Transfers

Gonzalez joins Porto from Barcelona in €8.5m deal

Porto have completed the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Barcelona in a deal worth €8.5million.

The 21-year-old midfielder has signed a five-year contract to keep him at the club until 2028.

Barcelona have inserted a €30million buy-back clause into the deal, which is active until the summer of 2025. A sell-on clause has also been included, with Barcelona entitled to 40 per cent of any future sale.

Gonzalez, a graduate from La Masia, broke into the Barcelona first-team alongside Gavi in 2021 before spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Valencia, featuring 26 times in La Liga.

He was one of the candidates to take over the holding midfield role at Barcelona left vacant by the departure of Sergio Busquets this summer. However, Xavi did not trust Gonzalez in this position and preferred him in a more advanced role where there was not room for him in the squad due to Barcelona’s depth of options.

Before embarking on their pre-season tour of the United States, Xavi and Gonzalez had an internal meeting where the forward was informed that he was not going to have an important role to play this season and was advised to look elsewhere for regular first-team football.

Upon signing for Porto, Gonzalez said: “I can’t be more excited to start playing here. Since the rumours appeared, everyone has spoken well of FC Porto. I had some Portuguese teammates who spoke very well and everyone created great expectations for the club.

“I really want to meet everyone, especially Pepe, who is a great example and from whom I can learn a lot. I can promise the fans a lot of sacrifice and a lot of work on the field, but above all that I will fight to give them titles.”

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Transfers

Galatasaray, Napoli Agree Osimhen Transfer

Italian Serie A side Napoli have reached an agreement with Galatasaray for the transfer of Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen for a fee in the region of €75m, according to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Both clubs have been locked in negotiations for the past two days after the Nigerian picked the team as his preferred destination ahead of Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal. The talks went on yesterday without a resolution.

Napoli insisted on getting a bank guarantee for the payment of the transfer fee after agreeing for it to be paid in installments. The Turkish side will pay €40m in cash with the balance of €35m to be paid in installments for the next three years.

Galatasaray agreed to provide Napoli with a bank guarantee letter and if it sits well with the Italian side after a review, Osimhen will be allowed to travel to Istanbul for his medical and subsequent unveiling on a permanent deal.

After a successful time on loan last season, he will be expected to help the club retain the league and cup they won last season, and also do well in Europe after the disappointment in the Europa League last season.

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Transfers

Transfer: Theo Hernandez Joins Al-Hilal From AC Milan

Deal worth some 25 million euros

France left-back Theo Hernandez has moved to former Lazio and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi’s Saudi club Al-Hilal from AC Milan, where the 27-year-old spent six mostly successful years.

Theo, as he is known, was a runner-up to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup.

He made no secret of the fact that he had fallen out with AC’s new management set-up.
The deal is worth around 25 million euros.

Ansa.it

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Transfers

WSL: Chelsea Forward Fishel Signs For Seattle Reign

Seattle Reign have signed Chelsea and United States forward Mia Fishel on a contract until 2029.

An undisclosed transfer fee will be paid to the Women’s Super League (WSL) champions who Fishel, 24, appeared for 21 times.

After signing from Mexican club Tigres for the start of the 2023-24 season, Fishel scored the winning goal against Tottenham on her WSL debut before an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury cut her campaign short.

The two-time WSL winner returned in March to make three appearances.

“I’m incredibly excited to sign a long-term contract in the NWSL and take this next step in my career with Seattle Reign FC,” said Fishel.

“This league is one of the best in the world, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and contribute to the team’s success.”

America’s National Women’s Soccer League is currently on a midseason break but Seattle Reign return to action against Angel City on 1 August.

Bbc.com

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