Chelsea will pay shirt manufacturer Adidas compensation after agreeing to end their partnership six years early. The Blues, whose kits have been supplied by the German sportswear brand since 2006, are free to look for a new partner from 2017 onwards when their £30m-a-year deal with Adidas finishes. We are having trouble showing you adverts on this page, which may be a result of ad blocker software being installed on your device. The German sportswear brand has boosted its full-year profit in anticipation of the undisclosed compensation fee it will receive from the Premier League club, with whom it had agreed a 10-year deal lasting in 2023 just three years ago.

Continue reading →

Roger Federer has been beaten in straight sets by world number 15 Dominic Thiem at the Italian Open. The 34-year-old Swiss, who has struggled with a back injury, lost their third-round match 7-6 (7-2) 6-4. Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, made 34 unforced errors in the Rome encounter ahead of the French Open, which starts on 22 May. Austrian Thiem, 22, will face the winner of Richard Gasquet against Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals. Other third round matches on Thursday include Britain’s Andy Murray playing Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while Australian Nick Kyrgios takes on seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal.

Borussia Dortmund have won the race to sign highly-rated Rennes forward Ousmane Dembele. The 18-year-old, who earlier this week claimed he turned down Leicester City, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga club. Dembele has scored 12 Ligue 1 goals this season, and was recently named the Young Player of the Year in France. Speaking to Ouest-France earlier this week, Dembele said: “I had Claudio Ranieri on the phone. I was surprised to hear from him but I told him I will not be going to Leicester. “I do hope to be playing Champions League [next season], but I know where I’m going and it’s final.” Dembele’s agent last month denied reports his client had agreed a move to Borussia Dortmund, but the German club announced the signing on Thursday afternoon.

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino has signed a two-year contract extension until 2021. Pochettino announced almost two weeks ago he had struck a verbal agreement with Spurs and the deal has now been officially confirmed. The 44-year-old was appointed in May 2014 and has achieved remarkable progress at White Hart Lane, leading Tottenham to second place this season with one game left to play. Assistant head coach Jesus Perez, first-team coach Miguel D’Agostino and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez have also agreed contract extensions. Pochettino said: “I could not be happier to sign this new contract. “It was an easy decision for my coaching staff and I because we can feel the appreciation of everyone here. There is no better place to be right now. “We have enjoyed a great season and we believe this is just the beginning.”

Continue reading →

Everton have sacked manager Roberto Martinez after three years in charge. Martinez’s side, 12th in the Premier League, were beaten 3-1 by champions Leicester on Saturday and lost 3-0 at Sunderland on Wednesday. The Toffees lost in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup this season. They have won just five league games at home all season and are guaranteed to finish with their lowest points tally at Goodison Park since the introduction of three points for a win in 1981. The club are expected to make an official announcement imminently to confirm their decision.

Frank de Boer has left his role as head coach of Ajax.  De Boer has been manager of Ajax since 2010. The 45-year-old’s agent linked the Dutchman with Everton recently, and speculation continues about the future of their manager Roberto Martinez, whose team have won only one of their past 10 league matches.

Champions Leicester have five players in the 10 nominations for the Premier League Player of the Season. Riyad Mahrez, the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) Player of the Year, was joined by Football Writers’ choice Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante, Kasper Schmeichel and captain Wes Morgan. Tottenham trio Harry Kane, PFA Young Player of the Year Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld are also nominated, along with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet.

Frank Lampard is a Designated Player for NYCFC and in two seasons with the club, he’s played just ten games. He hasn’t seen a minute of action this season, and it’s not clear if he even has a timetable for his return this year. How did we get here? How has this been such a catastrophe? Let’s go back to the beginning and follow along the timeline of the worst signing in the league’s history.

Continue reading →

Tottenham Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has been spotted meeting Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson for lunch. The pair, along with Pochettino’s assistant Jesus Perez, were snapped outside Scott’s Restaurant in London’s Mayfair on Tuesday. The pictures have heightened speculation on social media that Ferguson could be working on behalf of the Old Trafford giants to persuade Pochettino to replace Louis van Gaal this summer. Tottenham’s highly-rated head coach has made himself one of the hottest properties in Europe after transforming his young squad into title contenders. Jose Mourinho will not like this speculation for sure. We’ll see what happens.

Continue reading →

Former Sunderland and Brighton boss Gus Poyet has agreed to take over as Real Betis head coach on a two-year deal. Poyet, 47, who left Greek side AEK Athens last month, had been clear favourite to become the new manager of Championship side Nottingham Forest. Uruguayan Poyet steered the Black Cats to Premier League safety in 2014, but was sacked the following season after a run of poor results. Poyet replaces interim boss Juan Merino at the La Liga club.

West Ham will play their final competitive game at their famous 112-year home on tonight against Manchester United before their move to the 60,000-capacity London 2012 Olympics venue next season. The Hammers boss Slaven Bilic says it will be “impossible” to make the club’s new home of the Olympic Stadium a “fortress”. “When you played Arsenal at Highbury, it wasn’t dangerous but you felt it,” said Bilic. “Then we played against them at the Emirates and we enjoyed it; the players were taking selfies. “The Upton Park stadium was a first home. No matter where you move after that – if you move to a fancy apartment, a big house or to a mansion – your favourite one is always the first.”

Continue reading →

Belgium and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will miss Euro 2016 with a groin injury, according to a statement on his Facebook page. The defender, 30, was substituted after 10 minutes of City’s Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday. Kompany has suffered five separate injuries this season, playing just 22 matches out of a possible 57. He said it was “very sad news” but promised he would not “give up”. The statement added: “I trust my friends and team-mates to do well and do us proud at the next European Championships in France. “I am now officially their most fervent supporter and I will be there to support them.” Belgium are grouped with Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland at this summer’s tournament. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is Belgium’s vice-captain and has led the side in previous games when Kompany has been unavailable. Kompany also wrote he would “remain calm and positive” rather than “feeling sorry for myself”. He added: “I could fear for my career, as others may do. I could give up. That is not me. I decide on my future.”

PSV Eindhoven snatched the Dutch league title from Ajax on a dramatic final day of the season. The teams went into the last day level on points, with Ajax in control by virtue of having a six-goal advantage in goal difference. But the Amsterdam side could only draw 1-1 with lowly De Graafschap to open the door to their rivals. PSV took advantage, as two Luuk de Jong goals and one from Jurgen Locadia gave them a 3-1 win at PEC Zwolle. Victory gave PSV, who like their title rivals lost just twice in the Eredivisie this season, their 23rd league title.

Former Tottenham and Egyptian striker-turned-pundit Mido has honoured a promise and shaved his head after Leicester won the title. He tweeted: “All done”. We are hoping that Gary Lineker will fulfil his own promise of presenting Match of the Day with his pants only should Leicester win the EPL.

The sister of Patrick Ekeng, who died after collapsing while playing for Dinamo Bucharest, claims he said he was “feeling very tired” before the game. Cameroon’s Ekeng, 26, fell to the floor in the 70th minute of the televised Romanian league match against Viitorul and was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later. “He told his best friend he was not able to play,” Monique Chantal, Ekeng’s elder sister, told BBC Sport. “He said he was very tired.” She added: “Patrick was very generous, a gentleman. It is very painful he is leaving behind a family – it is like a dream, a nightmare.” Celine Chemi, Ekeng’s mother, said: “It is difficult to talk about my son at this moment, but I believe in God and submit to his will. “If this is football and the life of professional players then this calls for reflection.”

Continue reading →

Leicester celebrated the greatest day in their 132-year history in style as the newly-crowned Premier League champions comprehensively beat Everton before lifting the trophy. Claudio Ranieri’s men this season produced one of the most remarkable feats in sporting history, going from supposed relegation fodder and 5,000-1 outsiders to win the league for the first time with two matches to spare. There was a magical atmosphere around the King Power Stadium for the final home match of a campaign to cherish, with Leicester winning their title party 3-1 as Roberto Martinez’s side were completely overrun. City, like their fans, showed no hangover from the celebrations that have been ongoing since Tottenham drew at Chelsea on Monday, with Jamie Vardy requiring just five minutes of his return from suspension to put the home side ahead.

Coach Claudio Ranieri walked into a standing ovation as he arrived for press conference ahead of Leicester’s final home game against Everton on Saturday. Leicester will be handed the EPL trophy after the game to crown an unbelievable season they’ve had. The club treated journalists to champagne toasts during the press conference today as their celebration continues since they became EPL champions on Monday with two games to spare (thanks to a 2-2 draw by Chelsea and Tottenham at Stanford Bridge).

Continue reading →

Amazing. Leicester City have won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time. Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday confirmed a stunning achievement for Claudio Ranieri’s side. Leicester started the campaign as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title after almost being relegated last season. But they have lost just three league games in what has been described as a “fairytale” and the “most unlikely triumph in the history of team sport”. Closest challengers Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and last year’s champions Chelsea, have all failed to match the Foxes’ consistency across the season.

Duffy’s Bar in Leicester city centre is starting to fill up now as fans troop to watch Manchester United vs Leicester City.  A win for Leicester makes them this season’s EPL champions. Unbelievable!!!  Are Leicester going to win the Premier League today especially at Old Trafford? We’ll get to see.

Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rooney, Martial, Rashford.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan (c), Fuchs, Mahrez, Kanté, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Okazaki, Ulloa

Kick off time is 2:05 Nigerian time.

Jamie Vardy will miss Leicester’s Super Sunday clash at Manchester United after picking up a further one-match ban, according to Sky sources. The Foxes striker was in London on Sunday for the PFA Awards dinner and stayed overnight in the capital. He received a personal hearing on Monday and offered mitigation for his actions following his red card against West Ham on April 17. The England international missed Sunday’s 4-0 home win over Swansea and with Tottenham drawing on Monday night, the Foxes now only need one win in their final three games to secure the title. Leicester’s remaining fixtures are away to Manchester United and home to Everton before rounding off their fairytale campaign with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on May 15. Leicester just need to win one more game and the premier league title is theirs. It could happen on Sunday at Old Trafford.