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Hearts' last trip to Parkhead ended with their crestfallen players being bundled out of a chaotic Celtic Park and back on to the team bus in their strips and boots after watching their title dream die in the space of 11 crushing minutes. Meanwhile, the 800 Jambos in attendance - and the thousands back in Gorgie - were going through their own football trauma. The mere thought of ever returning to the home of the Scottish Premiership champions would have been a harrowing one. However, refreshed and reshaped, Wouter Vrancken's men are embracing the trip to face a Celtic side still failing to convince a support that are becoming increasingly disgruntled after another chastening European defeat at Benfica. Earlier this week, influential Hearts investor Tony Bloom repeated his faith in his title ambition for the Tynecastle club Sunday's fixture (15:00 BST) will give an indication as to whether or not that is likely to come this season. O'Neill defiant in defeat, but Celtic's 'flat-track bullies' fail another big test Celtic suffer fourth defeat in five against classy Benfica Late Nordsjaelland leveller denies Hearts winning start Despite the back story to this weekend's encounter, Vrancken has demanded his side do not "live in the past". Meanwhile, Oisin McEntee, who was part of last season's squad, has insisted the trip to Glasgow is not a revenge mission. Versatile McEntee scored Hearts' opener against Nordsjaelland as they raised the curtain on their Conference League campaign, but they were served a late punch in the gut in the 1-1 draw. The Gorgie side have only won two of their past 11 away league outings, failing to keep a clean sheet in that period. However, last weekend's 5-0 win over St Mirren forms part of a run of five victories and a draw in seven matches under Vrancken after a challenging introduction to his tenure. Now with the opportunity to make a real statement early in his reign, the Belgian coach is urging his players not to dwell on May's heartbreak. "I'm convinced the players will be [focused] on the game on Sunday and not in the past," he said. "You can't live in the past. You have to move forward and look forward, and you have to take on the next one. "I hope the fire is there every game we play, and not only because something happened in the past. You also don't look in the past too much because it is negative energy, and we need positive energy. "This fire has to burn when you play every game, especially the top games." Post-match in Lisbon on Thursday, Martin O'Neill expressed the emotions of a man who had just watched his team cruise to a 4-1 triumph. But the 74-year-old had just witnessed his side suffer a reverse of that, a fourth defeat in five games. The reason for the veteran manager's upbeat vibe was because of his players' response after crumbling in the first half of their Europa League loss to Benfica. The performance level from the Scottish champions improved and they could have scored more than the one goal they managed in the second period, though they were also fortunate not to have shipped more. Like last term, unrest between the fans and board is in the backdrop, but those same supporters are also growing restless at what they are watching on the pitch. Despite that, Celtic have still won 14 of their past 15 league games, scoring two or more goals in 11 of those. They have also won 26 of their past 29 home league games against Hearts, although have lost two of their last six. Last term, Hearts picked up seven points in four league games against Celtic - the most by any non-Old Firm side in a single campaign since the 1999-00 season. O'Neill believes Hearts are genuine contenders again and is anticipating a match that will be as challenging as May's dramatic title decider. "I think it will be every bit as tough as it was on the last day of last season," the Celtic boss said. "I genuinely do [think they are title challengers]. I know they've lost two [league] games, but overall, I do, I think they can challenge."

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It started with Manchester City supporters booing the Premier League anthem and ended with Phil Foden taking an inflatable banana into his Match of the Day interview after helping see off Ipswich to pull six points clear at the top of the table. On a day of defiance in east Manchester, City's fans made their feelings crystal clear in their first top-flight home game since being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. Tens of thousands inside Etihad Stadium booed and jeered when the Premier League anthem was played over the speakers shortly before kick-off, then they started chanting 'City, City, City'. There was a chant about playing Stockport away and the gallows humour continued when City fans sang 'You're going down with the City' to Ipswich's travelling support. City boss Enzo Maresca, who is the first manager in Premier League history to win his first seven games in charge, said afterwards he felt the air of defiance from the stands even before kick-off. "The environment was very good," said the Italian after a game watched by 60,817, a new record crowd at Etihad Stadium. "The fans, the club and the players are all together on this journey." City's best start since 1897 - but injuries a concern City fans arrived at the ground to find hundreds of inflatable bananas had been placed on seats in the home sections for fans to wave throughout the game. They were visible in the away end at Liverpool last week but this was on a different scale and the Etihad was turned into a sea of yellow. The inflatables are a flashback to the late '80s when what began as a light-hearted joke soon turned into one of the most memorable fan crazes in English football. They are enjoying a revival at a time when City have appealed after being found guilty of charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and creating 'sham contracts' to inflate sponsorship deals by £830m. There were surreal scenes at one point on Saturday as fans jeered during the Premier League anthem while waving the inflatables in the air. "You can tell they are behind us and they're pushing us," Phil Foden said when asked about the fans after scoring on his return to the side following suspension after being sent off against Manchester United on 13 September. Foden's 19th-minute opener was his first goal of 2026. "It's nice to play at home and you can hear how loud they are," he added. "They're giving us that extra boost that we need." Taking over from Pep Guardiola - 20 trophies during 10 seasons in charge - was always going to be a big challenge for Maresca. Seven matches in, City's Premier League record remains flawless. No points dropped, seven wins out of seven despite falling behind against Bournemouth and playing for more than an hour with 10 men at Manchester United. "For sure I didn't expect to win seven out of seven," said Maresca. "We are working well and working good. "I'm very happy especially with the situation in general. "Today we controlled the game for 95 minutes. We created chances, we scored. "We finished with a little bit of suffering together but overall, it is good." On Foden's impressive return to action, Maresca added: "I said since day one that I love Phil. I know him from years ago and I know how good he is. "It's a matter of helping him to again be one of the best players in the Premier League." Despite the off-field turmoil, this is City's best start to a league season in 129 years. Only Chelsea in 2005-06 (first nine) and Liverpool in 2019-20 (first eight) have ever won the first seven matches of a Premier League campaign. "First of all, I am very happy because it's a matter of winning games in this business," said Maresca after the game. "We were able to win seven in a row and what made me very happy was day by day with the players, the way they are working and how I can see them improving. "Today I thought we controlled the game, created chances and [were] good off the ball. We are doing well and I think that's the most important thing." On his players dealing with the events surrounding the club off the field, Maresca said: "They are not worried about people who judge from outside because they know people are trying to judge them. "Inside, I promise the players are happy. They're getting credit and I give credit to them." Pre-match, post-match and topical City content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about City Haaland scores twice as Man City beat Ipswich Do Manchester City have any grounds to win their appeal?

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Vitor Matos has told Swansea City to use the frustration of defeat by West Ham United as fuel in their bid to keep pace in the Championship promotion race. Swansea's four-game winning streak came to an end as they lost in the league for only the second time this season thanks to Divine Mukasa's first-half goal. The Swans, who remain top of the table despite defeat, had their chances against the second-tier title favourites, with Ben Cabango going closest when he hit the woodwork. And Matos says the manner of the West Ham loss means it should not halt Swansea's early-season momentum. "I think it's important that when the game finished we all felt that we could have taken something out of the game," said the Swansea head coach. "I think that's the most important thing today, that we played against a really good opposition, a team that of course is one of the main contenders to go to the Premier League, and we felt that we can compete and we can beat them as well. "That frustration, that's something that should stay, but that's something that more than anything should give us the fuel to push ourselves in training, push our standards and keep improving." West Ham climbed to second in the table having become the first visiting side since Southampton in April to win a league game at Swansea. The game was tight until Mukasa struck, but opened up from that point as Swansea went in search of an equaliser. The hosts' two best chances fell to Cabango at set-pieces, with the centre-back rattling one shot against the bar and then dragging another wide of the target when he appeared to destined to equalise. West Ham win top-of-the-table meeting at Swansea Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views West Ham had further opportunities, with Lawrence Vigouroux making second-half saves from Jarrod Bowen – twice – and Pablo. Matos felt Swansea proved their credentials despite losing a league game on their own ground for the first time since April. "What I saw today, I think we can compete against every team and that's what we need to do," Matos added. "We need to keep pushing ourselves to beat the best teams of the league. West Ham is one of the best teams. "We tried [against them]. Unfortunately, we could not get something out of the game and that's the story."

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Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for "precautionary tests" after suffering what boss Xabi Alonso said was a concussion during Chelsea 's win at Everton on Saturday. Martinez had earlier played his part in the Blues securing a first Premier League clean sheet in nine months, a run stretching back 23 matches. But the incident overshadowed an important 2-0 victory for Alonso's side at Hill Dickinson Stadium, secured by two goals from Pedro Neto. Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute while attempting to claim a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick. There was an eight-minute stoppage before the Argentina international was replaced by Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut for Chelsea, and saw out the remainder of the match. Asked about the incident after the match, Alonso said: "It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait. "What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests. "We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious, but at the moment we just have to wait." There are now doubts over whether Martinez will be fit for Chelsea's next three matches - they face Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool in between. Neto stars but who was subdued? - player ratings for Everton v Chelsea Chelsea recorded their first Premier League clean sheet for nine months, since a 2-0 win against Brentford in January. Although Alonso said he was "not obsessed" with keeping a clean sheet, his side, who had conceded a league-high 13 goals before kick-off, were keen to address that record after a much-improved 5-1 win over Bournemouth following the international break. There had also been discussion about Chelsea being a "soft" team, particularly away from home in the north of England, having lost 19 of their previous 41 matches north of Luton over the past four years. Last season, Chelsea lost 3-0 at Everton during Liam Rosenior's five-match winless run, a sequence that ultimately cost him his job. The Blues had also won just one of their past nine matches at the Toffees. This time, however, Everton managed just six shots, their fewest in a Premier League game since recording five against Arsenal last December. Chelsea also conceded only one clear-cut opportunity and allowed their lowest expected goals against (xG) figure against top-flight opposition this season at 0.45. They started with a back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill, while goalscorer Neto and Jorrel Hato, who provided the assist, operated as wing-backs. The midfield pairing of Moises Caicedo, returning from international duty, and new signing Jordan Henderson also brought much-needed solidity and experience. It was £117m club-record signing Morgan Rogers, however, who set the tone for a combative display, squaring up to Everton defender James Tarkowski during an eventful first half. "We needed to show that we can win in this way," Alonso added. "We looked solid, we played solidly, we were strong and we stayed in control. "In the first half there were difficult periods with throw-ins, corners and pressure from Everton. You have to overcome those moments. "In the Premier League it is very hard to have complete control in an away game, but you cannot lose your shape or your conviction." With difficult matches to come, there will be questions over whether Penders, who became Chelsea's youngest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League at the age of 21, is ready for the demanding run of fixtures ahead. That concern would be heightened if tests confirm Martinez suffered a concussion, with Premier League protocols typically requiring a minimum 14-day return-to-play process. Chelsea signed Penders from Genk for £17m in 2024 before loaning him back to the Belgian club. He then spent last season on loan at sister club Strasbourg, where he impressed in both the Conference League and Ligue 1. Genk have developed a reputation for producing elite goalkeepers, and Penders is frequently compared to Thibaut Courtois by those who know him best. Like the Real Madrid goalkeeper, Penders stands at 6ft 7in and has recently served as his understudy in the Belgium national team set-up. He has worked with the same legendary youth goalkeeping coaches, Guy Martens and Gilbert Roex, who also helped develop Koen Casteels, Maarten Vandevoordt, now at RB Leipzig, Lucca Brughmans, who will join Liverpool next summer from Genk, and Nordin Jackers of Club Brugge. They specialise in developing goalkeepers who are good with their feet, including Penders, who recorded the highest average position while playing out from the back under Rosenior at the Ligue 1 club early last season. Roex, who has known Penders since his academy days, believes he is capable of matching Courtois' level of success at Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. He said: "We have produced a lot of great goalkeepers, but Mike is the one with the potential to reach the same level as Thibaut. His sense of calm is gold in goalkeeping." Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?

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Fans have told of their delight as Bury FC experienced its biggest crowd since the resurgent football club was reformed three years ago. Katie Maken, 18, who joined excited supporters at the Staff of Life pub ahead of the crunch FA Cup qualifier against Harrogate Town earlier, said: "This means everything to the club - the fans coming back who we've not seen for years." The Shakers were expelled from the English Football League in 2019 following financial struggles, before the club was eventually reformed in its current format in 2023. And the loyal hordes of supporters were rewarded for their efforts as Bury secured a replay after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Gigg Lane. Bury took on Harrogate in the fourth qualifying round as the club bids to reach the FA Cup first round for the first time since their expulsion. The Northern Premier League side produced a spirited performance against the National League high-flyers and even had chances to win it - with fans left delighted. Mike Hamilton, 77, said: "It was a massive match for us. "Today we've got over 5,000 here. We get three-and-a-half normally, less for an FA Cup game, but it's a big one. It's crowded." Phil Lockett, 54, said: "It's great for the local town, great for Bury, brings a bit of money in. "It was terrible when the club disbanded, like we lost a leg." Chris Helling, 56, said: "It brings everybody together. We need to win another FA Cup." Fifty-seven-year-old Tracy Graham's son, Leo Graham, plays in midfield for the club. Speaking before the game, Tracy said: "We hope he'll get a goal but we just want our boys to win." Leo's aunty Lisa Hannaghan, 54, said: "We are here every week, it's just amazing the fans are great and Leo loves it." The club were expelled by the EFL after a takeover bid from C&N Sporting Risk collapsed, marking "one of the darkest days" in the league's history. The unified Bury FC returned to Gigg Lane in 2023 following a vote to merge with Bury AFC. Tell us which stories we should cover in Greater Manchester Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook , external , X , external , and Instagram , external . You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Unified Bury FC to return to Gigg Lane next season

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Pedro Neto's two second half goals for Chelsea secured an important away win at Everton on Saturday. The first strike came just 43 seconds after the restart and the latter one in the 90th minute as the Blues ended the Toffees' unbeaten run and recorded their first clean sheet of the season. Here's how I rated the players and you can see how you scored them below. What do BBC Sport's player ratings mean? Jordan Pickford : The England goalkeeper may be disappointed he did not keep out Neto's opener, but he later made several important saves. 5 Ainsley Maitland-Niles : Chelsea's goal came down his side and the summer signing endured a quiet afternoon at right-back. 5 James Tarkowski : A solid display from Tarkowski, who played a key role in the physical battle between the two sides. 6 Jarrad Branthwaite : The recently capped England international made a number of important blocks and tackles. 6 Vitali Mykolenko : The returning full-back produced an excellent cross to create a late first-half chance for Barry. 6 Harrison Armstrong : The academy graduate raised the volume inside the stadium with a robust challenge that appeared to earn a harsh booking in the first half. He later cleared an effort off the line. 7 James Garner : The midfielder's set-piece delivery was below his usual standard, but he contributed well defensively and helped break up play. 6 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall : The attacking midfielder struggled to create clear openings but did provide a dangerous cross that led to a chance for Grealish. Also produced a good second half cross from a free-kick into the box. 6 Merlin Rohl : Introduced as a surprise starter, Rohl defended diligently and provided a threat going forward. He registered Everton's first shot and produced an excellent block to deny Rogers in the second half. 7 Jack Grealish : The winger made a quiet start but grew into the game and created Everton's best chance with an inswinging cross for Barry. 6 Thierno Barry : The French striker will feel he should have done better with a first-half header and later struck another effort straight at the goalkeeper during a frustrating afternoon. 5 Christian Norgaard (on 85, Armstrong) : Making his Premier League debut for Everton, the summer signing from Arsenal looked rusty and immediately gave the ball away to give a chance to Chelsea. Later booked for a needless foul on Palmer. 4 Subs not used: Travers, O'Brien, Dibling, Hackney, Alcaraz, Graham Emiliano Martinez : The Argentina goalkeeper was fortunate not to be punished after taking too long over a goal-kick and conceding a corner. He also made a number of saves, although none proved particularly demanding. Martinez was later carried off on a stretcher after a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite in worrying scenes. 6 Josh Acheampong : Acheampong looked a threat going forward but was booked for a late challenge on Grealish in the first half. 6 Maxence Lacroix : One of Lacroix's best performances since joining Chelsea. He saw a header from a corner cleared off the line and defended impressively throughout. 7 Levi Colwill : A relatively quiet afternoon for the centre-back, who was rarely troubled defensively. 6 Pedro Neto : The Portugal winger scored 43 seconds after the restart after threatening shortly before half-time with a long-range effort. He was involved in much of Chelsea's attacking play but picked up a needless booking for dissent. Neto took his second in the 90th well after a blocked free-kick landed at his feet inside the box. 8 Jordan Henderson : Influential throughout, contributing in all areas of the pitch. His set-piece delivery was strong and he also saw a shot blocked. 7 Moises Caicedo : Relished the physical battle in midfield and came close to scoring with a superb first-time volley that struck the crossbar just before half-time. 7 Jorrel Hato : The Dutch defender, Chelsea's only change from last week's win, provided the assist for Neto's first goal and was composed in possession. 7 Cole Palmer : A relatively quiet display by his standards, although he looked dangerous whenever he got on the ball. He tested the goalkeeper early on and later lifted an inventive effort over the bar. 6 Morgan Rogers : The club-record signing showed his competitive edge throughout. His clever backheel played a key role in the build-up to Chelsea's goal. 7 Joao Pedro : A rare subdued performance from the Brazilian, who had enjoyed an excellent run of form coming into the match. Pedro squandered a good chance to seal victory in the 86th minute. 5 Mike Penders (on 74, Martinez): In less than optimal circumstances, the young Belgian goalkeeper came on for his Premier League debut for an injured Martinez. Penders made a good punch from a cross with his first action in the 84th minute but flapped at the next one before making a simple save. 6 Subs not used : Fofana, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda Rate players out of 10 for this game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle. You must be signed in to a BBC account to play. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Play BBC Sport's Match of the Day Predictor game

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Catch up with all the confirmed deals below, while you can follow the latest transfer news and gossip as it happens here. Arvin Appiah [Unattached - Bristol Rovers] Free Anthony Scully [Unattached - Exeter City] Wout Faes [Leicester City - Shabab Al Ahli] Dai Cornell [Unattached - Leicester] Free Kanya Fujimoto [Birmingham - Tokyo Verdy] Loan Jacob Farrell [Portsmouth - Sydney FC] Loan Santiago Bueno [Wolves - Club America] Loan Michail Antonio [Unattached - Watford] Free Zeidane Inoussa [Swansea - Gornik Zabrze] Loan Cristian Pascaluta [Unattached - Leyton Orient] Ehije Ukaki [Sheff Utd - Botev Plovdiv] Loan Nils Zatterstrom [Sheff Utd - Rakow Czestochowa] Loan Yann Gboho [Toulouse - Coventry] Undisclosed Djylian N'Guessan [St-Etienne - Liverpool] £4.3m (joining officially in January) Morgan Whittaker [Middlesbrough - Colorado Rapids] Undisclosed Joel Cotterill [Swansea City - St Johnstone] Undisclosed Kevin Kelsy [Portland Timbers - Rangers] Undisclosed Badredine Bouanani [Stuttgart - Rangers] Loan Josh Campbell [Hibernian - St Johnstone] Loan MJ Kamson Kamara [Heart of Midlothian - Kilmarnock] Loan Alex Williams [West Bromwich Albion - Hibernian] Loan MJ Kamson-Kamara [Heart of Midlothian - Kilmarnock] Loan Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht - Dundee United] Undisclosed Alex Williams [West Bromwich Albion - Hibernian] Loan Davis Keillor-Dunn [Wrexham - Sheff Wed] Loan Samson Tovide [Colchester - Huddersfield] Free Shanade Hopcroft [Birmingham City - Crystal Palace] Anna Moorhouse [Orlando Pride - Manchester City] Loan Elisa de Almeida [Paris St-Germain - Arsenal] Undisclosed Deals completed on 1 Sept and announced on 2 Sept Michael Adu-Poku [Watford - Newport] Loan Gady Beyuku [Modena - Blackburn] Undisclosed Adama Boiro [Athletic Club - West Ham] Loan Justin Devenny [Crystal Palace - Stoke] Undisclosed Romain Esse [Crystal Palace - Millwall] Loan Ghislain Konan [Gil Vicente - Wolves] Undisclosed Jeremy Monga [Manchester City - Swansea] Loan Joel Randall [Bolton - Chesterfield] Loan Josh Robertson [Brighton - Fleetwood] Loan Rebeca Bernal [Washington Spirit - Manchester United] Undisclosed 01:05 Dario Osario [FC Midtjylland - Crystal Palace] Loan 01:01 Juan Riquelme Angulo [Independiente del Valle - Sunderland] Undisclosed 00:45 Jean-Matteo Bahoya [Eintracht Frankfurt - Leeds] Loan 00:45 Quinten Timber [Marseille - Crystal Palace] Undisclosed 00:15 David Affengruber [Elche - Fulham] Undisclosed 00:10 Ben Chilwell [RC Strasbourg - Crystal Palace] Undisclosed 00:00 Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Lyon - Everton] Undisclosed 23:50 Enzo Fernandez [Chelsea - Manchester City] £125m 23:45 Christos Mouzakitis [Olympiakos - Hull] Undisclosed 23:41 Chema Andres [Stuttgart - Brighton] £15.5m 23:30 Sorba Thomas [Stoke - Hull] Undisclosed 23:30 Zian Flemming [Burnley - Ipswich] £20m (reported) 23:15 Tosin Adarabioyo [Chelsea - Tottenham] Undisclosed 22:50 Jack Grealish [Manchester City - Everton] Loan 22.30 Manuel Angel [Real Madrid - Fulham] £3m 22:30 Hugo Larsson [Eintracht Frankfurt - Fulham] Loan 22:15 Brooke Norton-Cuffey [Genoa - Hull] £12m 22:05 Tim Iroegbunam [Everton - Hull] £22m 22:00 Mykhailo Mudryk [Chelsea - Tottenham] Loan 21:00 Iliman Ndiaye [Everton - Manchester City] £65m 20:00 Kevin Danso [Tottenham - Sunderland] Loan 19:00: Lucca Brughmans [Genk - Liverpool] £30m 15:00: Matias Fernandez-Pardo [Lille - Newcastle] £51.4m 13:20: Honest Ahanor [Atalanta - Crystal Palace] Loan 12:30: Taylor Harwood-Bellis [Southampton - Aston Villa] £29m 11:30: Ibrahim Mbaye [Paris St-Germain - Aston Villa] £47m 10:30: Ilyas Ansah [Union Berlin - Hull] Undisclosed 21:00 Lyall Cameron [Rangers - Dundee United] Loan 16:55: Oliver Sorensen [Parma - Celtic] Loan 09:00: Dylan Levitt [Leyton Orient - Motherwell] Undisclosed 01:00: Raphael Borges Rodrigues [Coventry - Burton] Loan 00:45: Dane Scarlett [Tottenham - Leyton Orient] Undisclosed 00:32: Oliver Dovin [Coventry - Leyton Orient] Loan 00:30: Oliver Skipp [Leicester - Charlton] Loan 00:17: David Ozoh [Crystal Palace - Derby] Undisclosed 00:05: Brian De Keersmaecker [Oxford - Bristol City] Loan 00:00: Tyrese Shade [Burton - Portsmouth] Undisclosed 23:48: Zech Obiero [Leyton Orient - Gillingham] Loan 23:45: Aidan Borland [Aston Villa - Accrington] Loan 23:45: Kamari Doyle [Brighton - Leicester] Loan 23:45: George Sebine [Huddersfield - Rotherham] Loan 23:30: Connor Barron [Rangers - Middlesbrough] Loan 23:30: Dan Butler [Stevenage - Swindon] Loan 23:30: Liam Gibbs [Norwich - Preston] Loan 23:30: Reo Hatate [Celtic - Burnley] Undisclosed 23:30: Johnny Kenny [Celtic - Preston] Undisclosed 23:30: Jay Williams [Crawley - Colchester] Undisclosed 23:15: Myron Boadu [Unattached - Watford] 23:15: Eli King [Cardiff - Gillingham] Undisclosed 23:15: John Lundstram [Trabzonspor - Leicester] Free 23:00: Harry Ashfield [Wrexham - Peterborough] Undisclosed 23:00: Amario Cozier-Duberry [Brighton - Middlesbrough] Loan 23:00: Jack McGlynn [Houston Dynamo - Stoke] Undisclosed 22:55: Klaidi Lolos [Peterborough - Rotherham] Loan 22:45: Stephy Mavididi [Leicester - Watford] Loan 22:40: Mohammed Fuseini [Union Saint-Gilloise - Derby] Loan 22:40: Tommy Setford [Arsenal - Stevenage] Loan 22:30: Ajay Matthews [Millwall - Exeter] Loan 22:30: Danny Rose [Barrow - Exeter] Undisclosed 22:30: Fin Cartwright [Middlesbrough - Grimsby] Loan 22:30: Chieo Ogbene [Ipswich - Lincoln] Loan 22:15: Soumaila Coulibaly [Strasbourg - Watford] Loan 22:10: Damola Ajayi [Tottenham - Barnet] Loan 22:05: Rosaire Longelo [Salford - Notts County] Undisclosed 22:00: Filip Marschall [Stevenage - Millwall] Undisclosed 22:00: Jayden Meghoma [Brentford - Portsmouth] Loan 22:00: Dan Oyegoke [Hellas Verona - Lincoln] Undisclosed 21:00: Mark O'Mahony [Brighton - Burton] Loan 20:30: George Abbott [Tottenham - Mansfield] Loan 20:02: Igor Julio [Brighton - Burnley] Undisclosed 20:00: Dujuan Richards [Chelsea - AFC Wimbledon] Loan 19:56: Liam Millar [Hull - Birmingham] Loan 19:36: Morato [Nottingham Forest - West Ham] Loan 19:30: Eiran Cashin [Brighton - Derby] Loan 19:30: Brayann Pereira [NEC Nijmegen - West Brom] Undisclosed 19:20: Corey O'Keeffe [Barnsley - Bradford] Undisclosed 19:00: Zach Abbott [Nottingham Forest - Southampton] Loan 19:00: Elijah Campbell [Everton - MK Dons] Loan 18:10: Liam Kitching [Coventry - Sheffield United] Loan 18:00: Brad Burrowes [Aston Villa - Wigan] Loan 18:00: Jodi Jones [Notts County - Bromley] Loan 18:00: Callum O'Hare [Sheffield United - Wrexham] Undisclosed 18:00: Charlie Tasker [Brighton - Rochdale] Loan 17:55: James Collins [Lincoln - Doncaster] Loan 17:55: Sam Curtis [Sheffield United - Cambridge] Loan 17:45: Mark Shelton [York - Grimsby] Loan 17:45: Junior Nkeng [AFC Wimbledon - Charlton] Undisclosed 17:30: Glenn Middleton [Doncaster - Rochdale] Undisclosed 17:15: George Nevett [Peterborough - Tranmere] Loan 17:15: David Kamara [Peterborough - Tranmere] Loan 17:00: Dan Scarr [Wrexham - Salford] Undisclosed 17:00: Freddie Simmonds [Brighton - AFC Wimbledon] Loan 17:00: Tudor Mendel [Ipswich - Luton] Loan 16:45: Antony Evans [Huddersfield - Walsall] Loan 16:30: Nathan Asiimwe [Charlton - Salford] Loan 16:00: Luca Bambino [San Diego - Stoke] Undisclosed 16:00: Ibrahim Fullah [Charlton - MK Dons] Loan 16:00: Maleace Asamoah [Wigan - Port Vale] Loan 16:00: Keyrol Figueroa [Liverpool - Port Vale] Loan 16:00: Antwoine Hackford [AFC Wimbledon - Swindon] Undisclosed 15:30: Largie Ramazani [Leeds - Burnley] Loan 15:30: Emil Riis [Bristol City - Leicester] Undisclosed 14:30: Cameron Humphreys [Ipswich - Huddersfield] Loan 14:10: Joe Whitworth [Crystal Palace - Wigan] Undisclosed 14:00: Branimir Mlacic [Udinese - Watford] Loan 13:20: Kaelan Casey [West Ham - Stevenage] Loan 13:00: Jack Taylor [Stevenage - Exeter] Loan 12:30: Jaden Heskey [Manchester City - Sheffield Wednesday] Loan 12:00: Sam Chambers [Leeds - Northampton] Loan 12:00: Kylian Kouassi [Blackpool - Colchester] Undisclosed 11:30: Joe Bursik [Portsmouth - AFC Wimbledon] Loan 10:00 Josh Powell [Nottingham Forest - Northampton] Loan 10:00: Joe Worrall [Burnley - Wrexham] Undisclosed 09:00: Hayden Matthews [Portsmouth - Bradford] Loan 08:00: Caylan Vickers [Brighton - Burton] Undisclosed 20:15: Borna Sosa [Crystal Palace - Cologne] Loan 20:12 Nathan Patterson [Everton - Torino] Undisclosed 20:00 Wilfried Gnonto [Leeds - Fiorentina] Loan 20:00: Robert Sanchez [Chelsea - Como] Loan 19:30: Dario Essugo [Chelsea - Strasbourg] Loan 19:30: Hee Chan Hwang [Wolves - Schalke] Loan 19:11: Ethan Nwaneri [Arsenal - Borussia Dortmund] Loan 19:00: Deivid Washington [Chelsea - Strasbourg] Undisclosed 19:00: Lucca Brughmans [Liverpool - Genk] Loan 18:41: Nick Woltemade [Newcastle - Juventus] Loan 18:00: David Moller Wolfe [Wolves - Hamburg] Loan 17:30: Cameron Archer [Southampton - Auxerre] Loan 17:24: Pape Matar Sarr [Tottenham - Juventus] Loan with obligation to buy for £23.6m 17:00 Harvey Elliott [Liverpool - Valencia] Loan 17:00: Jean-Clair Todibo [West Ham - RC Lens] Loan 17:00: Jakov Medic [Norwich - FC Utrecht] Loan 16:00: Ivo Grbic [Sheffield United - Ludogorets] Undisclosed 13:50: Gabriel Jesus [Arsenal - Barcelona] £8.6m 12:00: Fabio Vieira [Arsenal - Hamburg] £8.6m 11:00: Kota Takai [Tottenham - Sint-Truidense VV] Loan 11:00: Sidnei Tavares [Blackburn - Wisla Plock] Loan 09:31: Marc Guiu [Chelsea - RB Leipzig] £14.6m 08:45: Luis Semedo [Sunderland - Clermont] Undisclosed 2025: January - February to April* - May - June - July - August - September to December 2024: January - February to April* - May - June - July - August* - September to December 2023: January* - February to April - May - June - July - August - September* - October to December 2022: January - February to April* - May - June - July - August - September* - October to December 2021: January - February to April* - May - June - July - August - September* - October to December 2019: January* - February to April - May - June - July - August - September* - October to December 2018: January* - February to May - June - July - August* - September to December

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When Paul Green left Chelsea after 13 years, he had achieved so much success that the majority of his medals were hidden away in a box under the bed. It was only when he had gone that he truly began to appreciate what he had done. The former Chelsea head of women's football formed a formidable partnership with ex-manager Emma Hayes and helped lead the Blues to 19 major trophies. He left suddenly in February amid reports of unrest in Chelsea's hierarchy. Asked about his exit, Green told BBC Sport: "Look, football clubs move on and a lot of people have changed at that club in recent years. "I think ultimately they chose to go in a different direction but I feel very proud of the job that I did there and I left the club in a lot better position than when I first went in there." Under Green's leadership, Chelsea won six successive Women's Super League titles, the last coming under current manager Sonia Bompastor in 2025. They became the most dominant force in the WSL and reached the Women's Champions League final in 2021. "It was an incredible time. There was a lot of potential that Emma Hayes sold to me and that came to fruition," said Green. "What the [players] went on to achieve, in my eyes, will never be beaten and it will be difficult for any team to replicate that type of dominance. "It was some of the best times of my life. It's probably not until you're out of it that you actually appreciate what the success was. "I had so many medals that were just chucked under the bed in a box. I've had time to get them framed. Now I've got a new chapter here at Bay FC." Find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed Are the European Women's World Cup play-offs working? Women's billion-dollar boom leaves players behind, says Fifpro Green had seven months out of football before he was appointed as chief football officer of San Francisco club Bay FC in September. He admitted the response to his Chelsea exit had been "overwhelming" and he needed time to adapt, spending time with his family in the meantime. "It was people just in the general women's football world who really appreciated the work and success that we had there," said Green. "Of course, that touched me and it took me forever to get back to everybody who had reached out because there was that many. "I guess all things have to come to an end at some stage and I've gone in a different direction now. "In the early days, having a lack of structure was difficult because I had gone from 13 years of having certain routines. That part was difficult." It is clear that Green is excited by the future at Bay FC. He has taken over a project that is being led by former Football Association (FA) director Kay Cossington and comes under the multi-club ownership of Bay Collective. Green hopes to use his extensive knowledge in the transfer market to recruit some of the world's best players and to build an effective organisation. "They sold me the vision for the club. It became too good an opportunity to turn down," said Green. "The potential there of building something really special is what I'm looking forward to. I think it's got some similarities to the early days at Chelsea." Bay FC are moving into new training facilities next year and Green has vowed to act in the transfer window to improve their league position. They are currently third bottom with three matches left in the National Women's Soccer League 2026 season. "The team hasn't done as well as everybody would like it to do. We are where we are in the league so we need to try and improve the roster immediately," said Green. "With the connections and network that I've built up over 20 years, I'm confident that I can bring in a few players to help the good nucleus of talent we've got. "You have to have the infrastructure right off the pitch in terms of staffing and facilities and that's something we are working on." During Green's time at Chelsea, he oversaw the development of several English players including homegrown talents Aggie Beever-Jones and Lexi Potter. Potter made her debut in England's 5-0 win over Greece last week, while Beever-Jones was part of the squad who won Euro 2025. However, there is concern for the future of England's youngsters with gametime for homegrown players reducing in recent years. "Players still need exposure and the way we tried to do it at Chelsea was by having a good loan programme," said Green. "You need to find the right partner club to develop the player. But if you haven't got that resource, maybe young players have to go abroad to play. "There is the proposal of a 'B team' that a lot of other European leagues have that works very successfully in Germany and Spain. "I do think if they came in at level three of the pyramid that would help because the academy isn't what it used to be. I know that's very controversial." The FA's director of women's football Sue Day said it was an area that needs addressing, while England manager Sarina Wiegman admitted her concern. "Not enough of our young players are playing enough football and I think we'd all agree with that," said Day. "I don't think you ever want to, even if you could, impose anything regulatory. We all need to work together in this system to make it work. "The FA, the clubs and the league are all on the same side. Clubs are going to create value from investment they are putting into developing players." 'Alarming' - does WSL have a homegrown problem? How WSL aims to bridge academy gap - and why it needs to

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Mikel Arteta may be attempting to rebrand them "finishers" but there's only one phrase in the footballing lexicon to sum up today's focus: super subs. Yes, we're looking for those players renowned for making a devastating impact off the bench, those guaranteed game-changers a manager turns to when in desperate need of a goal. First, an honorary mention for some who missed out, such as one-season wonder Adam le Fondre, who holds the record for the most goals off the bench in a single Premier League campaign - five of his eight came in a three-game spell in January 2013. Hernan Crespo boasts the best goals-per-game ratio but his six in 16 substitute appearances for Chelsea represents a small sample size, likewise ex-Norwich and Leicester forward Mark Robins with five in 14 outings as a replacement. To make the all-time top 10 Premier League super subs, players need to have consistently delivered throughout their careers, providing goals and assists. So here we go, I've ranked mine below - you can have your say in the comments, too. Theo Walcott, replaced on 168 occasions, holds the record as the most subbed off player in Premier League history. Yet it's his impact coming on to the pitch we're interested in here. Bursting on to the top-flight scene as an explosive teenager, the flying forward was often used by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to stretch defences with his pace and movement - a lactic acid-inducing sight for flailing full-backs. The England international pieced together an impressive substitute CV throughout his Premier League career. No-one has more than Walcott's 14 assists as a sub - Ryan Giggs and Marc Albrighton are level - while he also scored 10 goals as a replacement across his time with the Gunners, Everton and Southampton. It puts him fourth on the list for overall goal contributions off the bench. This was a toss up between Victor Anichebe and Divock Origi, with both forwards contributing exactly half of all their Premier League goals as a substitute. Ex-Everton, West Brom and Sunderland striker Anichebe edges it having notched a couple more - a tally of 13 placing the former Nigeria international in joint-eighth on the all-time list - while he also chipped in with five assists off the bench. Roman Pavlyuchenko was also unlucky to miss out - 45% of his 20 Premier League goals came as a substitute for Tottenham. There's a good case for Danny Welbeck, who as the only current player in the top three, with 19 goals, still has time to catch those above him. Welbeck was a goalscoring sub at Manchester United and Arsenal but perfected the art on the south coast, with 12 of his tally coming during six years with Brighton. The 35-year-old is now at Chelsea but - with apologies to Danny - there is another former Blue whose stats demand a place on this list. Daniel Sturridge has two fewer substitute goals then Welbeck but has scored a slightly higher percentage of his overall Premier League tally as a sub - 22%. The former England man, who played for Manchester City, Chelsea, Bolton, Liverpool and West Brom in the top flight, was good for an assist, too. In fact, when you take his total goal contributions of 24, he provided at a more prolific rate than every substitute in Premier League history - bar Edin Dzeko and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Richarlison matches Sturridge for minutes per goal contribution, but with eight fewer the Brazilian, perhaps harshly, misses out. A World Cup and Champions League winner, one of the few trophies Olivier Giroud hasn't got his hands on is the Premier League title despite a knack for scoring important goals off the bench. The Frenchman is second on the all-time substitute scoring list, accounting for 21 of his 90 top-flight goals - that's almost a quarter - with only Dzeko, Solskjaer and Javier Hernandez boasting a better minutes-per-goal record as a sub. Giroud honed his ability to make a late impact at Arsenal and Chelsea, making 103 substitute appearances in total across 10 seasons in the Premier League. Good feet for a big man. Tore Andre Flo was a menace for Premier League defenders not merely because of his tall, gangly frame but for the silky touches the Norwegian often showed with his giant boots. Flo scored 34% of his 38 Premier League goals as a substitute - the eighth-highest ratio for those with 20 top-flight goals or more, while he is also joint-eighth overall for goals from a substitute. The first of those came just three minutes into his Chelsea debut in 1997, and it was with the Blues he enjoyed his best Premier League output before a later stint at Sunderland. Having also provided three assists as a sub, he ranks fifth for minutes-per-goal involvements, contributing to his side scoring once every 78 minutes on average when used off the bench. The Little Pea. Small in stature but a giant headache for tiring defenders. Of all players in Premier League history to have scored at least 10 goals as a substitute, only one - Sergio Aguero, and it feels a stretch to call the competition's sixth-highest scorer a super sub - has netted at a more prolific rate than Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. He has 19 in 78 sub appearances, a rate of 0.24 per game, with 36% of all his Premier League goals coming after he started on the bench - predominantly for Manchester United but also later in his career at West Ham. He netted on average every 88 minutes when used as a replacement. Indeed, only Jermain Defoe and Giroud have scored more goals as a substitute than the Mexican, while he sits among a leading group of seven - including Defoe - who have scored five match-winners as a sub. Aged 40, Edin Dzeko is still scoring goals for Bundesliga outfit Schalke. His record as a substitute in the Premier League, however, remains among the greatest. Dzeko netted 50 Premier League goals for Manchester City, with more than a quarter of those coming as a substitute. Only Aguero and Hernandez, of players to have scored at least 10 goals as a sub, have better goals-per-game ratios than him. When you break it down to minutes per goal, Dzeko is level at the top with Solskjaer - scoring on average every 83 minutes. He stands alone once you add assists, too - 17 goal contributions during 56 top-flight games as a replacement means Dzeko returned on average every 63 minutes. The most important of those goals, of course, came in stoppage time against QPR on the final day of the 2012 season. Everyone remembers the Aguero moment, but it was substitute Dzeko's header two minutes earlier that levelled the game. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is perhaps the most iconic of super subs, largely for that Treble-clinching night in Barcelona. The baby-faced Norwegian, having started Manchester United's FA Cup final win over Newcastle four days earlier, came on in the 81st minute of the Champions League final to toe-poke a stoppage-time winner after Teddy Sheringham had equalised against Bayern Munich moments earlier. It capped a vintage few months for Solskjaer's super sub legend, having bagged four in the final 10 minutes of an 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest in the February. Sticking strictly to his Premier League output, Solskjaer is joint-fifth on the all-time substitute scoring list with 17, netting 19% of his 91 top-flight goals off the bench, with a ratio of 0.2 goals-per-game as a sub. His rate of scoring on average once every 83 minutes off the bench is a competition high that can only be matched by Dzeko. The caveat is, like Dzeko, Solskjaer was playing for one of the most dominant teams in the land. Nwankwo Kanu's impact as a substitute was felt immediately at Arsenal. Coming off the bench on his debut, the Nigerian forward collected a throw-in meant for a Sheffield United player - after the opposition kicked the ball out for an injury - and crossed for Marc Overmars to score. It sparked a famous FA Cup rematch. In the Premier League, he was just as ruthless. Kanu, who joined from Inter Milan having earlier won the Champions League at Ajax, made 56 of his 119 top-flight appearances for Arsenal as a sub. When you take in spells at West Brom and Portsmouth, too, he netted 17 goals off the bench - 31% of all his top-flight strikes - which places him joint-fifth on the all-time substitute scoring list. But he was almost as prolific at creating them, making 12 assists as a substitute - a tally only bettered by three players in Premier League history. OK, goals are currency and Jermain Defoe has netted more as a substitute than any other Premier League player. Remarkably, the 24 he scored when coming on all came in different fixtures - which, of course, means he has also scored in more games as a substitute than anyone else. And, as mentioned, a league-high five of those were match-winners. He scored six times as a substitute in his debut Premier League season, earning West Ham a 3-2 win at Ipswich with his first top-flight goal, and netted for the final time in the competition 17 years later after coming on to rescue Bournemouth a stoppage-time point at Watford. Simply put, throughout his career, Defoe - also England's highest-scoring substitute with seven goals - was the ruthless finisher a manager wished to see when anxiously glancing at their bench in need of a goal. Time to rise? Ranking European football's sleeping giants Ranking the best British football exports this century Ranking the greatest all-time fantasy football icons Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham ready to commit his future to the Bernabeu, Arsenal and Liverpool told price of Brentford 's Kevin Schade, Manchester United and Chelsea among clubs monitoring Jules Kounde's future at Barcelona. England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 23, has reached an agreement to extend his contract with Real Madrid until 2031. (AS - in Spanish), external Arsenal and Liverpool would have to pay in excess of £60m to prise Germany winger Kevin Schade, 24, from Brentford . (Teamtalk), external Leeds are keeping tabs on Brazil forward Igor Paixao's situation at Marseille with the 26-year-old among players the French club may need to offload amid financial concerns. (Football Insider), external Chelsea , Manchester United , Arsenal , Liverpool and Bayern Munich are monitoring French defender Jules Kounde's situation at Barcelona , with the 27-year-old considering his future at the Catalan club. (4-4-2.ch - in German), external Barcelona are unwilling to get involved in a bidding war for 16-year-old Manchester United attacking midfielder JJ Gabriel with Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain willing to offer more money. (Sport - in Spanish), external Newcastle are no closer in tying 27-year-old English midfielder Joe Willock down to a new deal even though Magpies boss Matthias Jaissle is a fan of the player. (Newcastle Chronicle), external Leeds boss Daniel Farke has reached agreement over a new contract which will keep the 49-year-old German at Elland Road until 2029. (The Athletic - subscription required), external Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl says talks are going well with England striker Harry Kane over a new contract but there has been no formal commitment yet. (Sky Sports Germany - in German), external AC Milan's English defender Fikayo Tomori, 28, will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires with no scope for a new deal for the former Chelsea player at San Siro. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external Real Madrid could allow Morocco forward Brahim Diaz, 27, out on loan in January after 20-year-old Brazil forward Endrick leapfrogged him in the pecking order at the Bernabeu. (Marca - in Spanish), external Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Manchester City face "substantial hurdles" if they are to have any chance of winning their appeal after being found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules, a leading lawyer has told BBC Sport. City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and creating "sham contracts" to inflate sponsorship deals by £830m. The club have said they are "innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League" and they have "irrefutable evidence" the ruling "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe". In their appeal, City will argue the payments were made by the United Arab Emirates government as a shareholder of the sponsors, while there are inconsistencies in the Commission's judgement. Therefore, City say the sponsorship amounts were legitimate and not topped up by the owners. James Severn, Member of the London Solicitor Litigation Association (LSLA) and Partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, told BBC Sport the appeal is "not simply an opportunity to invite a new panel" to get the verdict overturned. "City will need to identify a material error of law, principle or fact, or serious procedural unfairness, which materially affected the Commission's decision," Severn said. "The Appeal Board nevertheless has broad powers to allow or dismiss the appeal, vary the decision or make any other order it considers appropriate." Etihad Airways, one of City's principle sponsors at the centre of the case, had previously stated that the Abu Dhabi government had not paid for its sponsorship of Manchester City. That came in court documents as part of a US investigation in New York in 2015. City will argue this does not have the full context of the situation and is not proof they have been inconsistent with evidence. The club are adamant government documents fully support their case - but, Severin said, if these were already available to the Commission they may not be much use in an appeal. "The bank statements, government records and contemporaneous payment documents could be powerful evidence if they establish a clear audit trail showing the disputed funds came from the Abu Dhabi government rather than the owners," Severin added. "However, if that evidence was already before the Commission, which nevertheless concluded that the arrangements were a sham, City will face an uphill struggle to demonstrate the finding was materially wrong." Shortly before City's appeal was confirmed, Etihad Airways issued a statement saying it had never been "given the opportunity by the Premier League to be represented, to provide relevant information, or to ensure the accuracy and fairness of information relied upon". Severin said Etihad Airways' complaint "does not, of itself, establish procedural unfairness". "Etihad was not the respondent and is unlikely to have had an independent right to participate in the proceedings," Severin said. "It is likely to have been open to either party to obtain and present such evidence to the Commission. "If the Appeal Board is prepared to consider new evidence from Etihad, it is likely to carry greater weight if supported by contemporaneous documents." How much did Man City's rule breaking cost your team? Were any current Man City players signed during charges period? Manchester City’s inflatable banana craze A key part of City's defence will be that the Independent Commission relied too heavily on the emails obtained through the Football Leaks files. "If City can demonstrate the Commission fundamentally misunderstood the emails, failed to consider their proper context or reached conclusions inconsistent with other contemporaneous documents, that could amount to a material factual error," Severin added. "City's difficulty is that the Commission heard extensive witness and documentary evidence but nevertheless made serious findings of sham arrangements and disguised owner funding." Kieran Maguire, professor of football finance at the University of Liverpool, told BBC Sport the commission found "the documents were retrofitted to fit the crime". "The Commission must have concluded that the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses put up by Manchester City were poor," Maguire said. "However, from a legal point of view, this is an area they could attack if Manchester City's team can prove that the commission itself was a flawed construct in the sense that the members were Premier League picks rather than Manchester City's, and therefore the deck was stacked against the club to begin with. Severin added that the retired senior judges and leading barristers, who sat on the Commission, have "spent their careers interpreting complicated facts, dealing with witnesses and applying relevant weight to evidence". While adding that it would be "impossible to assess reliably" the chances of City winning their appeal, Severin added that "doing so will not be easy". But Maguire believes that while it will be difficult for City to be successful, "there is a route". Maguire said: "Given the lawyers that have been recruited by Manchester City, they may go down what's been described to me as a mess and noise approach. "That means trying to discredit everything to do with the process of the Commission rather than necessarily the evidence that was presented. "I've seen the documents that Abu Dhabi presented to the New York case. I'm not a lawyer, but from an accounting point of view, they can be seen in more than one way." Even though Premier League regulations state an appeal must be heard within 12 weeks, or by Christmas Eve, Severin added that "given the scale and complexity of the proceedings, a final outcome may not be known for some time". Pre-match, post-match and topical City content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about City

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The first player to celebrate with Lewis Koumas in front of the travelling supporters in Linz was Liverpool 's hat-trick hero in Bradley Barcola. This time last season, Koumas was on loan at Birmingham in the Championship while Barcola was at Paris St-Germain, who went on to win the Champions League for the second season in a row. Quite a chain of events led to the pair starting together for Liverpool in their 6-3 win over LASK. And as Barcola left the Raiffeisen Arena with the match ball after a superb hat-trick, the Frenchman knew that he wasn't the only player who put the ball in the net three times on Wednesday in Austria. Koumas had his first two strikes ruled out for offside, but thankfully it was third time luck for the 21-year-old Wales international. And so, just three days after making his first Premier League start against Manchester City - with Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike all injured - Koumas became the youngest Liverpool player to score and assist in a Champions League game. Previously, the youngest to achieve the feat had been Steven Gerrard in 2001. When that was put to him, Koumas wanted to know "Is that official?". "It's not a bad stat, is it?" he said. "And it's not a bad name to be alongside. Wow. What a legend. I just want more of this." He is enjoying his run in the first team but staying level-headed about it all, keen to point out: "This is my job." "I need to get goals and assists," he said. "I hadn't had any before Linz so it was really important to get them." In a Liverpool side where attention tends to be directed towards big-money names, Koumas provides a real feel-good story. He joined Liverpool aged 11 and scored on his first-team debut as an 18-year-old under Jurgen Klopp. After spells on loan at Stoke, Birmingham and Hull, where he helped the Tigers win promotion last season, Andoni Iraola decided in the first week of pre-season that Koumas was part of his Liverpool plans. He made his Premier League debut at Newcastle before coming on against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. He was man of the match on his first start of the season against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup after an energetic performance which left Iraola describing his playing style as "contagious". That night, Koumas went straight on a video call with his family after the game and it was the case again in Austria after he scored his first goal of the season. "It was probably the best feeling in my career, 100%. I'm just really grateful to have the opportunity again," said Koumas. "I would not have been a happy man [if I didn't score], I would have been gutted. I just kept going because I knew the more the game was going on, it was opening up. "Going over to the fans at the end meant absolutely everything. They are the reason we do this and that we want this job. I wish I could have got in there with them, but there was a big metal cage in the way!" It has been quite a week for the son of former Wales midfielder Jason Koumas. Young Koumas has started two Liverpool games in a row, and on Sunday he nearly scored his first Premier League goal. At 0-0 against Manchester City, Barcola played him through and Koumas connected sweetly but Gianluigi Donnarumma kept his effort out in front of the Kop. Koumas was "absolutely gutted" the ball did not ripple the back of the net. "I couldn't really sleep [on Sunday]. I just kept thinking about the chance all night. I feel like I couldn't have hit it any better. The keeper is huge and he was just in the right place and I think in normal circumstances it goes in." While Koumas has an important role for now, he knows the likes of Isak and Gakpo will soon be back in first-team contention. "You never know when your last game is going to be," Koumas said. "I know that sounds like a cliche, but it is true. "I have got to keep pushing, every chance I get." Koumas could lead Liverpool's attack for the third time in seven days when Liverpool travel to Brentford on Saturday. Iraola said on Thursday that it was "too early" to tell whether Isak or Gakpo would be available. The fact it would not be a surprise if Koumas starts again is testament to the impression he has made on Iraola. The manner in which he is seizing his opportunity is inspiring others too. Liverpool's under-19s beat LASK's youngsters 4-2 in their Uefa Youth League game on Wednesday, with 18-year-old Will Wright scoring a hat-trick. "You see Koumas with the first team and the energy he brings to the front line - that's from being in the academy, and Will has a similar identity," said Rob Page, Liverpool's academy boss. "We have a manager who has come in and has an identity about how he wants to play which suits a lot of the players. And they've seen a pathway there now: Rio [Ngumoha], Trey [Nyoni] and now Koumas. "My message was 'where is the next one coming from? So go and show the manager what you are capable of doing'," Page said. "We are getting chances but, ultimately, it is because we are good enough. Trey and Rio are unbelievable and, if you're good enough it doesn't matter how old you are," said Koumas. First-team duty for the 20-time English champions could become the norm for the academy graduates. "Hopefully that is the case and that's how I would love it to go," said Koumas, "but you just have to keep working hard, keep my head down and doing what the gaffer asks of me and make it last as long as we can." On night of mayhem for Liverpool, Barcola arrives in style Barcola shines as Liverpool score six to beat LASK

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FC United of Manchester striker Adam Le Fondre spent Tuesday lunchtime working with a group of players from the club's academy on a 3G pitch next to the club's 4,900-capacity Broadhurst Park stadium. The dozen lads are probably not going to get anywhere near the Premier League, as Le Fondre once did, but the Northern Premier League club want to try and create a pathway to senior football, while ensuring the teenagers continue in education through their partnership with Manchester College. Getting to train with the 39-year-old Le Fondre, scorer of more than 300 goals in professional football including 14 in his sole Premier League season, is the kind of community initiative that goes on at non-league clubs across the country. For the people who run FC United, it is a world away from the club they once supported. Just as it is 21 years since the Glazer family bought Manchester United and dropped £600m of debt on the club, it is 21 years since a group of fans decided to stop joining protests against the Americans and instead form their own supporter-owned club. This weekend, while Michael Carrick takes his team to Leeds, desperate for a win to quieten the noise around him and his club, FC United have a short trip to Altrincham for an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie that could be worth £25,000. "We didn't stop loving Manchester United," said chairman Nick Boom. "We started FC United because we loved it. "Our roots are Manchester United. The songs, the humour, the traditions and shared history still run through FC United. "But after 21 years, we have also got our own identity. We have a sense of place in North Manchester. We're unmistakably a Manchester club. We have Manchester United fans coming here that have been priced out of Old Trafford. We have fans who feel disassociated with Premier League football. "We think football, in a sense, has lost its way at the top level. Football should be somewhere you can go with your friends and family, stand or sit together, with a sense of community. Somewhere you can get some decent food and drink at an affordable price, where you can have a beer on the terraces, have a sing-song and forget your troubles for a couple of hours. "Fewer people are able to do that at the very top level, on the grounds of affordability and accessibility. We believe we're more important than ever with everything that's going on at the moment." FC United distribute a monthly board meeting summary to their 1,528 adult members which explains the minutiae of club operations. The solar power generation at Broadhurst Park is going to be increased, which the club think will save up to £4,000. A £5,000 donation has been received from one fan and there was also an update on the 'own your own football club for £5-a-month initiative' and comparisons made with other supporter-owned clubs, including Bury, whose relaunch has taken them into the same league as FC United. The pair meet on Boxing Day in a game likely to attract a huge attendance at Broadhurst Park. Yet, like Manchester United, FC United has a significant debt. "Supporter ownership isn't easy," said Boom. "There's no billionaire ready to write a cheque at the end of the month to make up any shortfalls. "The debt did get out of control for a period. It absolutely did, because the clamour was to have our own ground; somewhere we could truly call home. "But we overextended and the ground wasn't as well managed as it could have been. We've learned some harsh lessons from that about the level of expertise you need, even at a club at this level, to run it." Members still don't want FC United to have a front of shirt sponsor but naming rights for the stadium which 'is showing wear and tear', is being discussed. A recent change of personnel at senior level has led to a 'review of the club's relationships' with existing commercial backers. The club pride themselves on linking up with local and independent businesses when they can. Boom's employment background is in finance. He is trying to ensure the financial side of the club is in order. A profit in excess of £100,000 is forecast for the current year, a £350,000 improvement. But it is felt an annual surplus of £200,000 is needed to ensure funds can be found for essential work on and around the ground, as well as to allow the club to meet its loan repayments. He estimates he spends 70 hours a week on club business, not bad for a volunteer who lives in West Yorkshire. You can tell he loves it though. Whereas once Boom watched Manchester United win Premier Leagues, FA Cups and European trophies, now he is looking forward to a trip to Altrincham, currently in the National League play-off places. The winners pocket £9,375 and would be guaranteed at least another £15,800 in prize money by reaching the first round. The loser gets £3,125. That money is important, although Boom says once the whistle blows, his focus will be on football not finance. Twenty-four hours later, Manchester United head to Leeds, the next stop in a season of turmoil, which has triggered the type of fierce protests he was once a part of but now observes, even if a close relationship has developed with the 1958 Group, who have been at the forefront of recent protests. "What has happened to Manchester United is an absolute tragedy," he said. "This is one of the world's great sporting institutions, a football club with an extraordinary history, built on the achievements, sacrifices and loyalty of generations of people. "Yet for more than 20 years it's been treated increasingly as a financial asset by owners who appear completely disconnected from what the club means to its supporters. "The Glazers' ownership has been disgraceful. They acquired Manchester United through a leveraged takeover, burdened it with debt and have benefited enormously from something they did nothing to create. Meanwhile, the club has suffered years of decline and its relationship with supporters has been steadily eroded. "I see very little evidence that Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS represent a fundamentally different philosophy. Ratcliffe might talk about restoring Manchester United but you cannot rebuild a football club by dismantling the very culture and community that made it great." Ratcliffe has implemented a number of controversial measures since agreeing a minority stake in United in December 2023, including two lots of redundancies. He has defended the action, saying it was essential to return the club to profitability. "We have enormous respect for anyone continuing to protest," added Boom. "It was particularly pleasing that, after more than 20 years, The 1958 Group reached out to FC United. "We've developed a good relationship, and while we've taken different paths, we're united by a belief that Manchester United and its supporters deserve better." Plymouth Parkway ready for their 'FA Cup final' 'Hitchy is always with us' - the keeper who died after one-punch attack

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On Thursday, former England footballer Alex Scott stepped away from Disney+'s coverage of the Women's Champions League after two rounds of matches. The streaming giant is in the second season of a five-year deal to cover European football's flagship competition and this year introduced new formats, including a watchalong show with Scott alternating presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne. However, it has had some technical issues and been criticised for a difficult opening night that included an unscheduled advert break during Arsenal's game against HB Koge. Scott has not said why she left this role but told BBC Sport she was "grateful" for the opportunities she had at Disney+ and hoped to "continue working together" in the future. But does her sudden departure highlight the challenges broadcasters face covering the women's game in an ever-changing media landscape? Ad break in Women's Champions League was unscheduled The explosion in interest in women's football during the past five years has been spearheaded by two of the biggest broadcasters in the UK – Sky Sports and the BBC. In snapping up the Champions League before the 2025-26 season, Disney added its heft into the game, recognising its potential for capturing new audiences. Indeed, Scott herself has launched her own YouTube show this season, One More Word WSL, which she presents on a Sunday night alongside ex-England internationals Anita Asante and Fara Williams. Broadcasters have ramped up experiments with format, style and tone - Disney+ even had a dog on set during their coverage - but perhaps unsurprisingly, not every idea proves to be successful. Journalist Carrie Dunn, who has covered women's sport for more than two decades, says opinions about coverage reflect a tension at the heart of the game. "The challenge broadcasters are finding is that they are not sure who the audience is," she says. "A lot of it is targeted at a new generation and it's clearly not for people who have watched women's football for longer. "Often it's a resourcing issue. Budgets are being cut and you're finding the same presenters and the same pundits trying to be all things to all people. It just doesn't work." In the summer, the BBC announced its Women's Super League highlights show would not return for the 2026-27 season, but insisted it remained "fully committed to women's football". To illustrate, it cited a bespoke new YouTube channel, the introduction of a debate show entitled The Women's Football Fallout, exclusively on BBC iPlayer, and the availability of clips and analysis on the BBC Sport website as evidence. The decisions are part of a move away from linear television that the BBC says reflects changing audience habits. It is a shift in emphasis that comes with difficulties. "It's a tough balance where you've got to explain some context to the new fans without patronising your older fans," Dunn adds. "That's something the major broadcasters have not found a solution to yet. "If people are willing to take risks on different kinds of women's sports coverage, that's fantastic. "But start by choosing one thing and doing it really well – and that's got to be decent match coverage." Follow BBC Sport's Women's Football channel on YouTube Bigger and more ambitious than ever - women's football on the BBC Aston Villa interim boss Brian Sorensen started as a coach in Denmark in 2009 and believes the innovations in women's football coverage are a good thing, even if some do not always work. "A lot of positive things are happening, but there are a lot of new areas that we haven't tried before," he said. "Sometimes it's trial and error and finding the right way for us. "From when I started - with the worst live stream you've ever seen - to where we are now, is a very big improvement." Andree Jeglertz, manager of champions Manchester City, agrees, acknowledging that the fact women's football has a much bigger audience now is a huge positive. "I think the most important thing is that it is available and that people can see the best players on TV or live," he said. "The more, the better, no matter what." Tottenham counterpart Martin Ho says the onus is on clubs and players to ensure the product on the field is worth watching. "Whatever a broadcast partner decides to do, they have their reasons for it," he said. "All we can control is that we put on a good advert for women's football." Finally, Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor suggested she was open to new expressions in covering the game provided they were properly analysed. "Anytime you try to do something new, you will please some people and upset others," she told BBC Sport. "Sometimes you need to be patient and analyse as it is too soon to say if something is right or not." Find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed

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Real Madrid have called for the "immediate resignation" of La Liga president Javier Tebas after he drew comparisons between the club's management and Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels. Tebas said Real Madrid's communication and the use of its in-house TV channel "recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels". Real Madrid have called the statement "deeply offensive" and "morally repugnant". The club have also demanded Tebas steps down as both the head of the Spanish top flight and vice-president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF). "Real Madrid considers it absolutely intolerable and extraordinarily serious that someone holding two positions of utmost responsibility in Spanish football resorts to a comparison with the propaganda methods of the Nazi regime to discredit our club, its management and its television," the club said. In a lengthy post published on X on Friday, Tebas said: "Real Madrid's management directs an orchestra of mouthpieces and Real Madrid TV leads the singing. "Their score is always the same: select the plays that suit them, repeat the grievance, feed the suspicion, and point fingers at the enemies. "That method recalls propaganda mechanisms exploited by Goebbels, Nazi Germany's minister of propaganda: systematic repetition, construction of an enemy, and subordination of facts to the narrative." Tebas later said he was drawing comparison with "those propaganda techniques" and "not with an ideology". Real Madrid rejected this clarification, saying it did not mitigate the "institutionally unworthy nature of his statements". The club added: "These statements constitute yet another episode in the repeated attacks by Javier Tebas against Real Madrid, its president and its media outlets." Last month, Tebas criticised Real Madrid for claiming there was a refereeing conspiracy against the club. He also has been critical of Real and its president Florentino Perez in previous years after disagreeing with their plans to join a European Super League in 2021. In 2025 he said Real had "lost their head" after the club sent a formal letter of complaint to the Spanish FA about officiating in the league. Red card, suspension and a conspiracy - what's up with Vini Jr? After 27 titles in 23 years at Real Madrid, Carvajal joins Getafe Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast