Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr grabbed a point against Al-Ahli thanks to a fortunate equaliser deep into stoppage time in the Saudi Pro League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Franck Kessie fired Al-Ahli ahead in style
• Al-Nassr grab equaliser in ninth minute of stoppage time
• Underwhelming start to the season by Ronaldo's team

• Getty Images Sport
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Ronaldo was honoured before the game with a special ‘900 goals’ shirt and tifo after his latest record-break exploits but couldn’t add to his tally in a first half low on quality and clear-cut chances. The Portugal star’s best opportunity came from a free-kick that flew harmlessly over the bar. Marcelo Brozovic also had sight of goal for Ronaldo’s side but saw a shot blocked by Edouard Mendy, while Roberto Firmino had a chance at the other end with a curling shot that drew a flying save from Bento.

  There was more drama in the second half with Al-Nassr penalty claims waved away when Talisca went down in the penalty area, before Franck Kessie smashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area after some good link-up play from Ivan Toney on his debut. Al-Nassr tried to hit back but had to wait until deep into stoppage time to rescue a point. Ronaldo's team also needed a giant slice of luck as Sultan Al-Ghannam's cross took a nick off Bassam Mohammed Alhurayji and sneaked past goalkeeper Mendy.

Advertisement

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  THE MVP

  Kessie may not have ended up on the winning side but the former Barcelona midfielder deserved the MVP award for his quite brilliant strike alone. In a match devoid of quality, particularly in attack, Kessie's goal stood out, as he met his ball perfectly on the edge of the box and smashed it past a startled Bento and into the top corner. No goalkeeper in the world was keeping that one out.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIG LOSER

  The fact that the hosts' equaliser came via the boot of an Al-Ahli defender in the 99th minute tells you all you need to know about their attacking display as Al-Nassr's forwards struggled all night to create chances and trouble Mendy. Ronaldo seemed out of sorts after the international break and never looked like adding to his famous tally. The Portugal star wasn't helped by his team-mates either, with Sadio Mane and Talisca both struggling to provide any quality throughout the 90 minutes. A big improvement is needed if Al-Nassr are to seriously challenge for the title this season.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Both teams are back in Saudi Pro League action in a week's time. Al-Nassr come up against Al-Ettifaq, while Al-Ahli take on Damac.

The League One play-offs offer a chance to those who just missed out on automatic promotion, with four teams battling it out to see who can secure promotion to the Championship. With the winner getting the opportunity to gain more exposure and enjoy greater financial gains, as well as being just one step away from the bright lights of the Premier League, it's a prize well worth fighting for.

The regular League One season has now concluded, with the fight for the play-offs finally coming to an end. With Portsmouth and Derby going up, one from the remaining four sides will join them in the second tier.

Bolton Wanderers will take on Oxford United for a place in the final after winning their respective semi-final matchups.

Football FanCast has taken a look ahead at the details concerning the upcoming 2024 EFL League One play-offs.

How the League One play-offs work

Just like all the EFL play-offs, the League One play-offs consist of two semi-finals: the team that finishes in third play the team finishing in sixth; the team finishing in fourth plays the team who finished fifth.

One team advances from each semi-final tie, which is settled over two legs home and away, with the team leading on aggregate after 180 minutes of football (or more) advancing to the final. The team who finished lower will be at home for the first leg, whilst the team who finished higher will be at home for the deciding return leg.

In the event of a tie after 180 minutes of football, the match will be settled via extra-time and penalties if the score is still level following an additional 30 minutes.

Wembley Stadium is the stage for the League One play-off final, with the winner lifting the trophy and securing promotion to the Championship. As usual, extra-time and penalties are required if both teams are tied at the end of normal time, with the losing team spending another season in League One.

Final League One standings

Teams placed from third to sixth make it into the League One play-offs, with the top two going up automatically.

Derby did their bit on the final day to join Portsmouth in the Championship, while Oxford United sneaked into fifth place ahead of Lincoln City, who lost to Pompey on the final day.

Bolton had to settle for third place ahead of last-day opponents Peterborough United, who they could yet face again at Wembley, while Barnsley also assured themselves a shot at promotion after a draw against Northampton Town at home.

Final League One table

Pos

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1st

Portsmouth

46

28

13

5

+37

97

2nd

Derby

46

28

8

10

+41

92

3rd

Bolton

46

25

12

9

+35

87

4th

Peterborough

46

25

9

12

+28

84

5th

Oxford

46

22

11

13

+23

77

6th

Barnsley

46

21

13

12

+18

76

7th

Lincoln

46

20

14

12

+26

74

8th

Blackpool

46

21

10

15

+17

73

2024 League One play-off dates

Date

Fixture

Friday, May 3rd

Barnsley 1-3 Bolton

Saturday, May 4th

Oxford 1-0 Peterborough

Tuesday, May 7th

Bolton 2-3 Barnsley

Wednesday, May 8th

Peterborough 1-1 Oxford

The 2024 League One play-off semi-finals took place in early May, with the final being held on Saturday 18th May 2024 at Wembley Stadium, with a 4.15pm kick-off.

League One play-off final 2024

Date

Saturday 18th May

Time

4.15pm

Venue

Wembley Stadium

Capacity

90,000

Where to watch the 2024 League One play-offs on UK TV and live-stream

Fans will be able to watch the League One playoffs live on Sky Sports, as well as Sky Go if you're looking for an online streaming platform.

If you're from over the pond in the US, League One play-off games are available to watch and stream live on ESPN+ and the ESPN network.

How and where to buy League One play-off final tickets Bolton Wanderers

The Trotters have been allocated 36,550 tickets for their trip to Wembley, in what is their first appearance at the national stadium since the 2011 FA Cup semi-finals. All tickets must be purchased online through this portal provided by the club.

Supporters can buy up to two tickets per client reference number, while a maximum of six tickets can be purchased in one transaction.

Tickets will be sold in phases, with full details shown on the club website. Buying in multiple phases is permitted for those that are eligible, but these seats won't be located together. A breakdown can be seen in the table below.

Bolton Wanderers: Play-off final ticket sales

Phase

Date

Time

Tickets open to

1

Thursday 9th May

12pm

2023/24 season ticket holders

2

Saturday 11th May

10am

2023/24 season ticket holders and official Club members

3

Monday 13th May

10am

General sale (supporters must have had a registered account as of 7th May)

Oxford United

Oxford's ticket allocation for Wembley have been on general sale since Monday 13th May, with a number still remaining ahead of their clash this coming weekend. 15,000 tickets were sold prior to the general sale period. All tickets are in digital form for this fixture.

More information can be found here.

How much the League One play-off final is worth

Of course, it may not be as glamorous as the potential £265m you can earn from securing promotion to the Premier League, but for a club advancing from League One to the Championship, a potential prize of £6-7m is still rather sweet.

Interestingly, clubs in the third tier receive around £1.4m, partly from a basic award and a solidarity payment. As a Championship club, there are plenty more riches to be had, with the same awards as a second-tier club totalling around £6-7m. That is due, in part, to the increased levels of TV revenue per live game as well as the money handed down from the Premier League to the EFL clubs.

Last year's League One play-off final

Following the conclusion of the 2022/23 League One regular season, Peterborough United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers all battled it out for a place in the Championship.

The Posh flew out the blocks and secured a 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg, whilst Bolton and Barnsley played out a 1-1 draw.

Things really heated up in the second leg at Hillsborough, as the Owls did the impossible to overturn a four-goal deficit to win on penalties with the score standing at 5-1 in the match after extra time.

In the other semi-final, Barnsley made home advantage count as they booked their place in the final with a 1-0 win.

The final at Wembley was a rather nervy encounter for both sets of fans as the two sides couldn't be separated after 90 minutes. It took 123 minutes of football for there to be a winner crowned, as Josh Windass popped up with an injury-time goal to send Sheffield Wednesday fans into a frenzy as promotion to the Championship was secured.

Arsenal now appear favourites to sign a £60 million striker for manager Mikel Arteta, coming after they contacted his agents in pursuit of a deal.

Arteta hoping for Tottenham favour as Arsenal chase title

Both the Gunners and Man City are in equally imperious form heading into the final day, with the duo winning their last five Premier League games and showing absolutely no sign of letting up.

Arsenal offered chance to sign "great" forward in £50m+ transfer

The player looks like he’ll be allowed to leave his current club this summer.

By
Josh Barker

May 12, 2024

Arsenal currently top the table after their 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday, courtesy of Leandro Trossard's tap-in at the near post after 20 minutes, but they're still relying on a slip up from Pep Guardiola's side to stand any chance of clinching their first domestic crown in two decades.

The Sky Blues are usually unstoppable at this stage of the campaign, but Arsenal deserve a lot of credit for replicating that air of invincibility lately. Arteta's men are right on City's heels, and ironically, arch north London rivals Tottenham could do them a major favour this evening.

Arsenal's last five league games	Man City's last five league games
Man United 0-1 Arsenal	Fulham 0-4 Man City
Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth	Man City 5-1 Wolves
Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal	Nottingham Forest 0-2 Man City
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea	Brighton 0-4 Man City
Wolves 0-2 Arsenal	Man City 5-1 Luton Town

Interestingly, Guardiola is yet to taste a league win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since Spurs moved to their state of the art new ground, but they did manage a 1-0 victory there in the FA Cup earlier this season. Despite potentially helping Arsenal, Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou insists his side will go all out to get a result, especially since Champions League football is still on the cards for them.

"You think the majority of our fans are not going to want us to win? I don't see it that way. I think the majority of our fans will create the atmosphere they always create at our games," said Postecoglou on their clash with Man City.

"We've got a game of football to win and that's what we'll try to do. Man City haven't won it yet and if you think they have, then it becomes an issue because we're rolling out a red carpet for them and I'm not going to do that."

Amid this dramatic end to the season for Arsenal, and one which could have a fairytale ending if all goes to plan, sporting director Edu is already laying out transfer plans for next season.

Fabrizio Romano backs that Arsenal will sign an "important" new striker this summer as part of their strategy for 2024/2025, regardless of whether they do end this season as champions.

Arsenal appear favourites to sign Zirkzee after contacting agents

One forward who's been repeatedly linked is Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, with the Netherlands ace called "fantastic" and a striker who "has everything" by AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli.

TEAMtalk have an update on their pursuit this week, and they claim Arteta's side have already approached his agents. They add that Arsenal are in a "strong position" to sign Zirkzee this summer, mainly because, if he leaves Bologna, a move to England is seen as most likely.

Man United are also in the mix, but the 22-year-old is keen to play Champions League football and Erik ten Hag's side cannot offer that. Arsenal can, though, which makes them "best placed" to complete a deal for the £60 million forward as things stand.

Leicestershire have signed Ireland allrounder Gareth Delany as an overseas player for the upcoming Vitality Blast. The club had previously learned that South Africa opener Janneman Malan would not be able to appear for them this summer due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.The move for Malan, who scored an unbeaten hundred in his second ODI against Australia earlier this year, was confounded by visa and travel restrictions, with South Africans currently requiring government approval to leave the country. Leicestershire have agreed with Malan to defer his contract until 2021, subject to clearances.”We exhausted every avenue in trying to get Janneman into the country but issues out of our control have gone against us on this occasion,” Leicestershire’s chief executive Sean Jarvis said.”It is a big blow for us because everyone was looking forward to Janneman playing for us. We would love to see Janneman become a Fox in the future and wish him the best over the next few months.”Jarvis added that the club had “identified some targets” and the signing of Delany was announced 24 hours later. Delany, 23, a hard-hitting batsman and legspinner, has played 28 times for Ireland in white-ball internationals, and opened the batting in the recent ODI series against England.”I’m really excited to be playing in the Blast,” Delany said. “I was really unsure if I’d ever have the opportunity to play in county cricket, so I’m over the moon to be playing with Leicestershire and very grateful to both the club and Cricket Ireland for this chance. It’ll be a challenging environment, but one from which I am hoping to further develop my game.”Leicestershire’s head coach, Paul Nixon, added: “Gareth is a talented young allrounder we have been keeping an eye on for a while. We have been looking for a top-order batsman and a legspin bowler, as they are worth their weight in gold in T20 cricket, and Gareth ticks both boxes for us.”He is young, hungry to do well, and has good experience for a young player so will be a great addition to our squad.”

Everything you need to know about the new Barcelona kits for the 2024-25 season.

Barcelona continue to partner with Nike for the 2024-25 season as the club marks its 125th anniversary in style.

Shop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

The American sports manufacturing giants have been supplying the Catalonia-based side's kits since 1998 and the the 26-year-old partnership with Nike will continue despite a switch to Puma being considered at one point.

GOAL takes a look at what the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and co. will be wearing in the upcoming season.

READ MORE: All the new 2024-25 football kitsNikeBarcelona 2024-25 home kit, release date & priceShop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

Barcelona's 2024-25 home kit has been billed as being "inspired by the club's legacy, trajectory and roots" and it is a throwback to the first ever Barca kit from 1899. It was officially released on July 18, 2024.

Instead of vertical blue and maroon stripes, the 2024-25 home kit features just two blocks of blue and maroon on the torso, with the Barcelona club crest uniting them in the middle, while the sleeves are in corresponding blue and maroon colours.

The Nike 'swoosh' and the Spotify logo are rendered in gold, while the Catalan colours are visible on the back of the collar.

Very similar to the iconic 1998-99 season kit – then unveiled as Barca's 100th-anniversary kit (1899-1999) – this kit marks the club's 125th anniversary.

AdvertisementNikeBarcelona 2024-25 away kit, release date & priceShop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

Barcelona's away kit for 2024-25 is a black number, with subtle neon-like flourishes featuring the club colours on the crest and Nike logo.

The Spotify logo is emblazoned on the front of the shirt and rendered in a pinkish, neon red, while maroon and blue feature on the sides.

It was officially released in September 2024, just after the season started.

GettyBarcelona 2024-25 third kit, release date & priceShop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

After some delays, FC Barcelona have finally unveiled their third kit for the 2024/25 season on September 17, as part of their "Together We Rise" campaign, which celebrates the rise of women's football and reflects the belief that women and girls are driving forces behind change.

Following the success of their two-tone home kit, which celebrates the club’s 125th anniversary, and the black away kit, first showcased against Girona last weekend, the light green third strip has now been revealed. Featuring a unique blend of green hues, it marks a first for the club during this milestone year.

The Nike Barça 2024-25 third jersey showcases a sleek and contemporary design, blending a soft "Barely Volt" hue with striking blue logos and detailing. Officially, the shades are labeled as "Barely Volt / Old Royal."

A unique feature of the shirt is the inclusion of a gender symbol, adding a thought-provoking touch to its design. While the color palette isn't entirely new for the Catalan giants, with Volt being a familiar choice, this marks the first time the club has donned the softer "Barely Volt" shade.

As seen with Nike's other 2024-25 third kits, Barcelona’s jersey includes a rotated Swoosh. The crest sits on the left side in a vibrant monochrome volt design, accented with blue.

The Blaugrana might debut the new kit in their Champions League opener against AS Monaco on Thursday at the Stade Louis II.

Released on September 17, the Nike Barcelona 2024-25 third jersey is available for purchase at a price of €150 (£125, $167).

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Barcelona 2024-25 training kit release date & price

According to leaks, Barcelona's 2024-25 training kit will be in garnet with inserts of gold and blue.

Deliberated as the new Nike Vaporknit pattern, the jersey is based on Nike's 2024 national team shirts with a new pattern over the shoulders.

All the logos, including that of the brand, sponsors and club crest will be embossed in gold.

The pricing for the training wear is likely to be around £65 ($80) for the adult version.

MatériaMais Notícias

O sucesso no futebol brasileiro, invariavelmente, vai despertar o interesse de clubes do exterior. Não é diferente no caso de Everton Ribeiro, um dos principais nomes do Flamengo nas últimas temporadas. Apesar de estar no radar de clubes do exterior e receber ofertas para deixar o clube nas últimas janelas, o camisa 7 garante que quer seguir “sonhando” pelos próximos anos.

– Estou muito feliz aqui, como falei, vivendo marcas que nunca sonhei. Vou continuar fazendo o meu melhor aqui, jogo a jogo, vencendo. É muito bom ser Flamengo, jogar no Flamengo. Espero que a gente continue bastante tempo juntos – afirmou Everton Ribeiro, de 32 anos, em entrevista exclusiva ao LANCE!.

RelacionadasFlamengoEverton Ribeiro explica importante pedido de Renato Gaúcho e comenta passagem de Ceni: ‘Fomos campeões’Flamengo09/08/2021FlamengoOlimpia x Flamengo: prováveis times, desfalques, onde assistir e palpitesFlamengo10/08/2021FlamengoEntre os maiores do Flamengo na Libertadores, Everton Ribeiro fala ao L! e celebra feito: ‘Isso é surreal’Flamengo09/08/2021

Com nove troféus conquistados desde 2017 e diversas marcas expressivas – se tornará o terceiro atleta com mais jogos com o Manto pela Libertadores nesta quarta-feira -, Everton Ribeiro já está com o nome gravado na história do clube.

Ídolo da Nação, o meia tem contrato com o Flamengo até dezembro de 2023.

Em janeiro deste ano, o Al Nasr, dos Emirados Árabes, entrou em contato com a diretoria da Gávea e demonstrou interesse no jogador, mas não fez uma oferta que atendesse às pretensões do clube. Antes em julho de 2020, outros times do país haviam procurado o Flamengo, mas também não houve acordo.

Totalmente adaptado ao Rio de Janeiro e ambientado ao Flamengo, Everton Ribeiro vê a permanência no Rubro-Negro como um trunfo para conquistar uma vaga entre os convocados de Tite para a Copa do Mundo de 2022, em Qatar. Como o próprio camisa 7 afirmou ao LANCE!, a sequência na Seleção Brasileira passa pelo bom desempenho em campo vestindo o Manto Sagrado.

Former captain brings the curtain down on one of the most storied careers in Indian cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-20203:18

Chopra: Very few understood the pulse of ODIs the way Dhoni did

MS Dhoni has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to the top-flight career of one of India’s greatest limited-overs cricketers, and its most successful captain. He is the only captain to lift all three ICC trophies – the 50-over World Cup, the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy – and he also took India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.Dhoni, 39, took to Instagram to make his announcement, putting up a slideshow of images from his career, with the caption: “Thanks – Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.” (sic)While the post didn’t specify it, the retirement is only from international cricket, and Dhoni will play for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming IPL 2020. He arrived in Chennai on Friday for Super Kings’ short camp at Chepauk ahead of IPL 2020, which will be played in the UAE from September 19 to November 10. Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings CEO, had recently said that the team expected Dhoni to play for the franchise even after retirement, till at least 2022. Earlier in January this year, N Srinivasan, the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements, owners of the Super Kings franchise, had said that Dhoni would be retained by the team going into the mega auction for the 2021 IPL.ALSO READ: The Dhoni legend in seven inningsThe announcement meant Dhoni’s final international match would remain his 350th ODI: the World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand in July 2019. Dhoni made 50 off 72 balls in that game before being beaten by a rocket throw from Martin Guptill by inches as India exited the tournament. Dhoni hasn’t played any competitive cricket since then and had only resumed proper training with Super Kings in March before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.1:13

Dasgupta: Thank you MS for the lovely memories

Dhoni also played 90 Test matches and 98 T20Is in an international career that began in December 2004. His statistics are outstanding: more than 15,000 international runs across formats, 16 centuries, and more than 800 dismissals as wicketkeeper.”It is the end of an era,” Sourav Ganguly, Dhoni’s first international captain and now the president of BCCI, said in a statement. “What a player he has been for the country and world cricket. His leadership qualities have been something which will be hard to match, especially in the shorter format of the game. His batting in one-day cricket in his early stages made the world stand up and notice his flair and sheer natural brilliance. Every good thing comes to an end and this has been an absolutely brilliant one.”He has set the standards for the wicketkeepers to come and make a mark for the country. He will finish with no regrets on the field. An outstanding career; I wish him the best in life.”AFP

But Dhoni’s legacy stretches far beyond the numbers: he will be remembered, as both batsman and captain, for his unconventional style and his ability to remain calm in the face of the severest pressure. That shone through in his biggest moment on the world stage, closing out the World Cup final in Mumbai in 2011 with a six to put the icing on a match-winning 91*. In one of the other massive matches of his career, the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, he threw the ball to Joginder Sharma for the last over instead of the more experienced Harbhajan Singh. And it worked.ALSO READ – Monga: The star we don’t knowDhoni’s life story was unusual enough to warrant a biopic. His roots, in the cricketing backwaters of Ranchi; his early working life as a ticket inspector for Indian Railways; and the way he burst on to the scene, long-haired, fearless, and big, beefy hitting. Within a couple of years he was captaining India’s fledgling T20I side in the inaugural T20 World Cup; it was, famously, an event the BCCI did not take seriously. India’s win, however, changed world cricket by giving a huge fillip to the IPL – a tournament that was already in the works – and further establishing the BCCI as the pre-eminent global power.In the years that followed, Dhoni’s India had results on the field to match that financial clout. His captaincy was based on his cool, almost computer-like brain, and his ability to not allow the pressure of long-term results to determine his tactics. Along with coach Gary Kirsten, he put his senior performers in a comfortable place, and they returned the favour with some of their best years in international cricket.The 2011 World Cup win was the peak of his career; after that, he had to contend with an ageing team and the toll that non-stop cricket was taking on his own body, especially his back. His batting changed and he cut down on the pyrotechnics for a more calculated approach to batting, especially when among the tail. Towards the end of his career, though, he came in for criticism as his batting slowed down, something that came to the fore during the 2019 World Cup defeat against England. In a chase of 338, Dhoni managed 42 off 31 balls, with India eventually losing by 31 runs despite having five wickets in hand.No appraisal of Dhoni would be complete without mentioning his formidable record in the IPL, where he will still be active. He’s been the face of the Super Kings franchise for its entire existence, either side of its two-year ban, leading them to three titles and five runners-up finishes. Dhoni also captained Super Kings to the Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014.

After falling at the final hurdle in their pursuit of the top four of the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur now look set for a major rebuild this summer with a number of players set to be shown the door in N17.

Spurs braced for big changes this summer

Ange Postecoglou's first season in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw his side come agonisingly close to a return to Champions League football, ultimately finishing two points short of fourth placed Aston Villa. By no means a failure of a season, Daniel Levy now looks set to use the transfer window to bring new faces into North London and allow some of those deemed surplus to requirements a route out of the club.

Related Spurs make early move to sign £60m "superstar" who's like Saka

Spurs are plotting an early move in the summer window.

Posts ByTom Lever Jun 2, 2024

As far as incomings are concerned, a striker remains at the top of Levy's wishlist. Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez has been linked with a move to England with Spurs eager to secure a deal for the 26 goal centre forward. Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has also been on the radar of the North London outfit with the Guinean scoring 28 times in his side's impressive second placed finish in the Bundesliga.

In regard to those departing this summer, it seems almost inevitable that Joe Rodon will make a permanent move to Leeds United despite their Championship status. It has also been reported that Giovani Lo Celso will push for a move away from Spurs this summer despite talks over a new deal taking place.

Emerson Royal set to be next Spurs star out of the door

Reports out of Turkey via Sports Witness have suggested that Emerson Royal is a target for Galatasaray this summer. The outlet has stated that manager Okan Buruk has requested a new right-back and the Brazilian is a "surprise name" for the club's attempts to fill this void.

The 25-year-old has long been linked with a move away from North London with both Bayern Munich and AC Milan appearing interested in securing his services. Whilst the price tag cited for the defender is around £25.5million, the expected offer from the current Turkish Champions is in the region of just £8.5million.

This £17million difference in price will test Levy's negotiating skills, especially if he is keen to get the outgoings sorted quickly so they can move on with other plans. With Emerson commanding a wage of £40,000 per week, getting this figure off the books early into the window could be a wise move from the higher ups at Spurs.

During his time in England, he has struggled for consistent minutes with the traditional right-back often deployed in both the centre and left side of defence. Pedro Porro's excellent displays in Emerson's natural position saw the Brazilian benched for much of last season, only making 22 appearances in the league.

With the former Barcelona man's departure a near certainty this summer, agreeing a deal early would allow Levy to turn his attention to more important targets even if it means accepting a cut-price deal.

In recent years, Leeds United have spent fairly freely, breaking their transfer record on several occasions since 2020. But who is the Whites’ current record signing?

Football FanCast has taken a look at Leeds United’s most expensive signings in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

1

Georginio Rutter

£35.5m

Hoffenheim

2023

2

Brenden Aaronson

£28.5m

RB Salzburg

2022

3

Rodrigo

£26m

Valencia

2020

4

Dan James

£25m

Man Utd

2018

5

Luis Sinisterra

£21m

Feyenoord

2022

6

Tyler Adams

£20m

RB Leipzig

2022

7

Jean-Kevin Augustin

£18.4m

RB Leipzig

2022

=8

Rio Ferdinand

£18m

West Ham

2000

=8

Noah Okafor

£18m

AC Milan

2025

=8

Diego Llorente

£18m

Real Sociedad

2020

11

Anton Stach

£17.4m

Hoffenheim

2025

12

Raphinha

£17m

Rennes

2020

13

Helder Costa

£16m

Wolves

2020

14

Jaka Bijol

£15m

Udinese

2025

15

Robbie Fowler

£14.5m

Liverpool

2001

16

Lucas Perri

£13.9m

Lyon

2025

17

Junior Firpo

£13m

Barcelona

2021

=18

Sean Longstaff

£12m

Newcastle

2025

=18

Robin Koch

£12m

Freiburg

2020

=18

Joel Piroe

£12m

Swansea

2023

Here's a detailed look at Leeds' 10 most expensive signings: 10 Diego Llorente £18m from Real Sociedad

Centre-back Diego Llorente was brought in ahead of Leeds’ return to the Premier League, with the Spaniard providing an experienced option in defence.

However, things never really went to plan for Llorente at Elland Road, who struggled to nail down a place under Marcelo Bielsa or Jesse Marsch.

9 Noah Okafor £18m from AC Milan

Switzerland international Noah Okafor was Leeds’ marquee signing in 2025 following the Whites’ second return to the Premier League.

The versatile forward impressed in a pre-season friendly against Leeds in Dublun, and weeks later, was unveiled as an £18m signing.

8 Rio Ferdinand £18m from West Ham

The oldest signing in the top 10 is defender Rio Ferdinand, who Leeds signed from West Ham in 2000.

The centre-back went on to impress in Yorkshire, playing in the Champions League and starring for England in the 2002 World Cup as a Whites player before joining rivals Manchester United in a big-money exit.

Year joined

2000

Appearances

73

Goals

3

Sold to

Man Utd (2002, £30m)

7 Jean-Kevin Augustin £18.4m from RB Leipzig

There were high hopes when Jean-Kevin Augustin signed for Leeds on loan when they were in the Championship, with an obligation to make a move permanent should they win promotion.

The Whites did go up, but Augustin didn’t live up to the hype, playing just 48 minutes for Leeds, who were involved in a long legal battle over making his deal permanent.

In the end, Leeds were ordered to pay an £18.4m fee to RB Leipzig and compensation to the player, making him the most expensive player per appearance in football history.

Year joined

2020

Appearances

3

Goals

0

Sold to

Nantes (2020, free)

6 Tyler Adams £20m from RB Leipzig

Tyler Adams was signed in the summer of 2022 ahead of Marsch’s first full season in charge at Elland Road, with the central midfielder showing early promise for the Whites.

However, after Leeds were eventually relegated, he signed for Bournemouth to make a swift return to the Premier League.

5 Luis Sinisterra £21m from Feyenoord

Winger Luis Sinisterra had an injury-hit spell with Leeds after signing from Feyenoord in 2022, but did show his quality when fully fit.

The Colombian was part of the squad that was relegated from the Premier League before forcing an Elland Road exit in 2023, eventually making his loan move to Bournemouth permanent in February 2024.

Year joined

2022

Appearances

26

Goals

8

Sold to

Bournemouth (2024, £20m)

4 Dan James £25m from Man Utd

Signed from Old Trafford in 2021, Dan James was a long-term target for Bielsa, who nearly joined Leeds from Swansea City years prior before a dramatic deadline-day collapse.

The Whites eventually got their man, though, with James now making more appearances for Leeds than any other of his previous clubs.

3 Rodrigo £26m from Valencia

Bielsa’s most expensive signing as Leeds manager was Spanish forward Rodrigo, who spent three years at Elland Road, scoring 28 goals in 97 appearances.

Rodrigo was mainly deployed just behind the striker, something which arguably didn’t play to his strengths, with his best season in front of goal for Leeds coming in the year the Whites were relegated.

Year joined

2020

Appearances

97

Goals

28

Sold to

Al-Rayyan (2023, £3m)

2 Brenden Aaronson £28.5m from RB Salzburg

Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson was on the Leeds radar for a good six months prior to signing in 2022, quickly joining after the club ensured their Premier League status.

During his first year as a Whites player, the USA international struggled as Leeds were relegated, and he remains under contract until 2027.

1 Georginio Rutter £35.5m from Hoffenheim

Top of the charts is Georginio Rutter, who has now won the Elland Road faithful over after an underwhelming start to life in West Yorkshire.

The French forward made his mark in the Championship during the 2023/24 season but left for Brighton after the Seagulls trggered his release clause hours before it was due to expire.

Scottish champions Celtic appear to be wasting no time in their bid to enhance the squad ahead of next season, with speculation raging regarding who could be signed, sealed and delivered over the coming weeks and months.

A major talking point remains the desire to acquire Scottish Cup final hero, Adam Idah, on a permanent deal following the Irishman's nine-goal loan spell in 2024, while there have also reportedly been talks held regarding a deal to keep Paulo Bernardo on board for the foreseeable future.

The Benfica loanee – who scored four goals and contributed three assists for the Old Firm giants this term – may not be the only midfield capture of the window, however, with Brendan Rodgers and co also in the running to land another standout recruit.

Celtic in the mix for Premier League star

As journalist Graeme Bailey reported earlier this week, the Hoops are said to be among the clubs to have shown an interest in signing Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this summer, with Glasgow rivals Rangers also believed to be in the mix.

The report revealed that the 28-year-old has been informed by City that he can leave on loan again in 2024/25, having spent the second half of the most recent campaign at West Ham United.

The former Leeds United man – who moved to the Etihad on a £45m deal in 2022 – is also attracting interest from the likes of Everton, as well as clubs across Europe, with the piece outlining that any suitor would not have to cover a large portion of his salary.

Why Celtic can repeat their Joe Hart masterclass

There's no denying that it has been a wretched last two years or so for Phillips, the Yorkshireman having made just two Premier League starts for his parent club to date, having also endured an error-strewn stint with the Hammers, in which he gave away a penalty against Newcastle United and was sent off against Nottingham Forest.

That grim period has ensured that the £150k-per-week ace is now out of the international fold after missing out on Gareth Southgate's provisional Euro 2024 squad, with that exclusion having come three years on from starting every game in England's run to the Euro 2020 final.

At the time, the 'Yorkshire Pirlo' was flying high, dubbed an "absolute beast" during that tournament by pundit Nigel de Jong, having also been lauded as the "best modern midfielder" by former Three Lions boss, Fabio Capello.

It would seem that Phillips has simply lost his way under Pep Guardiola, although he may well be able to find a road to redemption at Parkhead, with compatriot Joe Hart having enjoyed a resurgence of his own over the last three years – having been similarly written off prior to that.

7 games (7 starts)

0 goals

1 assist

1 'big chance' created

0.4 key passes per game

86% pass accuracy

2.3 tackles & interceptions per game

69% aerial duels won

42% total duels won

It was under Guardiola that the then-England number one lost his place at Man City in 2016, ultimately being cast out to Torino and West Ham on a temporary basis – that latter move going the same way as Phillips as he was met with heavy criticism.

After then playing a bit-part role at Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, making just 34 appearances combined, the chance came to start afresh north of the border – and boy did he take it.

In three full seasons in Glasgow, the retiring 'keeper made 153 appearances in all competitions, conceding just 145 goals and keeping 64 clean sheets in that time – helping the club to romp to seven domestic honours.

As pundit Stephen McGinn noted earlier this year, the 37-year-old "lost his way for a few years", but since moving to Scotland, "Celtic has been perfect for Joe Hart and Joe Hart for Celtic", with the hope that Phillips can follow suit.

It remains to be seen whether Rodgers and co can win the race for the midfielder's signature amid significant rival interest, yet as the case of Hart has shown, a move to Celtic Park could be just the solution to help get his career back on track.

Celtic could land "dangerous" partner for Maeda in swoop for 5 ft 10 star

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the full-back this summer.

ByDan Emery May 29, 2024