Mahedi was Litton's 'first name in the line-up' for Colombo T20I

Mahedi bagged 4 for 11 in the third T20I, as Bangladesh won their first T20I series against Sri Lanka

Mohammad Isam17-Jul-2025

Mahedi Hasan now has the most wickets by a spinner in powerplays in T20Is since January 2021•Associated Press

Bangladesh captain Litton Das had earmarked offspinner Mahedi Hasan for the third T20I at the R Premadasa Stadium when he first saw their tour schedule for Sri Lanka. Mahedi repaid the faith by picking up career-best figures of 4 for 11 in Bangladesh’s eight-wicket win, which also gave them their first series win – by 2-1 – against Sri Lanka.Two of Mahedi’s wickets came in the powerplay, taking his tally to 30 in that phase since January 2021, the most for any spinner on that list. Litton said that Mahedi’s skillset suited the pitch, where spinners have generally done well. Mahedi got into the act straightaway on Wednesday night, removing Kusal Perera in his first over before having Dinesh Chandimal mistime a slog in the fifth.”We felt that Mahedi’s skills would be a perfect fit for the Colombo wicket,” Litton said after Bangladesh’s victory. “It doesn’t mean he doesn’t bowl well on other wickets. I had planned it as soon as I saw the schedule that Mahedi will be my first name in the line-up at this venue. It also doesn’t mean that Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] is not a good bowler or batter. As a team leader, I will think deeply about the surface before choosing a team. A bowling-friendly surface will always make me pick Mahedi. If it is batting-friendly, Miraz will come back into the team.”Related

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Mahedi four-for, Tanzid fifty give Bangladesh first series win against Sri Lanka

The occasion was further special for Mahedi, as he was returning to the side after missing Bangladesh’s last five T20Is. He wasn’t picked in the first two matches of this series after he went for plenty of runs in three games against UAE and Pakistan in May. It may have been harsh for Mahedi, who was adjudged Player of the Series in the West Indies in December, having powered Bangladesh to a 3-0 series win.Litton said he never had a shortage of belief, which helped them clinch the series, making it only the second time Bangladesh won a T20I series after going down 1-0 in a three-match affair.”It is a proud moment for me as a captain. I am happy that the fans are also happy seeing us win a T20I series in Sri Lanka,” he said. “We always try to give our 100% in the middle. We train in the way that we can give 100% in the middle. I always had the belief. I never had a shortage of belief in my ten years at this level.”Litton further said that other than the batting collapses – 94 all out in the second T20I, 186 all out in the third ODI and 167 all out in the first ODI – Bangladesh had a decent tour of Sri Lanka. He felt that the batting unit must take more responsibility across formats.Litton Das scored 76 in the second T20I, while his 32 in the third helped Bangladesh out of an early setback•Associated Press

“We didn’t play bad cricket in all the formats. It looks different as we had some batting collapses,” he said. “All the batters fell for 30-35 runs in the second Test, which had a good batting track. Someone had to play a big knock. It was the same in the first ODI: we lost plenty of wickets in a collapse. We need to be more focused as a batting unit, and take responsibility with our choices of shots, [and] we will do better.”Litton himself showed a bit of form, with his 76 off 50 in Bangladesh’s 83-run win in the second T20I. It was a pivotal knock as Litton added half-century stands with Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain in critical phases. It was also a break from his long white-ball slump. Litton also scored 32 in the third T20I, helping Bangladesh out of an early setback. He said he was getting hungry to score runs and looking for an opportunity.”I think hunger was a factor, I wasn’t scoring runs for a long time,” he said. “I was looking for an opportunity to grab. It was a plus point in the second T20I. I think winning changes the face of the team. We also won the second game by 83 runs, which is a huge achievement. The whole team had the confidence of winning if we played our best cricket.”All I can do is try hard. I don’t sit in the hotel room. I don’t miss training sessions. You have to keep trying as a player. You also need blessing from God. I think luck smiled at me in the second T20I. But I keep trying hard on and off the field. I worked on my own mostly. There are some people who helped me. It can be motivating too.”

RCB to extend IPL title celebrations in Bengaluru

The team will drive to the chief minister’s office for a short felicitation before arriving at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium shortly after 5pm

Shashank Kishore04-Jun-20252:28

Aaron: Kohli has been king of the castle for 18 years

The celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL triumph are set to reach a crescendo on Wednesday afternoon, as the franchise prepares to honour its beloved champions at home.Even as the franchise announced grand plans of an open-bus parade along a 2km stretch from Vidhana Soudha to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the evening, the city’s traffic police had already begun working overtime to manage crowds and traffic movements around the city’s CBD.As early as 10am, hundreds of fans had already begun descending at the Kempegowda International Airport to welcome the team. But the long commute from there towards central Bengaluru has forced a change of plan, with the team set to now touch down at the old HAL Airport then drive to the chief minister’s office for a short felicitation before arriving at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium shortly after 5pm.Related

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The city’s police are in close coordination with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), who are likely to throw open a number of stands for the victory lap that is now expected to take place inside the stadium’s premises. The KSCA is preparing for at least 10,000 fans to flock to the ground, but that number is likely to be a lot higher.On Wednesday afternoon, the city police had briefed various traffic units on elaborate plans to manage the weekday traffic, with the franchise and the government agencies making a plea to fans to use public transport and the metro service to prevent major traffic disruptions.The public had also been advised to avoid the CBD from 3pm to 8pm, around the time the team is expected to zip through the city for their engagements and post-IPL celebration. However, by noon, fans had queued up along the periphery of the stadium to get a glimpse of the team.Virat Kohli will expectedly be the centre of attention. Soon after winning the IPL, Kohli professed his love for Bengaluru and the franchise that “stood behind me”. It’s likely Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, who celebrated with the team into the early hours on Wednesday in Ahmedabad, will be part of the celebration.”I think I’m going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru,” he told RCB Bold Diaries. “And celebrate it with the city and fans who’ve stood by us through thick and thin. I’m just relieved. This is far more special than winning it with anyone else, because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. As I said, this is the team I’m going to play for till the last day I play the IPL. So, this one is absolutely right up there.”

Shubman Gill relishing 'ultimate honour' of Test captaincy

India’s new Test captain says it will be important for him to compartmentalise his roles as batter and leader

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20255:54

Kumble: Gill has to establish himself as a Test batter first

Shubman Gill has said being appointed India’s Test captain is the “ultimate honour” and that he aims to lead by example through performances on the field and through his “discipline and hard work” off it.Gill, 25, will begin his tenure as captain with a five-Test series in England starting on June 20, also the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle. As he leads a team going through a transition, Gill underlined the importance of understanding his team-mates to get the best out of them.”As a captain, a leader should be able to know when to step in but also when to give space to the players, because everyone has kind of had a different life and grown up differently,” Gill told BCCI.tv. “Everyone has a different personality, so a good leader should always be able to know what makes his players to be able to have the best performance or the best outcome.”That is always exciting to be able to have those conversations with the players, to be able to know them on a deeper level than just cricket, because then you’re really able to know what can get the best out of them.”Related

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Gill, who captained India during a T20I series in Zimbabwe last year, emphasised the importance of compartmentalising his roles as a batter and a leader.”One of the things that I learned was if I’m a batsman, I’m batting out there. I want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not as a captain,” Gill said. “If I start thinking about other things, it just puts more pressure on me which is not required, because when you’re batting out there, you want to be able to take those risks.”You want to be able to make decisions that you would make when you are playing just as a batsman because that gives you the freedom. That is one of the things that I learned that when whenever I am batting out there, I just want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not really want to think that I’m the captain.”Shubman Gill will be leading India in their first series since Kohli and Rohit’s Test retirements•AFP/Getty Images

Gill considers himself fortunate to have had the chance to learn leadership traits from his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have now retired from Test cricket.”When I was a kid, always inspired by the greats and the legends of Indian cricket and been very fortunate to be able to play with so many of them be it Virat or Rohit ,” he said. “Both were very contrasting in terms of their style, but it was very inspiring to see both of them working towards a common goal.”You want to be able to win as a captain and your styles can be different, but they both were very different but also similar in their own sense. Virat was always very aggressive, always wanting to lead from the front with hunger and passion whereas Rohit was also aggressive, but you might not see that on their reaction or on their expressions, but he was also someone who was always very attacking on the field.”Rohit was someone who was very calm and tactically always very present. He’s very communicative to the players, what he wants from the players and so these are the qualities that I learned from him.”Guys like Rohit , Virat and Ashwin , they have given us a blueprint on how to tour away from home and win matches and series. Yes, it’s one thing to be able to deliver and execute but because we have that blueprint, we know how to tour away from home and win matches and series.”Looking ahead to the England tour, Gill was excited to take on the challenges of playing a five-Test series.”My favourite series that I played was also a five-Test series when England came to India [in January-February 2024] and I think there’s a different essence when you’re playing a five-Test series,” he said. “It’s long, it’s mentally and physically very challenging and I think that’s the most exciting part about Test cricket because there are different areas and aspects that it challenges you at.”It’s not one-dimensional. There’s a lot more things that go on in red-ball cricket and that’s the most exciting thing … It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’re ready for any challenge.”

Grace Scrivens to captain England A in four-day tour finale

Essex captain given chance to finish tour as she started it in T20I leg

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2025

England A captain Grace Scrivens made 35 in the first T20I•Getty Images

Grace Scrivens will be given another chance to enhance her captaincy credentials as she leads England A’s red-ball team in their four-day match against Australia A in Sydney this week, at the conclusion of their multi-format series.Scrivens, 21, was handed the captaincy of the T20I leg of the seven-match tour, and succeeded at the first attempt where her senior counterparts had failed in their Women’s Ashes whitewash earlier this year.England A won that opening match of the series by three wickets at Hurstville Oval in Sydney, with Scrivens herself making 35 from 38 balls, before the remaining two matches were washed out.Hollie Armitage, Durham’s captain, then took over the reins for the three 50-over matches that followed, with England’s thrilling one-wicket win in Monday’s third ODI leaving the teams with two wins each in the four completed games so far.Although there are no official points at stake in the multi-format series, the series finale has an element of winner-takes-all to it, and will take place at Cricket Central from April 12-15.Scrivens, Essex’s captain, has yet to make her full England debut and so is unlikely to be considered as Heather Knight’s replacement, following the latter’s removal from the role after a nine-year tenure.However, Scrivens is widely considered as an England captain in the making, having led the Under-19 team to the T20 World Cup final in South Africa in 2023. Andy Tennant, her director of cricket at Essex, recently described her as “the English Graeme Smith”, in reference to the South Africa captain who led his side for 11 years after taking over at the age of 22 in 2003.With Charlotte Edwards now installed as England’s head coach, a new captain is due to be announced ahead of the team’s first series of the summer, against West Indies in May. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current vice-captain, is currently on maternity leave following the recent birth of her son, Theodore.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal makes Kylian Mbappe ‘best in the world’ prediction as Real Madrid avoid ‘Galactico’ transfer mistake

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is backing Kylian Mbappe to prove that he can be “the best in the world”, with the French forward already showing that Real Madrid made no “mistake” in making him another ‘Galactico’. The World Cup winner moved to Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024 but has been unable to break his Champions League trophy duck and been overlooked in another battle for Ballon d’Or recognition.

  • Getty

    Champions League and Ballon d'Or targets for Mbappe

    Mbappe has had his sights locked on those prestigious honours for some time. He made history at Paris Saint-Germain by becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and has graced two World Cup finals with France. The expectation was that he would lead the generation of talent emerging behind all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The Frenchman has been billed as a Golden Ball winner of the future ever since making a senior breakthrough while still in his teens. Mbappe is now 26 years of age and still has not earned a billing as the best player on the planet. Time is on his side, though, and he remains in the best possible surroundings when it comes to competing for collective and individual accolades.

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  • Nadal tips Mbappe to become best in the world

    That is an opinion shared by tennis great Nadal, who is a big Real Madrid supporter. A man with 22 Grand Slam titles to his name believes that Mbappe is capable of taking up a standing at the very top of the global game. That is where the Blancos expected him to end up when completing a deal that had been mooted for several years.

    ‘King of Clay’ Nadal told when asked for his take on Mbappe, who netted 44 goals across his debut campaign in the Spanish capital: “When Kylian was signed, we knew what we were getting. Kylian was signed, believing he was the best in the world, and he’s having a great start to the season, proving it wasn’t a mistake to think he was the best in the world. He’s going to fight to be that, I’m convinced, and he’ll do so with a great team behind him. I’m especially excited that he’s succeeding like this because I know how excited he was too.”

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    Real Madrid top of La Liga after derby setback

    Mbappe has been back among the goals this season, finding the target on 14 occasions through just 10 appearances. He has been doing his bit to ensure that Real remain in the hunt for major trophies at home and abroad. They are back on top of the Liga table, two points clear of Clasico rivals Barcelona.

    One domestic defeat has been suffered in 2025-26, when going down 5-2 in a dramatic derby date with neighbours Atletico Madrid, with Xabi Alonso’s side responding to that setback in style when seeing off 10-man Villarreal. Nadal claims to see cause for optimism, adding: “Xabi is here, he knows the club well, he’s young, with a spectacular resume in Germany.

    “He’s started the season and won every match except one. He missed the derby, and it was too big a blow, but it feels like the world is ending. The reality is that I was fully prepared, and Real Madrid will fight for everything. A little calm, let the team work, which is vital, and not just think about the specific moment. We have to keep our sights set on a very long season, with big goals. It was a complicated start, and it’s turning out very well.”

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  • Real Madrid fixtures: Testing run approaching

    Real have reached another international break, giving them an opportunity to rest and recharge – with the likes of Jude Bellingham, who has recovered from shoulder surgery, getting the chance to work on building their fitness.

    The Blancos will return to action on October 19 when making a short trip to Getafe. They will then enter a crucial run of fixtures in domestic and continental competition. Over the course of four games – with three of those taking place at the Bernabeu – Real will face Juventus, Barcelona and Liverpool.

'Giving me goosebumps even now' – Eric Dier claims winning Bundesliga title with Harry Kane at Bayern Munich was 'one of the best moments of my life'

Eric Dier admits that memories of breaking his trophy duck, while helping Harry Kane to lift his silverware curse, still gives him goosebumps. The versatile England international became a title winner alongside his close friend and fellow former Tottenham star when helping Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga crown in 2024-25. Memories of that success will live with Dier forever.

GettyTrophy curse lifted in Bundesliga title triumph

Like Kane, Dier headed to Germany having experienced a number of near misses on the trophy front. He formed part of Spurs squads that finished as runners-up in two League Cup finals and a Champions League showpiece in 2019 – when domestic rivals Liverpool dashed continental dreams in Madrid. He also finished third with England in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League.

A few eyebrows were raised when Dier followed Kane to the Allianz Arena, but he made 28 appearances across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign. Said season finished with Bayern getting their hands on the Bundesliga title – much to the relief of Dier and Kane.

AdvertisementDier left Kane when swapping Munich for Monaco

Kane was the first person that Dier turned to when that coronation was confirmed and he has told of emotional celebrations: "It’s giving me goosebumps even now. It was literally a second after we won it. It was one of the best moments of my life."

Dier was on the move again over the summer, as he swapped Munich for Monaco. He has previously spent time with Sporting in Lisbon and Tottenham in London. Stepping out of a professional comfort zone is nothing new for the combative centre-half. He said of his travels: "It would be impossible to sit down and map it all out perfectly, to decide when and where you want to go. For me, it’s like one of those pinball machines: the ball just drops and drops, you don’t know which way, all the way to the bottom. You never know what your journey is going to look like.

"I don’t really find moving difficult. The hardest thing is just the logistics, that’s a pain in the arse, the furniture, all that boring stuff. But for me, it’s always very enjoyable to come to a new country and to feel a new culture around football and life. To see how people work in different countries. All that stuff has always been just fun for me."

Getty ImagesWorld Cup dream: Dier targets England recall

Dier is now 31 years of age, but claims to feel better than ever. He added: "I really believe I’m in the best footballing shape I’ve ever been in. Physically, I feel fantastic. And with experience, you feel better and better as a player and I’ve improved massively over the last two or three years. I feel at my best as a player right now."

He went on to say of chasing a World Cup dream with England in 2026: "I definitely still have hope, I really want to be back in the England squad. And it’s for other people to judge, but I think in the last year at Bayern and now here I’ve been playing my best football, so it’s frustrating not to be in the squad when you feel that about yourself and you already have a lot of caps. It’s a huge motivation for me, but I also know it’s about Monaco playing well and the rest will be a result of that."

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Bid for 50th England cap: Tuchel knows Dier well

Dier is one appearance short of reaching a half-century for England, having made his senior international bow back in 2015. He has not represented his country since 2022, but the Three Lions are not blessed with an abundance of in-form options at the heart of their defence.

That could bring Dier back into contention, especially as England are now working under a coach that knows all about his many qualities. Thomas Tuchel was the man that took Dier to Bayern Munich, with the German tactician clearly a fan of what he has to offer – with plenty of time having also been spent operating in a holding midfield role over the course of his career.

Matthew Potts replaces Chris Woakes as England's only change for third Test

Ben Stokes says Durham quick has “a massive engine on him”

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Dec-2024Matthew Potts will earn his 10th Test cap as England make one change for their final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park. Chris Woakes, who played the first two Tests, will be the one to miss out.Potts has taken 31 wickets at 29.22 since making his debut in the summer of 2022, playing the first five matches of Ben Stokes’ tenure as captain. The first three were against New Zealand, with Potts excelling with 14 wickets.However, after being left out for the returning Ollie Robinson for the second Test of the South Africa series that summer, the Durham quick has found his opportunities limited.Related

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The 26-year-old played just one Test in 2023 (against Ireland at Lord’s), and, after playing the first two Tests against Sri Lanka this summer, was left out for the third as England opted to have a look at Leicestershire left-arm seamer Josh Hull. A solitary appearance on the Pakistan tour came for the second Test in Multan, on a surface tailored towards the home spinners though Potts took respectable match figures of 3 for 85 in 31.2 overs.With England 2-0 up and the series secure heading into Hamilton, Stokes has decided to give give Potts an outing in the team’s 17th and final Test of 2024. He is likely to take the new ball in Woakes’ abscence.”It’s another opportunity to look at one of the fast bowlers that we see playing a big role going forward,” said Stokes on Potts’ selection. “Two-nil up, you obviously put yourself in an easier position to make the change.”Pottsy’s got a massive engine on him. He can go all day, bowl a lot of overs, but not just that, he’s a very skilful bowler, which he’s got better at by being here, working with Jimmy [Anderson] on a few things here and there. He’s someone who is another versatile bowler, you can use him with the new ball, the short-ball plan that we go to because he’s so fit. He can bowl you 20 overs one day, then rock up again and bowl you another 20.”Stokes also praised Woakes’ output on this tour. The 35-year-old has taken six wickets at 29.16 with the Kookaburra ball as the leader of the attack. That has included Kane Williamson twice.An overseas average of 51 coming into the winter has been reduced slightly to 48.93. And though there is uncertainty as to whether Woakes makes the trip to Australia next winter for the 2025-26 Ashes, Stokes believes the Warwickshire veteran has shown his class.”Chris Woakes came into the winter tours with a bit of scrutiny behind his away record but I think what he has done over the winter has proved a lot of people wrong,” said Stokes. “He’s been fantastic, he was great in Pakistan and pretty influential over here.”

فيديو | إريك جارسيا يسجل هدف تعادل برشلونة أمام ريال أوفييدو

نجح برشلونة في العودة في نتيجة المباراة ضد مضيفه ريال أوفييدو بتسجيل هدف التعادل، خلال اللقاء الذي يجري حالياً بين الفريقين ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل برشلونة ضيفاً على ريال أوفييدو في ملعب “كارلوس تارتيري” ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

وكان الشوط الأول قد انتهى بتقدم ريال أوفييدو عن طريق رينا في الدقيقة 32، وفي الدقيقة 55 عاد برشلونة عن طريق إريك جارسيا بعد ان ارتدت الكرة من يد حارس ريال أوفييدو من تسديدة فيران توريس.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 13 نقطة بينما يأتي ريال أوفييدو في المركز ال18 بثلاث نقاط فقط.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | بخطأ جارسيا.. رينا يسجل هدف ريال أوفييدو الأول أمام برشلونة

وكان هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة قد دخل لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: خوان جارسيا، أراوخو، باو كوبارسي، جارسيا، جيرارد مارتن، بيدري، كاسادو، داني اولمو، رافينها، ماركوس راشفورد، فيران توريس.

ويجلس على مقاعد بدلاء برشلونة كلًا من: فرينكي دي يونج، روني بردجي، أندرياس كريستنسن، فويتشيك تشيزني، دييجو كوشين، جول كوندي، جوفري تورنتس، توني فيرنانديز، مارك بيرنال.

موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة بعد الفوز على سيراميكا كليوباترا

انتهت مباراة الأهلي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، منذ قليل، والتي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

والتقى الأهلي مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع.. لاعب الأهلي يغادر مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا مصابًا

وحقق الأهلي، فوزًا صعبًا بهدف نظيف، سجله محمود حسن تريزيجيه في الدقيقة 26، بعدما راوغ داخل منطقة الجزاء ثم سدد كرة قوية R2 على يسار حارس المرمى محمد بسام.

وتمكن الأهلي، من استعادة نغمة الانتصارات بالفوز اليوم، بعد تعثر في المباراتين الماضيين ليرفع رصيده إلى 9 نقاط في المركز العاشر من جدول ترتيب الدوري.

وينتظر الأهلي، في مباراته المقبلة فريق حرس الحدود ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز. موعد مباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود في الدوري

ويلتقي الأهلي، مع حرس الحدود يوم الثلاثاء 23 سبتمبر الجاري في تمام الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

Player in talks to join league champions after deciding to leave Arsenal

Arsenal are at the centre of many intriguing transfer stories this summer, and there is no sign of things slowing down at the Emirates Stadium with new sporting director Andrea Berta working tirelessly to reshape the squad.

The threat Gyokeres has text Sporting as he pushes to join Arsenal

He’s prioritising a move to north London.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 1, 2025

Mikel Arteta is already poised to welcome the arrivals of Spain international duo Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Zubimendi was in London last month to finalise a move to Arsenal, while Kepa has been confirmed as a new Arsenal player after he completed a medical last week.

football.london have reported that Arsenal could announce the transfer Zubimendi in the next few days as well, following the start of football’s new financial year – which allows them to register both Kepa and the 26-year-old as part of the 2025/2026 balance sheet.

Arsenal have also agreed a near-£15 million deal for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, including add-ons, with the Denmark international set to replace Thomas Partey.

Norgaard will step into the shoes of Partey, who’s now officially a free agent after deciding to call time on his five-year stay in north London.

Arteta wanted Partey to stay, and Arsenal did hold negotiations to extend the African’s former £200,000-per-week contract, but both the club and player amicably decided to go their separate ways.

“The relationship between Thomas Partey and Arsenal is still solid, even though today will be his last day as an Arsenal player,” said Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba, giving his verdict on the reaction to his departure.

“Arteta did his all to keep him, but they didn’t agree on terms. I have seen Arsenal fans insult Thomas Partey and that’s very unfair. Football is about give and take and players come and go. A player has the right to request and the club has the right to reject, thats why it’s called negotiation.

“I believe Partey did his best for Arsenal, and it’s for the betterment of the player and club that he’s leaving. There’s nothing more he can offer Arsenal and nothing more Arsenal can offer him too. It’s business at the end of the day. The club and player has decided what it’s good for both.”

Thomas Partey in talks to join Galatasaray after leaving Arsenal

The former Atlético Madrid star, called “sensational” by La Liga expert Gerry Armstrong, enjoyed his best-ever campaign at Arsenal last term – making over 50 appearances in all competitions and playing a key role under Arteta.

The question now is; what’s next for Partey?

Well, according to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Partey is now in talks to join Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray after quitting Arsenal, with Okan Buruk’s side also opening discussions for Man City star İlkay Gündoğan as they look to reinforce their midfield with proven quality.

A Süper Lig switch, where Partey will also have the chance to compete in the Champions League next season, could be an ideal next move as he enters the twilight phase of his career.

He’d also have the chance to add a league title to his CV, as Galatasaray are most likely set for another interesting title race with José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe next season.

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