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Brenden Aaronson is fighting for minutes at Leeds, Johnny Cardoso needs fitness at Atlético, and both Weston McKennie and Haji Wright have chances to make statements in key matches across Europe.

Phew. That was a collective sigh of relief from U.S. men’s national team fans – and likely from the players and Mauricio Pochettino – after landing a favorable World Cup draw on Friday. There will be months to dive into that, just under seven to be exact, but the focus now swings back to club action, where plenty is at stake for U.S. internationals both domestically and abroad this weekend.

Stateside, MLS Cup features three U.S. internationals – Sebastian Berhalter, Tristan Blackmon and Brian White – all hoping to win a first title for the Vancouver Whitecaps against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Florida. Across the Atlantic, there are several significant fixtures to follow. Brenden Aaronson’s Leeds were all but ready to sack Daniel Farke after a poor run of results, but a shock win over Chelsea has bought time – even if Aaronson was a healthy scratch, raising fresh questions over his fit.

Then there’s Johnny Cardoso, who arguably made the biggest move of any USMNT player this year by joining Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. The midfielder has struggled to carve out a role, but earned a massive start against Barcelona before suffering an injury that could sideline him again. And in Italy, Weston McKennie’s Juventus meet Napoli in a match that may already shape their season.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines for Americans Abroad this weekend.

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  Is Aaronson's future at Leeds uncertain

  For months, it all appeared to make sense. Even without goals, Aaronson was an important part of Leeds’ surprising start. In September, the Whites were 12th -comfortably above the relegation zone – and the American was playing his part. Despite pushing back on the idea that he was merely a runner, his relentless pressing and willingness to cover both flanks proved invaluable during that stretch. A converted central midfielder, he was using his pace and work rate to make a difference.

  Since then, though, Leeds have won just once across October and November, with their only three points coming against lowly West Ham. Daniel Farke — who was the oddsmakers’ favorite to be sacked – defended Aaronson through that run despite growing fan criticism. Yet in midweek, Leeds stunned the Premier League by beating Chelsea 3-1. And they did it without their American right winger playing a single minute.

  One result is too small a sample to draw big conclusions, but managers don’t tend to stray from winning formulas. With struggling Liverpool up next, is Aaronson now on the outside looking in?

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Juventus' season on the line

  There are plenty of opinions about whether USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino truly rates Weston McKennie, but the reality is this: he remains a key part of Juventus’ squad. He can play across multiple positions, both in attack and in defense, and is approaching 150 league appearances for the historic Italian club – with 12 already this season. A decade ago, that level of influence at Juventus would have been almost inconceivable for an American.

  Yet uncertainty lingers over his long-term future. McKennie’s contract expires this summer, and there are larger concerns around Juventus as a whole. After flirting with a top-three spot early on, the club has slipped to seventh, a slide that cost Igor Tudor his job.

  Well-regarded Italian manager Luciano Spalletti has come in, but results haven’t changed dramatically: two wins and two draws in his first four league matches. Saturday’s game against defending champions Napoli offers an opportunity to reset the season – if Juve can claim three points.

  Napoli aren’t as dominant as they were last year under Antonio Conte, but they are still level on points with Christian Pulisic’s league-leading AC Milan. A win would bring McKennie and Juventus within two points of the Gli Azzurri. McKennie has yet to record a goal contribution against Napoli, but his record is perfectly even: 3-3-3.

  All of it points to a must-watch match for Serie A fans.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Cardoso's challenges at Atleti

  Cardoso looked like the perfect fit for Atlético Madrid from the moment he was linked. Skillful but rugged, he seemed almost engineered for Diego Simeone’s system.

  But circumstances – injuries and uneven form – have delayed his impact.

  The defensive midfielder has spent recent weeks on the bench and was finally handed a big opportunity against Barcelona midweek. It didn’t last long. Cardoso came off injured after just 12 minutes in a 3-1 defeat, and reportedly did not train ahead of Saturday’s match against Athletic.

  That raises a broader concern in a World Cup year. Cardoso’s talent is obvious, but he still hasn’t carved out a consistent role at the international level. In his absence, others such as Cristian Roldan have taken their chances. Availability is a skill, too, and without a sustained run of minutes, Cardoso could be a high-profile player watching from the outside.

  If he is available, Saturday offers a chance to get back on track. Athletic aren’t Barcelona. They’re middle of the pack defensively, conceding 20 goals in 15 games, and near the bottom in scoring with just 14. These are exactly the types of matches that can help him rebuild rhythm and confidence.

  Hopefully, he sees the field – and makes the most of it.

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  Checking in on Haji

  Haji Wright was arguably the Championship’s best striker through the first three months of the season, but he has gone quiet since the start of November. Fortunately for both him and Frank Lampard, Coventry haven’t slowed. They remain the surprise runaway promotion contender, even as Wright has been blanked in recent weeks after scoring nine goals during that early stretch.

  Saturday’s matchup with Ipswich offers a chance to get back on track. Ipswich are middling on both ends – 30 goals scored and 19 conceded – respectable numbers, but nowhere near Coventry’s output. The Sky Blues have already hit 50 goals in just 18 matches. The next closest team is ninth-placed Hull on 31.

  With Coventry playing so open and aggressively on the front foot, this is the type of match where Wright could rediscover his rhythm and make an impact again.

Roma have officially opened negotiations with Manchester United regarding a January swoop for Joshua Zirkzee, a report in Italy claims. The Giallorossi are planning to terminate Evan Ferguson’s loan spell with the Brighton striker managing just one goal in 14 competitive appearances since joining the Serie A club in the summer.

• Talks begin with Man Utd

  The January transfer window is fast approaching, and Roma are determined to correct the mistakes of the summer. The capital club's attack has stalled in the first half of the season despite their positive results, prompting sporting director Frederic Massara to take decisive action. According to , he has established direct contact with the hierarchy at Old Trafford to discuss bringing Zirkzee back to Serie A.

  The Dutch forward, who earned a big-money move to United after a breakout season with Bologna, has found life in the Premier League difficult. Often utilised as a substitute or left on the bench entirely, Zirkzee is reportedly open to a return to Italy, where his stock remains high.

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  Roma target loan move for Dutch forward

  According to , Massara has received the green light from the Friedkin Group to pursue the deal. The sporting director is reportedly planning a "blitz" to the UK, using Roma's upcoming Europa League trip to face Celtic as a logistical springboard to finalise discussions with United.

  The negotiation will not be straightforward. United are eager to protect their investment and would prefer a permanent sale or a loan with a guaranteed obligation to buy. Roma, operating under financial fair play restrictions, are pushing for a loan with an option to buy, potentially set around the €35 million mark, which could become an obligation if certain conditions are met.

  However, the will of the player could be decisive. Zirkzee is understood to be keen on the move, and his profile is viewed as the perfect tactical fit for Gian Piero Gasperini's system. Unlike a traditional poacher, Zirkzee’s ability to drop deep, link play, and orchestrate attacks mirrors the role Gasperini has successfully used with forwards in the past at Atalanta.

• Ferguson to be sent back to Brighton

  The urgency to recruit Zirkzee is a direct consequence of the failure of Irish striker Ferguson. He arrived on loan from Brighton in the summer with high expectations, tasked with providing the goals to fire Roma into the top four. Instead, his tenure has been a nightmare.

  Ferguson has made 14 appearances across all competitions and registered a single goal – against Cremonese last month. His performances have been described by the Italian press as "ghost-like," with the striker struggling to adapt to the physicality and tactical rigours of Serie A.

  Reports suggest that the upcoming match against Como in Serie A represents a "last call" for the 21-year-old, but the decision appears to have already been taken. Roma are preparing to terminate the loan agreement in January, sending Ferguson back to Brighton early to free up the squad space and wage budget necessary to register Zirkzee. It is a harsh conclusion to what was meant to be a developmental step for the young Irishman, but Roma’s precarious league position leaves no room for sentiment.

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  Tel, Raspadori, and Silva on standby

  While Zirkzee is the undisputed "Plan A," Massara is keeping his options open should negotiations with United hit a wall.

  According to reports, Roma have identified Mathys Tel as a viable alternative. The former Bayern Munich prodigy is also struggling for game time since his summer move to Tottenham and could be available on a loan deal. The French forward offers versatility and pace, traits that appeal to the Giallorossi scouts.

  Furthermore, domestic options remain on the table. Giacomo Raspadori is a player Gasperini has admired for years, though extracting him so soon after he left Napoli to join Atletico Madrid will be no easy feat. Finally, Fabio Silva is on the shortlist as a "wildcard" option amid his struggles since making a summer transfer from Wolves to Borussia Dortmund.

Salary pots increased significantly across men’s and women’s competitions in wake of equity sale

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2025

The Hundred is to switch from the draft system that has been in place since inception•Getty Images

The Hundred will switch from a draft system to a player auction for the 2026 season, imitating the long-standing method for squad-building in the IPL, while the overall salary pot for the men’s and women’s competitions will be significantly hiked, by 45% and 100% respectively, according to changes agreed in the wake of this year’s equity sale, which raised more than £550 million for the ECB.The maiden auction is set to take place in March 2026, and is one of several significant changes that were ratified by the Hundred’s Board on Thursday, as part of the ‘reset’ process to launch the first season in which the eight teams will be either co- or fully owned by private investors.In a bid to attract the best available players for the tournament, the total amount that men’s teams can spend per season will rise from the present level of £1.2 million to £2.05 million, while the women’s figure will rise to £880,000 per team. The base salaries for the lowest-paid women’s players will increase by 50%, from £10,000 to £15,000.According to the ECB, there will be salary caps in place, but also salary collars – a minimum spend per team per season – and the option of multi-year contracts will also be introduced. As flagged by ESPNcricinfo last year, the number of overseas players per squad is set to rise, from three to four – subject to Home Office clearance – with a total of 16-18 players permitted per squad.There will be no right to match, but direct signings will be permitted: up to two overseas players and two centrally-contracted England players. The window for such signings will extend from mid-November to mid-January, while the Hundred Board has also approved the retention of the wildcard system which will allow two players per franchise to be selected from the T20 Blast, via a player draft in June 2026.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As a consequence, a cumulative pre-auction deduction will be factored in for each franchise, which will reduce the spend permitted at the auction depending on the number of players picked up beforehand.For the men’s competition, this will equate to: £350k (1 signing), £650k (2 players), £850k (3 players), £950k (4 players). For the women’s competition, the figures are: £130k (1 signing), £240k (2 players), £310k (3 players), £360k (4 players).Vikram Banerjee, the Managing Director of the Hundred, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the Hundred. These changes will help us make the competition even better, ensuring we get the best players in the world and improving the standard of cricket and level of entertainment further again.Related

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“Working alongside our new partners we’ve been exploring how we can take The Hundred forward and we’ve decided that moving to an auction will allow us to improve the competition. For a competition that has always been proud to innovate, we’re delighted to be holding the first auction in major UK sport.”In making this decision, we have stuck to three key principles: i) ensuring The Hundred attracts the best players in the world, ii) maintaining a competitive balance between the squads, iii) guaranteeing whatever changes we make work across the men’s and women’s games. “The decision to increase the men’s salary pot by 45% has been taken because market forces in the men’s game necessitate a more significant uplift to ensure we’re able to attract the best players in the world.”The salary pot for the women’s competition in the first year of The Hundred was £120,000, with the top-earning players earning £15,000 – the pot has risen for the third year in a row. With the pot now £880,000, top-earning players are set to earn in the region of £130,000, as well as a significant increase in salaries for those at base price.”Salaries in The Hundred women’s competition are very competitive, and they compare favourably with other franchise cricket competitions and across the landscape of women’s sport.”It’s been fantastic to work alongside our new partners, they’re already bringing energy and expertise and I know that together we can make The Hundred even better, for fans and players alike.”

L’Equipe reports that Celtic are in advanced talks with Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy to make him their long-term successor to Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.

The outlet claims that the French tactician could be in the dugout for the club’s Scottish Premiership clash with St Mirren on Saturday if a £2m compensation agreement can be put in place before the weekend.

Nancy will be looking to build on the success that Rodgers, as shown in the graphic above, had with the Hoops during his second spell in charge of the Scottish giants, and Johny Kenny is one star who he will surely be looking forward to working with.

How Johnny Kenny could fit into Wilfried Nancy's system

Per Transfermarkt, the French boss typically plays with a 3-4-2-1 system but has also utilised a 3-5-2, 3-4-1-2, and a 4-4-2, which means that there is the potential for Kenny to be used as part of a front two.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Ireland international has scored four goals in his last four appearances for the Scottish giants since Kelechi Iheanacho suffered a hamstring injury, with Martin O’Neill placing his trust in the youngster during his spell in interim charge.

Kenny’s best performances so far, arguably, came in the 4-0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead in the Premiership, as the 22-year-old centre-forward scored half of his side’s goals.

His recent goalscoring exploits have put him in a good place ahead of Nancy’s potential arrival, and he could play as part of a front two for Celtic if the manager goes with a two-striker formation.

Celtic’s last striker to score 20 or more goals in a league season was Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored 27 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, but it is not Kenny who could be Nancy’s own version of the Japan international.

The young star who could be Celtic's next Kyogo Furuhashi

Callum Osmand broke onto the scene for Celtic in the League Cup semi-final clash with Rangers earlier this month, as he came off the bench to score his first senior goal.

The Jersey-born star then came off the bench to win a penalty against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, but went down with a hamstring injury shortly after and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Once he is back and available for selection, though, Nancy could unearth his own version of Kyogo and an upgrade on Kenny by playing him in the centre-forward position, either on his own or alongside the Irishman.

Reporter Mark Hendry described Osmand’s goal against Rangers as Kyogo-esque and said that the forward was “so dangerous” for the Hoops in that semi-final clash.

The former Wales international’s career statistics in comparison to Kenny’s also suggest that he is more likely to develop into a Kyogo-type goalscorer in the Premiership moving forward.

Appearances

149

82

Goals

47

49

Games per goal

3.17

1.67

Assists

11

13

Games per assist

13.55

6.31

As you can see in the table above, Osmand scores and creates goals at a greater rate than the Ireland international, with two more goals in 67 fewer matches in his career at youth and first-team level.

The former Fulham youngster’s exceptional goal return in the statistics above illustrates how exciting he is as a centre-forward prospect, which was evident in his recent cameos for the first-team before his injury.

Osmand’s form at the top end of the pitch for Fulham and Celtic suggests that he has the potential to be an even better number nine option than Kenny, as well as being Nancy’s own version of Kyogo.

Therefore, the potential Celtic manager will be hoping that the 20-year-old talent is back from his hamstring injury sooner rather than later, so he can get to working with him as quickly as possible.

Not just Ralston: Nancy must ditch Celtic dud who "unsettles defences"

Wilfried Nancy should immediately drop this Celtic forward from the starting line-up once he arrives.

ByDan Emery Nov 18, 2025

The hosts were stuck on their own surface, posting 109 for 7 which was overhauled with 17 balls to spare

ECB Media24-Aug-2025Birmingham Phoenix 113 for 3 (Duckett 49*, Clarke 40) beat Manchester Originals 109 for 7 (Klaasen 34, Livingstone 2-11) by seven wicketsBirmingham Phoenix produced a polished display to thrash Manchester Originals by seven wickets at Emirates Old Trafford and move up to fourth in the table.The Phoenix have struggled for consistency in the tournament, and their defeat to Welsh Fire on Friday evening ended any hope of qualifying for the knockout phase, but a disciplined performance in the field and a clinical partnership of 72 from 45 balls between Ben Duckett (49 not out from 38) and Joe Clarke (40 from 21) delivered a consolation victory.Set just 110 to win, Will Smeed nicked off to Sonny Baker for 13 but it was plain sailing thereafter, Clarke announcing his arrival with three consecutive boundaries off his Nottinghamshire teammate Josh Tongue before dispatching Ish Sodhi for a slog-swept six.Duckett had been more circumspect but came to the party by taking 14 off Sodhi’s second set and the Phoenix wasted no time in racing to their target, Tongue’s dismissals of Clarke and Liam Livingstone only delaying the inevitable as victory was secured with 17 balls to spare.Earlier, the Originals had made a positive start after winning the toss and electing to bat. Phil Salt (31 from 20) hit Adam Milne for a six and a four in the second set, and belted two maximums off Trent Boult in the third, but Liam Patterson-White got the breakthrough when he clean bowled Ben McKinney for 2 with an arm ball and the hosts badly lost their way when Salt followed, caught at long-on by Duckett off Jacob Bethell.Jos Buttler came and went for 5, trapped lbw by the excellent Livingstone (2 for 11), and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Heinrich Klaasen (34 from 35) unable to fully unleash his range of shots on a slow surface that played into the hands of the Phoenix spinners.The South African was eventually caught in the deep off Chris Wood (2-11) in the penultimate set and the Originals could only muster 109-7, ultimately slipping to a fifth defeat in seven, bottom of the table on net run rate, as their formidable batting line-up again failed to fire.Clarke, named the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “I feel in good rhythm and have good confidence, so it was nice to contribute to a win.”The pitch had been used a few times so it was slightly on the slower side. I felt like once the seamers were on I could inject pace into it and it helped having Ben at the other end who could knock it around and run hard.On the partnership with Duckett, he added: “We wanted to stick to our strengths. He’s a very good player of spin, he hits gas really well, and it was about limiting dot balls. We’ve played cricket together for a long, long time, so it’s nice to be out there in the middle with him.”

As Miami Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and three-time Olympic medalist and sprinter Noah Lyles bicker about who would win in a race, Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz has something to say.

De La Cruz took to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday night and injected himself into the debate between the two speedsters.

"They think they’re fast! I’ll beat them for sure," De La Cruz wrote.

The feud between Hill and Lyles all began back in August following the latter's bronze medal win in the men's 200m at the Paris Olympics, when Hill accused him of faking the effects of the COVID-19 virus following his somewhat disappointing showing. The Dolphins wideout then declared he would beat Lyles in a race. In response, Lyles pretended to forget Hill's name.

Hill then reignited the debate following Lyles's recent race against popular YouTube streamer IShowSpeed, who was narrowly bested by the American sprinter. Hill poked fun at Lyles, who later responded by saying he would defeat the Dolphins receiver in a race just as he did against iShowSpeed.

And while this debate seems to be squarely between the 4.29-speed of Hill and the American-record-breaking sprints of Lyles, don't discount De La Cruz.

Since his MLB debut in June of 2023, he has stolen 102 bases, including a league-leading 67 swipes in '24. De La Cruz ranked first in MLB in the Statcast metric Sprint Speed in '23 and third in the metric in '24. The Reds star was clocked running from home-to-home in under 15 seconds while hitting an inside-the-park home run back in April.

In short, he's fast.

Hopefully one day the sports world gets to see just how fast in comparison to the likes of Hill and Lyles.

Tottenham Hotspur have made some incredible additions over the last few years, with such talents undoubtedly helping the side beat Leeds United over the weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side secured a 2-1 win over the newly-promoted outfit, helping claim the side’s fourth Premier League win of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Dane has already impressed since taking the reins, with the Lilywhites only suffering one defeat in ten outings across all competitions after his appointment during the summer.

Numerous players have impressed in North London, whether that be players already on the books or ones brought in to make an impact after the manager’s arrival.

One of the players has made an immediate impact in North London over recent weeks, with his showing against Daniel Farke’s side one of his best for his new club.

Mohammed Kudus’ start to life at Spurs

During the summer transfer window, the Spurs hierarchy decided to fork out a whopping £55m for the signature of Mohammed Kudus to help bolster the options within the final third.

The Ghanaian caused a fair amount of controversy with his move, subsequently leaving rivals West Ham United to join the Lilywhites – even stating it was always going to be Spurs after leaving the Hammers.

On the pitch, the 25-year-old has already made an immediate impact, registering one goal and four assists within his first ten outings across all competitions.

His latest contributions came in Saturday’s triumph, scoring his first goal for the club, whilst also teeing up Mathys Tel for his first strike of the new campaign.

Kudus is now sitting at the top of the club’s list for combined goals and assists in the Premier League, with his tally of five now higher than Richarlison, who sits one behind in second.

However, despite the immediate impact he’s made in attacking areas, one other talent is rapidly becoming one of the club’s best additions over the last handful of years.

The Spurs star who is becoming their best signing

Micky van de Ven has been a crucial cog in Spurs’ defensive department over the last couple of years, with his £40m transfer in the summer of 2023 now looking like a bargain.

The Dutch international has racked up 61 appearances across all competitions, scoring six times – three of which have already come in the 2025/26 campaign.

His most recent effort came against Bodo Glimt in the Champions League, helping Frank’s side secure a 2-2 draw and maintain their unbeaten record in Europe.

The 24-year-old also registered the fastest sprint of any player in England’s top-flight last year, arguably being the perfect all-round option in the modern game.

However, summer addition Joao Palhinha may have been an addition many frowned upon at the time, but the midfielder is rapidly becoming one of the side’s most important players.

The Portuguese international joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, with the deal including an option to buy, subsequently offering a needed ball-winning option at the heart of the side.

He’s started all but one game in the Premier League to date, once again getting the nod in the recent triumph against Leeds at Elland Road this weekend.

His stats from the encounter highlight how impressive he’s been of late, with his arrival massively solving the issue that has been plaguing the side in recent years.

Palhinha, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by one analyst, won 100% of the tackles he entered – now being the first player to win 25 tackles in the Premier League this campaign.

Joao Palhinha – stats against Leeds
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	90
Touches	56
Passes completed	27
Tackles won	100%
Clearances	3
Interceptions	1
Duels won	7
Passes into final third	4
Stats via FotMob

He also made three clearances, along with one interception and seven duels – further showcasing his sensational ability to regain possession without the ball at his feet.

However, in possession, he was just as impressive, making four passes into the final third, helping him complete 27 passes and dictate the play during the triumph.

Given his recent form, it would be a surprise to no one if the club decide to trigger the option to buy at the end of the current campaign and sign Palhinha on a permanent basis.

Such a deal would be an excellent one, allowing the former Fulham star to continue on his impressive start to life in North London, potentially helping the club win further silverware in the years ahead.

100% dribbles, 10 duels won: 9/10 Spurs sensation looked like prime Bale

Tottenham Hotspur ground their way to an important win away at Leeds United on Saturday afternoon

By
Robbie Walls

Oct 4, 2025

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، حقيقة ما تردد بشأن استقالة الكابتن حسين لبيب، رئيس نادي الزمالك، من منصبه، مؤكدًا أن ما يثار حول هذا الأمر غير صحيح، وأن مجلس الإدارة لا يزال يباشر مهامه رغم الضغوط والأزمات.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم: “من يقول إن الكابتن حسين لبيب غير متضايق فهو لا يقول الحقيقة، ومن يزعم أنه غير غاضب أو غير منزعج فهو أيضًا غير صادق، الكابتن حسين يشعر بالضيق والتعب والملل من كثرة الأزمات التي يواجهها النادي، لكن القول بأنه قدّم استقالته غير صحيح تمامًا”.

وتابع: “الكابتن حسين لبيب لم يستقل لسببين؛ الأول أنه مرتبط بمجلس إدارة كامل لا يمكنه الانسحاب منفردًا دون التشاور، والثاني أن تقديم الاستقالة يجب أن يتم بشكل رسمي من خلال مجلس الإدارة وليس بقرار فردي، فلا يصح أن يذهب إلى الوزير ويقول له: أنا مستقيل”.

وأضاف شوبير موضحًا تفاصيل لقاء لبيب مع وزير الشباب والرياضة: “البعض قال إن الاجتماع كان يوم الاثنين، لكن الحقيقة أنه تم يوم الأحد. وكان الحديث بين الوزير الدكتور أشرف صبحي والكابتن لبيب حول أزمات الزمالك، ومستجدات أرض أكتوبر، ومحاولة إيجاد حلول للأوضاع الحالية”.

وأوضح: “خلال اللقاء عبّر لبيب عن ضيقه وتعبه من حجم المسؤوليات، قائلاً إنه يبذل هو وأعضاء المجلس أقصى ما في وسعهم، وطالب بمزيد من الدعم من الوزارة، لكن هذا الحديث لم يكن إعلانًا عن استقالة، بل مجرد فضفضة”.

واستطرد: “قيل إن الكابتن حسين لبيب ترك النادي وفوّض المهندس هشام نصر بإدارة الأمور، وهذا صحيح جزئيًا، إذ حدث ذلك في فترة مرضه، حيث زاره الوزير في منزله للاطمئنان عليه، لكنه بعد شفائه عاد مباشرة لممارسة مهامه”.

طالع أيضًا | ميدو: الزمالك سيتأثر في السوبر المصري بغياب لاعبه.. ويتوجه بطلب إلى رئيس اتحاد الكرة

وأكد: “الكابتن لبيب كان حاضرًا في الجمعية العمومية الأخيرة التي لم تكتمل، وشارك مع أعضاء المجلس في الفعاليات داخل النادي، كما أن آخر القرارات الإدارية كانت بالتنسيق بينه وبين المهندس هشام نصر وجون إدوارد، وتم خلالها تعيين الكابتن أحمد عبد الرؤوف ضمن الجهاز الفني لنادي الزمالك”.

وأردف: “أعضاء مجلس إدارة الزمالك يعملون بكل طاقتهم لتجاوز الأزمات، ومنذ سحب أرض النادي لم يلوّح أي منهم بالاستقالة رغم حالة الضيق والضغط التي يعيشونها”.

وتابع: “لكن إذا وصل المجلس إلى قناعة بعدم القدرة على إيجاد حلول، فسيتم تقديم استقالة جماعية، وليس استقالة فردية من الكابتن حسين لبيب وحده، وقد يختار فرد أو اثنان فقط عدم المشاركة في الاستقالة، وهو أمر وارد”.

واختتم: “مجلس إدارة الزمالك ما زال يتحمل مسؤولياته، لكنه يواجه ظروفًا صعبة للغاية. هناك مطالب مالية من اللاعبين والمدربين والموظفين، والمجلس يحاول قدر الإمكان تدبير الموارد المالية لتغطية تلك الالتزامات”.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has overseen a massive overhaul of his playing squad since his arrival, spending plenty of money in the transfer market to turn his side into regular challengers for silverware.

The Gunners splashed the cash in 2025 on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres, but who is the club’s most expensive signing of all time?

Here, we’ve taken a look at Arsenal’s most expensive signings in their history, with the help of Transfermarkt and news reports, alongside a detailed look at the top 10.

Arsenal’s most expensive signings of all time
Rank	Player	Year	Signed from	Fee
1	Declan Rice	2023	West Ham	£105m
2	Nicolas Pepe	2019	Lille	£72m
3	Eberechi Eze	2025	Crystal Palace	£67.5m
4	Kai Havertz	2023	Chelsea	£65m
5	Viktor Gyokeres	2025	Sporting CP	£63.5m
6	Martin Zubimendi	2025	Real Sociedad	£60m
7	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	2018	Borussia Dortmund	£56m
8	Noni Madueke	2025	Chelsea	£52m
9	Ben White	2022	Brighton	£50m
10	Alexandre Lacazette	2017	Lyon	£46.5m
11	Thomas Partey	2020	Atletico Madrid	£45.3m
12	Gabriel Jesus	2022	Man City	£45m
13	Mesut Ozil	2013	Real Madrid	£42.4m
14	Riccardo Calafiori	2024	Bologna	£42m
15	Jurrien Timber	2023	Ajax	£38.5m
=16	Shkodran Mustafi	2016	Valencia	£35m
=16	Granit Xhaka	2016	Borussia Monchengladbach	£35m
=16	Alexis Sanchez	2014	Barcelona	£35m
19	Fabio Vieira	2022	FC Porto	£34.2m
20	Mikel Merino	2024	Real Sociedad	£31.6m

Here’s a detailed look at Arsenal’s 10 most expensive signings:

10

Alexandre Lacazette

£46.5m from Lyon, 2017

French forward Alexandre Lacazette joined Arsenal in 2017 from Lyon after spending his entire career with the Ligue 1 side.

He went on to have five years at the Emirates, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 71 times, winning the FA Cup. Lacazette left Arsenal on a free transfer, returning to Lyon where he will go down as a club icon.

9

Ben White

£50m from Brighton, 2021

After starring out on loan with Leeds United in the Championship and making an impact in the Premier League with Brighton, Arsenal won the race to sign Ben White in 2021.

The versatile defender has been a regular for Arsenal since then and has been transformed into a right-back under Arteta, with his contract with the Gunners running until 2028.

8

Noni Madueke

£52m from Chelsea, 2025

Noni Madueke was one of Arsenal’s first summer signings of 2025, swapping Stamford Bridge for the Emirates in a deal worth a total of £52m.

The Gunners would go on to spend a lot more ahead of the 2025/26 season, with Madueke penning a five-year contract.

7

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

£56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018

In 2018, Arsenal spent big to add more firepower to their attack, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining from Borussia Dortmund. In total, Aubameyang would go on to score 92 goals in 163 appearances, scoring the winner in the 2020 FA Cup final.

Aubameyang and Lacazette struck up a good relationship in north London, but like his former strike partner, he left Arsenal in 2022 before returning to England for a short stint with Chelsea.

6

Martin Zubimendi

£60m from Real Sociedad, 2025

Central midfielder Martin Zubimendi almost signed for Liverpool in 2024, however, six months later, Arsenal were putting plans in place to sign the Spaniard ahead of those at Anfield.

A transfer was put in place in January 2025 and Zubimendi moved to north London six months later.

5

Viktor Gyokeres

£63m from Sporting CP

Signing a new striker was Arsenal’s biggest priority in 2025, and Viktor Gyokeres was the centre-forward tasked with leading the Gunners’ line.

After scoring for fun with Sporting CP, Arsenal spent a total of £63m to win the race for the Sweden international, who only wanted the Gunners.

4

Kai Havertz

£65m from Chelsea, 2023

Chelsea recouped the majority of the transfer fee they paid Bayer Leverkusen for Kai Havertz when selling him to Arsenal in 2023, with the German attacker penning a five-year deal at the Emirates.

The versatile forward has been deployed in numerous positions by Arteta so far and looks to be a valuable signing going forward.

3

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m from Crystal Palace, 2025

Eberechi Eze’s move to Arsenal in 2025 was one of the most dramatic, with the attacking midfielder so close to joining rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Before he signed for Spurs on the dotted line, boyhood Gunner Eze phoned Arteta, which led to Arsenal hijacking a transfer and sealing a deal with Crystal Palace worth a total of £67.5m.

2

Nicolas Pepe

£72m from Lille, 2019

A big-money signing that ultimately didn’t work out was Nicolas Pepe. Arsenal splashed the cash on the Ivorian back in 2019 after starring in France for Lille.

However, Pepe never really got to grips with life in England and, after making 112 appearances for the club, scoring 27 times, left in 2023 on a free transfer despite having 12 months remaining on his contract at the time.

1

Declan Rice

£105m from West Ham, 2023

Comfortably Arsenal’s record signing, Declan Rice was also wanted by Manchester City during the summer of 2023, but it was the Gunners who won the race after laying plenty of groundwork months prior.

The England international is under contract until 2028, so he looks set to be an important member of Arteta’s side for years to come.

Former national team star Alexi Lalas cast doubt on Ricardo Pepi’s chances of making the 2026 World Cup roster after the striker’s knee injury with PSV, noting that USMNT roster spots will only be more competitive – leaving injured players especially at risk of losing out as the tournament gets closer to kicking off.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Injury timing threatens Pepi's standing

  Lalas addressed the implications of Pepi's injury absence ahead of the October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. The 22-year-old striker had returned from a long-term knee injury, but has been ruled out for the U.S.'s upcoming October friendlies with another injury.

  “If you're hurt, you're hurt,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “There's nothing you can do about it, but it does. It's not a good situation. You're not Erling Haaland, right? You're not going to come no matter what, as long as you're okay by the time the World Cup shows up! There is a competition and an ongoing competition. "

  Pepi has 13 goals in 33 international caps for the Americans.

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• Getty Images
  

  Roster competition intensifies

  Lalas pointed to the delayed announcement of the October camp roster as evidence of the heightened competition for national team positions – including Pepi's striker position. It was expected that the roster would be released earlier in the week, but instead came out Thursday.

  He also pointed to Sergino Dest's recent injury as another example of how setbacks affect position battles. 

  “I do think that the importance of this window is I think it was reflected in the fact that this was pushed back,” Lalas said. "And so when it comes to Pepe or Dest, yeah, they'll say, well, they're injured here and injured here. But you start gobbling up those windows, and you're not involved. You may be the odd man out either for the roster or for a starting position going forward because you just won't have enough time to really prove your worth, with the competition going on.”

• Calendar constraints

  The timing of Pepi's return will prove particularly crucial with the November international window approaching. When he's healthy, he's a man largely in form. He's scored two goals in five appearances this season, and in the last campaign, he netted 11 goals in 18 appearances. 

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• AFP
  

  Big matches ahead

  The U.S. will hope to navigate past the absences of Pepi and Dest when they face Ecuador and Australia on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14, respectively.