Tottenham’s Brazil international midfielder Paulinho, 26, who joined the Lilywhites from Corinthians for a fee of just under £17m in July 2013, has moved to Guangzhou for a reported £9.9m on a four-year contract, the Chinese club have confirmed. They are managed by former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and are currently third in the league standings as they seek a fifth successive Super League title.
Goal keeper Petr Cech has completed his move from Chelsea to Arsenal. Cech has also written a letter to Chelsea fans, admitting he thought he would “finish his career” at Stamford Bridge. However, after losing his starting position to Thibaut Courtois, he says he had to move on for “new challenges” because he is not at the stage of his career where he is happy to sit on the bench. The Czech adds that he “couldn’t be more proud” of what he achieved during 11 years at Chelsea but it is “time to begin a new adventure”. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Petr Cech is “one of the outstanding keepers in the world” after the Czech joined the Gunners from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. The 33-year-old made over 400 appearances during 11 years at Stamford Bridge, winning every major club honour at least once and the Premier League Golden Glove award on three occasions. “Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us,” said Wenger. Cech added: “When Arsene Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear.”
Chile’s Gonzalo Jara will miss the rest of the Copa America after being given a three-match ban for an incident in which he appeared to poke his finger against Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani’s backside. South American football governing body Conmebol said the defender was being suspended for “unsporting behaviour”. Jara has also been fined $7,500. The incident happened during Chile’s 1-0 quarter-final win last Thursday. Cavani was given a second yellow card after he slapped Jara, who went unpunished, in retaliation. Former West Brom and Nottingham Forest defender Jara’s ban means he will miss the semi-final clash with Peru on Monday and, depending on the result of that game, either the final or third-place playoff. He will also be suspended for Chile’s first match of the qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
Former Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert (far right) posts a picture on Instagram of him and his family dressed up as the Jackson 5 for a fancy dress party.
Justin Gatlin became the fifth-fastest 200m runner in history as he won Sunday’s final at the United States Track and Field Championships. The 33-year-old American, who has served two doping bans, recorded a time of 19.57 seconds in Oregon. It bettered the 19.68 he ran in May which, at that stage, was the best in the world. “I wanted to go out and make a statement, and that’s what I did,” Gatlin said. Gatlin has been the dominant sprinter in 2015, having also achieved the quickest time in the 100m (9.74).