicolas Lombaerts has collapsed – but the player has denied that he failed a medical. The 30-year-old Belgium international was a target for Dick Advocaat and rumours that he had failed a medical began to circulate on Tuesday evening. Lombaerts, who suffered a serious knee injury in 2008 but has played more than 200 times for Zenit since then, is understood to have had a medical on...

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Sunderland sign Lens from Dynamo Kyiv

The 27-year-old, who can play up front or on either flank, has signed a four-year contract at the Stadium of Light to reunite with former PSV boss Dick Advocaat Sunderland have completed the signing of Jeremain Lens from Dynamo Kyiv.Last month revealed that the Black Cats were in talks to sign Lens, and on Tuesday confirmed that he was on the way to England to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.And...

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Southampton sign Clasie from Feyenoord

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract at St Mary's Stadium and is expected to fill the midfield void left by Morgan Schneiderlin's departure to Manchester United Southampton have completed the signing of Jordy Clasie from Feyenoord.The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with Ronald Koeman's side after a fee reported to be in the region of £8.4 million was agreed with the Dutch giants.Clasie is widely expected...

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Schneiderlin joins Manchester United

The one-time Arsenal and Tottenham target becomes Louis van Gaal's third summer arrival in as many days after the club met Southampton's £25 million asking price Manchester United have confirmed the signing Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton, with the midfielder signing a four-year deal.A fee was agreed over the weekend, with the Frenchman undergoing a medical at Carrington on Sunday, and Schneiderlin now becomes Louis...

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Manchester City sign Sterling for £49m

After two previous bids were rejected, the winger finally leaves Liverpool for the Etihad Stadium to become the most expensive English footballer of all time Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Raheem Sterling from Liverpool for a deal worth up to £49 million. The news brings to an end a long-running and highly public transfer saga, with the England international even threatening to go on strike before...

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Jenkinson rejoins West Ham on loan

The Arsenal right-back has sealed a return to the Hammers and has also penned a new contract at the Emirates, with the right-back set to spend the season at Upton Park Carl Jenkinson has signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal and rejoined West Ham on a season-long loan.The right-back, who spent the 2014-15 season at Upton Park and made 36 appearances in all competitions, is understood to have penned a five-year deal with the Gunners, prior to...

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Chelsea confirm £8m signing of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke

Chelsea have completed the £8m purchase of Asmir Begovic from Stoke City with the Bosnia international replacing Petr Cech as Thibaut Courtois’ understudy at Stamford Bridge. Begovic, capped 41 times, has signed a four-year contract with the Premier League champions and will travel with the first-team to Montreal on Wednesday as José Mourinho’s squad begin their preparations for the defence of their trophy. The 28-year-old joins...

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Stephan El Shaarawy close to £11m transfer from Milan to Monaco

The Italy international Stephan El Shaarawy is close to completing a transfer from Milan to Monaco. The 22-year-old forward, who is due to have a medical with the French club on Monday, told Italy’s Sky Sports that: “I had to make a decision in 24 hours. But I think I made the right choice for my career.” The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Monaco will pay Milan a €16m (£11m) transfer fee and that El Shaarawy, who has an Egyptian...

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Newcastle United sign Georginio Wijnaldum on five-year deal from PSV

Georginio Wijnaldum has become the third most expensive signing in Newcastle United’s history after completing his move from PSV Eindhoven. The 24-year-old Holland international signed for a fee understood to be in the region of €20m, about £14.4m, after agreeing a five-year deal. The midfielder said: “I’m delighted to be a Newcastle United player. I felt the time was right for me to move and the club have shown they really...

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