Toronto FC completed the signing of defender Zane Monlouis from Arsenal, the Major League Soccer ...

<p>Toronto FC completed the signing of defender Zane Monlouis from Arsenal, the Major League Soccer club announced Saturday.</p><p>The center-back joins Toronto on a two-year contract through the 2026 season. The deal includes options to extend his stay further until 2027 and 2028.</p><p>"At just 21 years old, he has already gained a variety of playing experience in the U.K.," Toronto FC general manager Jason Hernandez said.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"His skill set both on and off the ball will be an asset to our defense, and we look forward to his continued growth and integration with our first team."</p><p>Monlouis made over 100 combined appearances for Arsenal’s Under-18, Under-21, and Under-23 teams. He had a short loan spell with English third-tier club Reading last season.</p><p>"These years have been some of the best of my life," Monlouis said of his 13 years at Arsenal, according to Gunners youth reporter <a href="https://x.com/jeorgebird/status/1893305665415766319">Jeorge Bird</a>.</p><p>He added, "With saying that, I believe it is my time to move on, and I am excited for what the future holds for me."</p><p> </p>

LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Zane Monlouis of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on October 25, 2024 in London Colney, England.

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Toronto FC sign defender Monlouis from Arsenal

Liverpool's quadruple hopes ended in dramatic fashion Sunday.  The Premier League leaders were kn...

<p>Liverpool's quadruple hopes ended in dramatic fashion Sunday.</p><p>The Premier League leaders were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round after losing 1-0 to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.</p><p>A second-half penalty by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/161063" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/161063">Ryan Hardie</a> proved decisive in helping the last-place Championship club pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Arne Slot left several of Liverpool's stars off the squad for Sunday's away trip, including <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/17673" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/17673">Mohamed Salah</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/22556" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/22556">Virgil van Dijk</a>, making 10 changes from the team that beat Tottenham in the League Cup semifinals earlier in the week.</p><p>"We were not having a very good day. A result like this is the outcome," said Slot, who suffered just his fourth defeat since replacing Jurgen Klopp on the Liverpool bench. "It hurts everyone that is involved with Liverpool - fans, me players. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible and when you go out in the second possible game, that's a setback."</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/101948" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/101948">Luis Diaz</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/85175" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/85175">Diogo Jota</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/68002" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/68002">Federico Chiesa</a> struggled to create chances in attack, while Liverpool suffered an early defensive blow in the first half with the loss of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/49610" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/49610">Joe Gomez</a> to injury.</p><p>The two sides were level coming out of halftime before Plymouth were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute after Harvey Elliott's raised arm made contact with the ball.</p><p>Hardie's penalty conversion triggered a sense of urgency among the visitors.</p><p>Liverpool pressed for an equalizer late but were denied by a pair of impressive saves by Plymouth goalkeeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/86040" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/86040">Conor Hazard</a> late in the contest.</p><p>Hazard denied Jota's volley from outside the box with a diving effort before pulling off an even more impressive save in injury time when he tipped Darwin Nunez's close-range header over the crossbar.</p><p>Plymouth went on to hold onto their lead to secure the win for Miron Muslic, who recently replaced Wayne Rooney as coach of the Pilgrims.</p><p>"I'm speechless, and normally they tell me I'm eloquent! It's a big moment," Muslic said. "It's a magical day for us. I told the lads in the locker room to enjoy it."</p><p>Meanwhile, Liverpool will now shift focus to their efforts in the Premier League, Champions League, and the League Cup final next month against Newcastle United.</p><p>"I can't say the boys didn't fight, both teams barely created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this, it is up to one moment. That moment was for them and they deserve it," Slot added. </p><p> </p>

PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Lewis Gibson, Matthew Sorinola and Muhamed Tijani of Plymouth Argyle celebrate victory after the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool at Home Park on February 09, 2025 in Plymouth, England.

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Liverpool's quadruple dream ends with stunning FA Cup loss to Plymouth

Chelsea's Joao Felix joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season, the Italian club said T...

<p>Chelsea's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///engfa/players/102327" href="https://thescore.com/engfa/players/102327">Joao Felix</a> joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season, the Italian club said Tuesday.</p><p>The six-month loan deal is understood to be worth €5.5 million, and Milan have agreed to pay the Portuguese international's full salary, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6094003/2025/02/03/joao-felix-chelsea-loan-milan/">The Athletic's David Ornstein</a>.</p><p>Though the deal was formally announced Tuesday, Milan completed and submitted the necessary paperwork prior to Monday's transfer deadline.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The move comes less than a year into the six-year contract that Felix signed last summer when Chelsea signed him from Atletico Madrid for a reported £46.3-million fee. It was his second spell at Stamford Bridge after his loan in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.</p><p>Felix will hope for more playing time in Milan after starting just three Premier League games for the Blues this season. He primarily featured in cup competitions under Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.</p><p>He had seven goals in 20 appearances in all competitions this season.</p><p>Aston Villa were also linked with Felix, but the club pursued other attacking options instead. Along with adding <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/93738" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/93738">Donyell Malen</a> from Borussia Dortmund and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66886" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66886">Marcus Rashford</a> from Manchester United during this transfer window, the club also signed Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain to help fill the void of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcqcon/players/187782" href="https://thescore.com/wcqcon/players/187782">Jhon Duran</a>'s departure to Saudi Arabia.</p><p>The deal caps a whirlwind 24 hours for Milan. The Rossoneri, sitting eighth in Serie A, signed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///itaci/players/94895" href="https://thescore.com/itaci/players/94895">Santiago Gimenez</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///seri/players/189710" href="https://thescore.com/seri/players/189710">Warren Bondo</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///seri/players/95117" href="https://thescore.com/seri/players/95117">Riccardo Sottil</a> on transfer deadline day while saying goodbye to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/13168" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/13168">Alvaro Morata</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///itaci/players/61376" href="https://thescore.com/itaci/players/61376">Ismael Bennacer</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///itaci/players/99445" href="https://thescore.com/itaci/players/99445">Noah Okafor</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///itaci/players/41597" href="https://thescore.com/itaci/players/41597">Davide Calabria</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Joao Felix of Chelsea leaves the tunnel for a pitch inspection, while holding a match ball prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2025 in London, England.

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Chelsea's Joao Felix completes loan move to AC Milan 

Arsenal took an early lead in Sunday's 5-1 win over Manchester City after Manuel Akanji's mistake...

<p>Arsenal took an early lead in Sunday's 5-1 win over Manchester City after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/60044" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/60044">Manuel Akanji</a>'s mistake led to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/34831" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/34831">Martin Odegaard</a> opening the scoring at the Emirates Stadium.</p><p>After Akanji's errant pass deep in City's half, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/86595" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/86595">Kai Havertz</a> was sent into the box, where he found Odegaard for the first goal less than two minutes into the match.</p><p><em>(Available to view in U.S. only)</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ARSENAL OPEN THE SCORING 105 SECONDS IN. IT'S MARTIN ODEGAARD.<br><br>📺 Peacock | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARSMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSMCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/INCm4EYVyI">pic.twitter.com/INCm4EYVyI</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1886091326069809242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><em>(Available to view in Canada only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Martin Odegaard SCORES!!<br><br>⚽ 1-0 Arsenal FC vs Manchester City<br><br>WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 <a href="https://t.co/2w98QqADfX">https://t.co/2w98QqADfX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PremierLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PremierLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xgbfi7xlOe">pic.twitter.com/Xgbfi7xlOe</a></p>— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuboTVCanada/status/1886091505518977172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It's the second game in a row in which City conceded in the opening three minutes. Chelsea scored three minutes into their game against City last weekend but lost the match 3-1.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/159222" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/159222">Erling Haaland</a> brought Manchester City level in the 55th minute with his 19th Premier League goal of the season.</p><p>But Arsenal retook the lead a minute later thanks to another costly giveaway. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/49894" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/49894">Thomas Partey</a> intercepted <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/90747" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/90747">Phil Foden</a>'s pass and fired a long-range shot that deflected off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/14100" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/14100">John Stones</a> and into the net.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/192369" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/192369">Myles Lewis-Skelly</a> scored in the 63rd minute before goals from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/86595" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/86595">Kai Havertz</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/190386" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/190386">Ethan Nwaneri</a> helped seal three points.</p>

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal scores his team's first goal whilst under pressure from John Stones of Manchester City as Stefan Ortega of Manchester City fails to make a save during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC at Emirates Stadium on February 02, 2025 in London, England.

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Watch: Akanji's brutal mistake gifts Arsenal easy goal

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney advised Marcus Rashford that he needs to "leave" the club a...

<p>Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney advised <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/66886" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/66886">Marcus Rashford</a> that he needs to "leave" the club after being exiled by coach Ruben Amorim.</p><p>"I've spoken to Marcus a couple of times, and I've given him my thoughts and my opinion," Rooney said on The Overlap, courtesy of <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43625300/man-united-legend-wayne-rooney-marcus-rashford-needs-leave">ESPN</a>.</p><p>"I said you need to leave the football club because whatever is going on in his life and whatever is going on at Manchester United, he's not the same. It's not him.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"So I said for him, to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club. The fact that your manager is coming out and saying that you are not training right is crazy.</p><p>"With Marcus, it's been going on for two years, and it's sad. It's really sad."</p><p>Rashford hasn't played since December and said he was ready for a "new challenge" after being dropped for Manchester United's win over rivals Manchester City.</p><p>The 27-year-old has missed 11 games in total. Amorim said last weekend that he would play the club's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach over Rashford after questioning the forward's commitment.</p><p>Rashford has been linked with moves to AC Milan and Barcelona in January, but he has yet to secure a transfer before the window closes Monday.</p><p>Rooney, Manchester United's all-time leading scorer and Rashford's teammate from 2015-17, added: "I went into Carrington (United's training ground) on Sunday to take my kids to game day, and Marcus was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach.</p><p>"But he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids' games. I looked at him, thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walk past.</p><p>"I was surprised when (Rashford's training issues) started over two years ago, but now I'm not."</p>

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during a training session at the Trafford Training Centre, Carrington, Manchester. Picture date: Wednesday January 29, 2025.

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Man Utd legend Rooney says Rashford needs to leave

Manchester United winger Antony completed his loan move to Real Betis on Saturday.  Antony - the ...

<p>Manchester United winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/166123" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/166123">Antony</a> completed his loan move to Real Betis on Saturday.</p><p>Antony - the second-most expensive signing in United's history - joined Betis until the end of the season. The agreement doesn't include an option for the Spanish side to make the move permanent when the deal expires in June.</p><p>Real Betis will pay 84% of the Brazilian's wages, plus potential bonuses depending on performances, according to <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1882786186131128611">transfer insider Fabrizio Romano</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Offloading Antony clears an estimated £1.5 million from Manchester United's wage bill for the remainder of the campaign, reports <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6072863/2025/01/24/antony-manchester-united-transfer-loan/?partner=slack&amp;smid=sl-share">The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell</a>. Antony currently earns £105,000 per week on a contract that lasts until 2027.</p><p>After weeks of speculation, the Red Devils permitted him to go to Spain to undergo a medical at Real Betis before officially joining the team coached by former Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini.</p><p>Antony's appearance in last weekend's defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion could end up being his last for United, potentially bringing an end to his difficult spell at the club after joining from Ajax for €100 million in 2022.</p><p>The 24-year-old went from 23 Premier League starts in his first campaign to 15 last season.</p><p>Antony hasn't started a league match this term. His three starts this season were in League Cup and Europa League matches.</p><p>He has 12 goals in 96 games in all competitions.</p><p> </p>

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Antony of Manchester United reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Southampton FC at Old Trafford on January 16, 2025 in Manchester, England.

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Man Utd flop Antony joins Real Betis on loan until end of season

The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. It's a time to make transformative addition...

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. It's a time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time when expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that go bust for one reason or another - some in spectacular fashion.</em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops and some mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series concludes below with the 10 most egregious transfers ever.</em></p><p><strong>Review the entire series</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th>Part II</th>
<th>Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161825" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161825">30-21</a></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">20-11</a></td>
<td><strong>10-1</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>10. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/cropped_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w220xh124_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w320xh180_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w640xh360_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w768xh432_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/387730/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1190519167.jpg?ts=1577464085 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Martin Rickett - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Juventus for €105 million in 2016</strong></em></p><p>Manchester United paid a record fee to re-sign a player they had let go for nothing. That alone was difficult enough to swallow. Pogba left the club in 2012 for Juventus and won four championships in Italy. But he ultimately returned to England, feeling he had unfinished business there. He most certainly failed to accomplish whatever he sought to do. Pogba became a lightning rod for criticism and a scapegoat for United's failures. He was also injured for large stretches of his six seasons there. Pogba rarely hit the pitch for United with the vigor he showed for France. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>9. Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Lille for €80 million in 2019</em></strong></p><p>"Arsenal spent a lot of money on me, and I paid the price for it," Pepe <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5934816/2024/11/25/nicolas-pepe-interview-arsenal-emery-villarreal/">said</a> in November about how he was harshly judged during his time in English football. Arsenal ripped up Pepe's contract one year early following a four-season spell that featured a few highlight-reel moments and little more. The staggeringly inconsistent winger scored 16 times and provided nine assists over 80 Premier League appearances, and he was rumored to be a disruptive presence in the squad. The transfer would've been more damaging for Arsenal without the timely emergence of academy graduate Bukayo Saka, but it was still an abject failure; Pepe remains the second-most expensive player in Arsenal history. - <em>Daniel</em> <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>8. Kaka (Real Madrid)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from AC Milan for €67 million in 2009</em></strong></p><p>For a little while, Kaka was the most expensive player in the world before Cristiano Ronaldo joined him at Real Madrid. And rightly so. The Brazilian playmaker was an elite talent for years at AC Milan, becoming the last player to win the Ballon d'Or in 2007 before Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated the award for the next decade. Yet, when he changed allegiances, his best years were clearly behind him, as injuries and inconsistency plagued his Madrid career. After losing his place to Mesut Ozil, Madrid sent Kaka back to Milan four years later for a huge loss on the initial transfer. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>7. Neymar (Al-Hilal)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/cropped_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/755040/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182914650.jpg?ts=1731456160 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Yasser Bakhsh / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million in 2023</em></strong></p><p>Al-Hilal are too rich to care about the money they've wasted on Neymar. To the rest of us, it's truly sickening. Not only did the Saudi outfit pay €90 million to break the Brazilian's contract with PSG, but they agreed to pay him an estimated €101 million annually. But the oft-injured forward has only played seven games for Al-Hilal in one-and-a-half seasons and is currently unregistered for the Saudi Pro League. He's yet to score a league goal during his time in Saudi Arabia, which was blighted by a serious knee injury. If reports ring true and Neymar ends up leaving in January and returning to Brazil, he'll have earned €28.8 million per match, or around €472,000 for each minute he's played. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>6. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Athletic Bilbao for €80 million in 2018</em></strong></p><p>Arrizabalaga remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. While he achieved some success at Chelsea and helped them win the Europa League in 2019, he ended up on the bench more often than not and was an unused substitute during the 2021 Champions League final. Arrizabalaga is best remembered for furiously refusing to be substituted during the 2019 League Cup final, which Chelsea eventually lost in a shootout to Manchester City. Now he's on loan at Bournemouth after again failing to convince Chelsea he deserved minutes ahead of No. 1 starter Robert Sanchez. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>5. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Inter Milan for €113 million in 2021</em></strong></p><p>Lukaku heralded his return to Chelsea as the endpoint of his "long journey" home. Even though he had just won Serie A with Inter - finishing behind only Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring - Lukaku couldn't pass up the opportunity to rejoin his childhood club. But the honeymoon was over after five months. Thomas Tuchel dropped Lukaku from his squad after hearing his striker wax lyrical about returning to Inter in an unauthorized interview with Italian TV. The Belgian complained about Tuchel's tactics, and while he would play for the Blues again, his relationship with the club didn't recover. A loan move back to Inter didn't kick-start his career. He moved to Roma for one season before reuniting with former Inter coach Antonio Conte at Napoli in the summer. Chelsea spent over €100 million on Lukaku and, in return, got eight league goals and plenty of headaches. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>4. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/cropped_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w220xh124_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w320xh180_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w640xh360_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w768xh432_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/400807/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1206470184.jpg?ts=1587145288 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Atletico Madrid for €120 million in 2019</strong></em></p><p>It's not Griezmann's fault that Barcelona's recruiting department was tactically inept. They signed a left-footed playmaker with an appetite for goals despite already having the best player in the world occupying the same role in Messi. Griezmann's scoring output was decent for someone who regularly played on the left wing, away from his preferred central position where he was so lethal for Atletico Madrid. But tactics weren't the only problem. The massive financial commitment it took to sign Griezmann set the club back years, directly contributing to Messi's once unthinkable departure in 2021. Barcelona couldn't afford Messi due to the financial mess caused, in part, by matching Griezmann's release clause. Things didn't get any better after Messi's exit, and Barcelona sold Griezmann for a loss to Atletico. He, of course, has gone on to revive his career back in Madrid. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>3. Ali Dia (Southampton)</h3><p><strong><em>Free transfer from Blyth Spartans in 1996</em></strong></p><p>Dia is different from everybody else on this list: He wasn't a professional footballer. Somebody called Southampton's then-manager Graeme Souness and claimed to be 1995 Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, saying his cousin, Dia, would be a good signing. Dia was actually a 31-year-old university student. Then, a miracle happened. The phony footballer was brought in on trial, named on a Premier League bench against Leeds United, and brought on to replace an injured Matt Le Tissier in the 32nd minute of an official match. He lasted 53 minutes before he was hastily subbed off and never seen in the professional game again. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>2. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Chelsea for €100 million in 2019</em></strong></p><p>Around 50,000 fans packed the Santiago Bernabeu to celebrate Hazard's unveiling in 2019. He told the crowd he'd been dreaming of this moment since he was a child playing in his "family's garden." Madrid went trophy-less the previous season and were hoping Hazard would lead them out of their post-Ronaldo drought. But he arrived overweight and went a year without scoring for the club. Then came the injuries. Hazard missed a total of 518 days due to injury, according to estimates from transfermarkt.com. Vinicius Junior eventually took his place, and the Belgian terminated his contract with Madrid in June 2023 after scoring just four league goals in four years. Hazard retired from football altogether three months later. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>1. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/cropped_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w220xh124_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w320xh180_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w640xh360_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w768xh432_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/344537/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1134734947.jpg?ts=1553271684 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for €160 million in 2018</strong></em></p><p>For the second time in less than a year, the search for Neymar's replacement was supposed to be over. Barcelona moved on quickly after Ousmane Dembele flopped, certain that Coutinho was the answer. The expensive January move to the Camp Nou was a no-brainer at the time for Coutinho, who didn't win anything in six seasons with Liverpool. Almost a decade later, the transfer is viewed as a watershed moment that triggered the drastic shift in fortunes for both clubs. While Liverpool went on to enjoy one of the most successful periods in club history, Barca started to go into a tailspin as Coutinho struggled to live up to his huge price tag. They won La Liga in his first full season, but the primary goal to reconquer Europa fell short. Barcelona loaned him to Bayern Munich shortly after, only to have Coutinho play a direct role in eliminating them from the Champions League while he was still on their payroll; he scored twice for Bayern in the infamous 8-2 drubbing in 2020 that remains one of Barca's most humiliating losses of all time. Off the pitch, Coutinho was a huge financial burden who was unsellable due to his gargantuan wages. It was a truly terrible transfer from all angles. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><em><strong>What are the worst deals your favorite club has ever made? Let us know in the comments below!</strong></em></p>

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The 10 worst transfers in soccer history, ranked

The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frene...

<p><em>The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frenetic hours. Below, theScore's soccer editors reflect on Matchday 7, the penultimate set of games in the opening round of Europe's premier club competition.</em></p><h3>Key takeaway from Matchday 7 📝</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/cropped_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766755/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195355879.jpg?ts=1737592376 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mike Hewitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Daniel Rouse</strong>: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia might be wondering why Paris Saint-Germain bought him at all. The €70-million January signing watched from the stands as Bradley Barcola starred in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Manchester City. The 22-year-old stormed down the left flank before setting up Ousmane Dembele's goal, scored himself with a controlled finish into the bottom corner, and completed over 95% of his passes despite his attacking role. Kvaratskhelia and Barcola could give Luis Enrique a similar headache to the one that's troubled Carlo Ancelotti while he's dealt with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid, and most PSG fans will be asking the same question: Why didn't the club invest that money on a striker instead?</p><p><strong>Gordon Brunt</strong>: In classic Real Madrid fashion, they left it late to shine in the Champions League. They're finally playing like the powerhouse that everyone expected them to be before the season. Madrid continued the healing process after their recent loss to Barcelona by beating Red Bull Salzburg 5-1, jumping to 16th in the Champions League table. They've now outscored opponents 14-4 in three straight wins following the heavy defeat in the Super Cup final. But the turnaround started long before with an eight-game unbeaten run at the end of 2024. Even more encouraging now are the performances of Madrid's biggest stars. Kylian Mbappe has overcome an excruciatingly slow start, while Jude Bellingham is back to his best. Vinicius Junior scored a late brace to match Rodrygo, who stayed hot with two of his own in the first half Wednesday. It should go without saying, but all of the top Champions League teams will be desperate to avoid Carlo Ancelotti's "midtable" side in the next round.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Gianluca Nesci</strong>: The new tournament format is really starting to hit its stride, and it'll result in some spectacular matchups in the early knockout stages - including the inaugural playoff round - that wouldn't have arrived until the end of the tournament under the old system. That's an unequivocal win for UEFA. In a scheduling move akin to a major international competition, Matchday 8 will see all 36 teams play their final league phase games at the same time. That has the potential to be pure, unfiltered chaos. With several overachieving teams forcing perennial contenders like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City down the pecking order, this could end up working out even better than the governing body could've possibly expected. Once the dust settles, the bracket for the round of 16 (and beyond) will be fascinating. We don't say this very often - for good reason - but: Well done, UEFA. The Champions League feels alive again.</p><h3>This week's crisis club 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/cropped_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766574/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194577734.jpg?ts=1737497661 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Rouse</strong>: Manchester City. It'll take more than signing defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, as well as the anticipated arrival of attacker Omar Marmoush, to fix this mess. The cracks in Manchester City's midfield are still glaring and transfers aren't a natural antidote for the fear and indecision blighting the squad. City are playing more vertically than at any point of Pep Guardiola's reign because trust in the hallmarks of his approach - passing, patience, control - is gone. Even if 25th-placed City somehow emerge from the league phase and playoffs, on this form, it'd only delay an inevitable flop in one of the early knockout rounds.</p><p><strong>Brunt</strong>: Benfica. Manager Bruno Lage's dramatic postgame tirade said it all. Instead of denying Barcelona an automatic last-16 berth, his Benfica squad damaged its own Champions League aspirations in one of the most painful ways imaginable. The team led by two goals at two different times Tuesday. But it still wasn't enough, as the visitors overcame Benfica's strong start and embarked on a memorable comeback after scoring three second-half goals to win 5-4 and qualify for the next round. It was a collapse worthy of the tongue-lashing that Lage delivered after his team failed to win for the fourth time in five games. The task doesn't get any easier for 21st-placed<strong> </strong>Benfica, who visit Juventus in their final game of the opening stage.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Borussia Dortmund. A blown lead and loss to lowly Bologna on Tuesday - Dortmund's fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions - cost Nuri Sahin his job. Worse yet, Erik ten Hag is being touted as a potential replacement. BVB are tumbling down the Champions League table and sit 10th in the Bundesliga, a full 20 points adrift of the top spot. The club has been in steady decline since Jurgen Klopp departed in 2015, with seven different coaches since then. Only one in that time, Lucien Favre, stayed for longer than two years (Edin Terzic had two separate spells on the touchline). Dortmund, once adept at shrewdly restocking after selling superstar talent, have failed to do that in the wake of Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham departing and are now mired in mediocrity.</p><h3>Player of the week 🌟</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/cropped_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766756/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194622799.jpg?ts=1737592458 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Soccrates Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Rouse</strong>: Julian Alvarez. The forward is increasingly influential for Atletico Madrid. Alvarez's selflessness and persistence were best demonstrated by a prolonged battle he alone had with three Bayer Leverkusen players as he drove from his own defensive third to near the visitors' 18-yard box. He eventually lost the ball but, undeterred, immediately bit back and won a foul to relieve pressure on his team. That squabble occurred shortly after Atleti were reduced to 10 men, but Alvarez doggedly dragged his depleted side to a 2-1 victory with two clinical finishes. He's the perfect Diego Simeone attacker.</p><p><strong>Brunt</strong>: Vangelis Pavlidis. It took less than an hour for the Greek forward to turn his season around. After a rough start at Benfica, Pavlidis scored a lightning-quick hat-trick in the opening 30 minutes before disaster struck in Tuesday’s defeat to Barcelona. He scored 106 seconds into the game and recorded the third-fastest hat-trick in Champions League history with a penalty less than 10 minutes after Wojciech Szczesny's horrendous blunder left the net wide-open for his second goal. It was by far the most productive game of the campaign for the 26-year-old, who'd failed to impress after scoring just seven goals in his previous 29 games following his arrival from AZ Alkmaar last summer.</p><p><strong>Nesci</strong>: Justin Bijlow. Striker Santiago Gimenez made a strong case with a brace in Feyenoord's surprising 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but it was the Dutch goalkeeper who shined brightest on a rainy evening inside De Kuip. Bayern unleashed 30 total shots, attacking in a variety of ways, but they couldn't get past the 27-year-old netminder, who made seven saves. His impressive outing included an outstanding stop on Harry Kane, and even when one of his own teammates threatened to score a late own goal, Bijlow's quick reflexes saved the day and maintained the clean sheet.</p><h3>Highlight of the week 🎥</h3><p>This deceptive backheel assist from Bellingham was a work of art. Rodrygo's pinpoint finish wasn't bad, either.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🤯 <a href="https://twitter.com/BellinghamJude?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BellinghamJude</a> did a MADNESS... and so did <a href="https://twitter.com/RodrygoGoes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RodrygoGoes</a> 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/4fu1ZwJt4l">pic.twitter.com/4fu1ZwJt4l</a></p>— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadriden/status/1882397882244104285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the week 🔢</h3><p>Just when you think it can't possibly get any worse for Manchester City right now, it does.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">115 - Tonight was the first time in the last 115 occasions that Man City have lost a game in all competitions where they led by 2+ goals. Shock. <a href="https://t.co/fwadG7iQoh">pic.twitter.com/fwadG7iQoh</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1882190924983464297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Champions League, Matchday 7: Key takeaways, top players, and more 

Kyle Walker is moving to Italy.  AC Milan reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign the r...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/4042" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/4042">Kyle Walker</a> is moving to Italy.</p><p>AC Milan reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign the right-back on loan until the end of the season, according to transfer insider <a data-in-app-uri="" href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1882065478174343204">Fabrizio Romano</a>.</p><p>The deal includes an option for Milan to make Walker's stay permanent in the summer.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 34-year-old is expected to travel to Milan in the coming days to complete the deal after undergoing a medical.</p><p>Walker won 17 titles, including six Premier League trophies and the Champions League, after joining Manchester City from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017.</p><p>After being named captain at the start of the season, manager Pep Guardiola revealed earlier this month that Walker had asked to leave Manchester City.</p><p>"In his mind, he would like to explore it, to go to another country, to play the last years (somewhere else) for many reasons," Guardiola <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3187186" href="https://thescore.com/news/3187186">said</a>.</p><p>Saudi Arabian clubs were reportedly interested in pursuing him, but Walker preferred to remain in Europe in hopes of keeping his England place as he attempts to reach 100 caps with the national team.</p>

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 29: Kyle Walker of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Manchester City FC at The King Power Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Leicester, England.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29936162/related

Report: AC Milan complete loan deal for Man City's Walker

The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions tha...

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time where expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that, for one reason or another, go bust. Some of them in spectacular fashion.</em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops along with some of the more mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series continues below.</em></p><p><strong>Follow the entire series this week</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th> Part II</th>
<th> Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161825" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161825">30-21</a></td>
<td><strong>20-11</strong></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">10-1</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>20. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/cropped_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w220xh124_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w320xh180_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w640xh360_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w768xh432_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764835/w1080xh607_GettyImages-92335903.jpg?ts=1736635045 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">LLUIS GENE / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Inter Milan for initial €46 million, plus Samuel Eto'o in 2009</em></strong></p><p>Things got ugly after Ibrahimovic left Inter. He said the Italian club wouldn't win anything without him, only to have his proclamation backfire in spectacular fashion after he joined Barcelona for a huge package. But his ill-fated spell with Barcelona was even more acrimonious. A strained relationship with Pep Guardiola was a major factor why Ibrahimovic's stay lasted only a season. The situation came to a boil when Barca were knocked out of the Champions League in 2010 by none other than Inter. Ibrahimovic, substituted following a dreadful outing, claims he unleashed a furious tirade after the team's semifinal exit, calling Guardiola a "spineless coward." Eto'o, meanwhile, was vital in helping Inter win the treble in 2009-10. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>19. Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC)</h3><p><strong><em>Free transfer from Napoli in 2022</em></strong></p><p>Toronto FC have made many terrible marquee signings over the years, but Insigne tops the lot. Federico Bernardeschi, another Italian who arrived in 2022, has shown occasional glimpses of talent. Insigne is a different story altogether: 14 goals, 11 assists, and general indifference over 54 appearances; a guaranteed annual income of $15.4 million that's trumped by only Lionel Messi in MLS; constant injury problems; and a reputation for causing off-field drama. TFC are <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3181113" href="https://thescore.com/news/3181113">reportedly</a> trying to offload him before the 2025 season kicks off, but the financial burden and unrest that Insigne caused will be felt for some time yet. - <em>Daniel Rouse</em></p><h3>18. Luka Jovic (Real Madrid)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for initial €65 million in 2019</strong></em></p><p>Jovic was coming off the best season of his young career when Real Madrid came calling with the offer of a lifetime. Jovic was 21 at the time and saw an opportunity to star in a team that had struggled to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Zinedine Zidane. But injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for Jovic to make his mark. Karim Benzema took charge of Madrid's attack, leaving Jovic on the sidelines. Madrid eventually cut their losses, sending the Serbian to Fiorentina on a free transfer in 2022 and even agreeing to cover his wages. Jovic finished his Real Madrid career with three league goals. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>17. Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/cropped_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w220xh124_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w320xh180_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w640xh360_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w768xh432_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764836/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2187466475.jpg?ts=1736635135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for initial €70 million in 2023</em></strong></p><p>This one's still percolating, but Mudryk's transfer has all the hallmarks of being another expensive dud for Chelsea. Arriving as the possible solution to Chelsea's attacking problems, Mudryk has instead turned into the poster boy for the dysfunctional era under co-owner Todd Boehly. There was enough hype about Mudryk to spark a reported bidding war between the Blues and Arsenal after a breakthrough season at Shakhtar Donetsk. But Mudryk has only ever shown brief glimpses of the star many predicted him to be. Chelsea will hope he can figure it out before his contract expires in six years. With a possible doping suspension looming and the transfer fee potentially reaching €100 million, this move could easily end up being much higher if we revisit this list in a few years. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>16. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Manchester City for £10 million in 2014</em></strong></p><p>Listing the worst Sunderland transfers from the past two decades would be difficult. There are so many. But the overall outlay on Rodwell was baffling. Sunderland signed the midfielder after two injury-hit and underwhelming seasons with Manchester City. His weekly pay packet of £70,000 was extremely generous, and the contract became an even bigger burden on the struggling club because it didn't include a clause to reduce his wages after relegation. Sunderland then suffered a second consecutive relegation as Rodwell logged only 105 Championship minutes. Rodwell defined an era where many Sunderland players just didn't seem to care. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>15. Gaizka Mendieta (Lazio)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Valencia for €48 million in 2001</em></strong></p><p>Mendieta helped Valencia reach back-to-back Champions League finals before joining Lazio in 2001 as the sixth-most expensive player of all time. Mendieta arrived as a kind of savior as Lazio had failed to defend their Serie A title and sold off Pavel Nedved and Juan Sebastian Veron. In reality, the move signaled the beginning of the end of the influential Spanish midfielder's career. Mendieta made just 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio, and subsequent attempts to revive his career at Barcelona and Middlesbrough yielded negative results. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>14. Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/cropped_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w220xh124_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w320xh180_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w640xh360_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w768xh432_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764837/w1080xh607_GettyImages-847331666.jpg?ts=1736635206 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chelsea Football Club / Chelsea FC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Leicester City for £35 million in 2017</em></strong></p><p>A year after signing N'Golo Kante, Chelsea went back to the Leicester City well, frantically adding Drinkwater on deadline day hoping for the same results. However, the pity for Leicester didn't last long after losing another one of the stars from their 2016 Premier League-winning team. Chelsea changed coaches after Drinkwater's frustrating debut season in a move that all but ended his Blues career. After failing to establish himself as a first-team player, Drinkwater's downward spiral gained momentum with controversial loan spells at Burnley and Aston Villa, which included a run-in with police and reportedly headbutting a teammate. He retired at 33 after his five-year Chelsea contract ended, ultimately making just five Premier League starts for the west London club. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>13. Antony (Manchester United)</h3><p><strong><em>Signed from Ajax for €95 million in 2022</em></strong></p><p>Few could understand why United paid top dollar for Antony. He ranked outside the top 10 in dribbles completed in the Eredivisie and outside the top 20 in goals scored. But Erik ten Hag coached him at Ajax and clearly convinced United he was worth the money. What a gross miscalculation. Antony famously went 31 games without scoring for the Red Devils and failed to make a single Premier League start this season. Now the coach who vouched for him is long gone, and the Brazilian himself is seemingly on his way to Real Betis on a loan deal that doubles as a wicked indictment of United's frivolous transfer policy. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>12. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from AC Milan for £31 million in 2006</strong></em></p><p>Shevchenko was one of the world's most feared marksmen over seven years at AC Milan, scoring 173 goals and winning the 2004 Ballon d'Or award. He joined Chelsea seemingly at his peak. Jose Mourinho <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5035604.stm">said</a> the striker was his "first choice" since he took over at Stamford Bridge. But Shevchenko looked much older than 29 when he arrived in England and was injury prone. He tallied nine goals in 48 Premier League outings and even endured a miserable loan spell back at Milan, where he failed to register a goal in 18 Serie A appearances. He was broken. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>11. Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/cropped_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w220xh124_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w320xh180_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w640xh360_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w768xh432_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764838/w1080xh607_GettyImages-632089098.jpg?ts=1736635303 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Feature China / Future Publishing / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em>Signed from Boca Juniors for €84 million in 2016</em></strong></p><p>There's no better example of how ridiculous Chinese Super League spending became than Tevez's transfer to Shanghai Shenhua. The club made him the richest player in the world with a contract reportedly worth £615,000 a week. But that wasn't enough to motivate the Argentine, who was 32 at the time and struggled with poor form, weight issues, and home sickness. Tevez eventually engineered a return to Boca Juniors and admitted he was "on holiday for seven months" in China. His departure was followed by sweeping reforms that brought an end to the wild spending among Chinese Super League teams. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><strong><em>The series concludes Friday with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">the top 10</a>.</em></strong></p>

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Ranking the 30 worst transfers in soccer history (Part 2)

Barcelona spoiled the night for Benfica in dramatic fashion, fighting back from a pair of two-goa...

<p>Barcelona spoiled the night for Benfica in dramatic fashion, fighting back from a pair of two-goal deficits to claim a sensational 5-4 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday.</p><p>Forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/55385" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/55385">Vangelis Pavlidis</a> scored a hat-trick in the opening 30 minutes, and Benfica went on to build a 4-2 lead in the 68th minute, which seemingly established a secure advantage at home.</p><p>But Hansi Flick's team staged a brilliant late comeback, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/9563" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/9563">Robert Lewandowski</a> halving the deficit from the penalty spot and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/101141" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/101141">Eric Garcia</a> equalizing in the 86th minute. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The drama wasn't done there, though, as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/96238" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/96238">Raphinha</a> delivered the knockout blow deep into stoppage time, racing away and smacking home the winning goal in the 96th minute - seconds after Benfica nearly won it at the other end amid a wild scramble in the penalty area.</p><p><em>(Available to view in U.S. only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">90+6 WINNER FROM RAPHINHA TO SEND BARCA THROUGH 🤯🔥 <a href="https://t.co/F3YuS6Z2YD">pic.twitter.com/F3YuS6Z2YD</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1881828269885968891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><em>(Available to view in Canada only)</em></p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAPHINHA WINS THE GAME AT THE DEATH!!!<br><br>📺 Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> live on DAZN <a href="https://t.co/3RFQ1tqapW">pic.twitter.com/3RFQ1tqapW</a></p>— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZN_CA/status/1881824943765073933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Benfica players were incensed and surrounded the referee while claiming a penalty should have been awarded for a foul prior to Raphinha's goal. But VAR didn't recommend sending on-field official Danny Makkelie to the monitor after a brief look at the play.</p><p>"We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players," Raphinha <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/barca-score-wild-comeback-victory-at-benfica-d418fcb1">said</a> after the chaotic match. "We didn't let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we were focused on what we needed to do to try and change the game."</p><p>The wild win keeps Barcelona in second place in the league phase of this year's competition - three points behind Liverpool - and guarantees them an automatic spot in the last 16 of the tournament.</p><p>"The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see," said Flick, adding that the match was "crazy."</p>

LISBON, PORTUGAL - JANUARY 21: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona at Estadio do SL Benfica on January 21, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

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Barca storm back for 'crazy' win over Benfica in 9-goal thriller

Neymar wants to go home.  The Brazilian will attempt to terminate his contract with Saudi Arabian...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsm/players/14263" href="https://thescore.com/olymsm/players/14263">Neymar</a> wants to go home.</p><p>The Brazilian will attempt to terminate his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and return to boyhood team Santos rather than play in Major League Soccer, report <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43490809/neymar-looking-santos-return-mls-sources">Adriana Garcia and Julien Laurens of ESPN</a>.</p><p>Speculation over a move to MLS began after Neymar said he was open to a reunion with his former Barcelona teammates, such as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcqcon/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/wcqcon/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/4433" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/4433">Luis Suarez</a>, at Inter Miami.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He was in discussions with at least three MLS teams over a potential free transfer after his Al-Hilal contract expires this summer, <a href="https://www.espn.com/football/story/_/id/43429443/neymar-talks-three-mls-teams-possible-move">ESPN's Jeff Carlisle</a> reported last week. The Chicago Fire were reportedly the favorites to land him.</p><p>Neymar held talks with Santos over a six-month deal and will look to negotiate the termination of his contract with Al-Hilal to receive some of the money owed to him from the two-year contract signed in 2023, according to Garcia and Laurens.</p><p>Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said recently that Neymar had no future at the club because he "can no longer play at the level we are used to" after numerous injuries that have plagued his spell in Saudi Arabia. He added that Neymar wasn't going to be registered to play in the second-half of the Saudi Pro League season.</p><p>Neymar played for Santos' youth and senior teams over a 10-year spell before joining Barcelona in 2013.</p>

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL - MAY 12: Neymar player of Santos during the match between Corinthians and Santos as part of Paulista Championship at Pacaembu Stadium on May 12, 2013 in São Paulo, Brazil.

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Report: Neymar pushing for Santos return, not MLS move

<p><em>The transfer window is a time of hope and excitement. A time to make transformative additions that can revive a struggling team or put trophy-chasing sides over the top. It's also a time where expensive, crippling mistakes are made. For every brilliant deal and shrewd piece of business, there are dozens of signings that, for one reason or another, go bust. Some of them in spectacular fashion. </em></p><p><em>This week, while the wheeling and dealing is in full swing, we're ranking the 30 worst signings in soccer history. Compiled by theScore's soccer editors, our list features prototypical high-priced flops along with some of the more mystifying moves that ruined careers, damaged reputations, and set clubs back several years. The three-part series kicks off below.</em></p><p><strong>Follow the entire series this week</strong>:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Part I</th>
<th> Part II</th>
<th> Part III</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>30-21</strong></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">20-11</a></td>
<td><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161827" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161827">10-1</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>30. Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/cropped_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w220xh124_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w320xh180_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w640xh360_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w768xh432_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764814/w1080xh607_GettyImages-839929318.jpg?ts=1736625653 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Claudio Villa. / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Juventus for €42 million in 2017</strong></em></p><p>AC Milan made Bonucci the centerpiece of their rebuilding project in 2017, handing him the captaincy shortly after signing him. Bonucci was a shell of the defender that co-anchored Juventus' defense and admitted he only left Juventus out of anger. It was largely because of his acrimonious exit that he had no problem celebrating a goal against his former team that season, something many Juventus supporters still haven't forgiven or forgotten. But by 2018, the Rossoneri no longer wanted Bonucci and sent him back to Juve for €35 million. The fact they recouped the majority of their initial investment is the only reason he isn't higher on this list. <em>- Anthony Lopopolo</em></p><h3>29. Kevin Davies (Blackburn Rovers)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Southampton for £7.25 million in 1998</strong></em></p><p>Davies reportedly cost 10 times more than Southampton paid for him just one year earlier - and the <a href="https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6152356.rovers-blackburn-get-davies-knockdown-7-25m/">Lancashire Telegraph</a> still described what Blackburn Rovers stumped up as a "knockdown price." It's safe to say they didn't get much of a return on the bustling forward. He lasted one season, scored once in 21 appearances as the club was relegated from the Premier League, and was sent back to Southampton in exchange for Egil Ostenstad. Blackburn's failings with Davies were highlighted years later when he enjoyed a fruitful decade-long spell with Bolton Wanderers. - <em>Daniel Rouse</em></p><h3>28. Malcom (Barcelona)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Bordeaux for initial €41 million in 2018</strong></em></p><p>The hype over Malcom was intense the summer he chose to join Barcelona. He initially had an agreement to play for Roma but ultimately couldn't resist the chance to join Lionel Messi's team. A year later, after a horrific debut season, the Brazilian's exit was a relief for both sides. A lack of trust from then Barca coach Ernesto Valverde saw Malcom end the season with four goals in 24 games. The winger's poor campaign earned him a move to Russia, where he failed to salvage a career that was already in tatters by the time he was 22. - <em>Gordon Brunt</em></p><h3>27. Jonathan Woodgate (Real Madrid)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/cropped_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w220xh124_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w320xh180_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w640xh360_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w768xh432_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764813/w1080xh607_GettyImages-51429346.jpg?ts=1736625429 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Denis Doyle / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Newcastle United for £13.4 million in 2004</strong></em></p><p>Woodgate joined fellow Englishmen David Beckham and Michael Owen in the Spanish capital, prompting <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3580578.stm">BBC Sport</a> to run a story with the headline "Real invest in British steel." Woodgate's apparent steeliness was found wanting as he waited over a year for his debut due to fitness issues, and when his introduction finally came, he managed to score an own goal and get sent off. He was back in England a year later. The center-back's disastrous Real Madrid debut defined a playing career that could've been so much better without his persistent injury problems. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>26. Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Leeds United for initial £42 million in 2022</strong></em></p><p>Roque Santa Cruz, Eliaquim Mangala, and Claudio Bravo are among many duds that Manchester City have signed since the 2008 takeover, but the acquisition of Phillips was both terrible business and ruinous for the player. Being in a team that hogged possession didn't suit the former Leeds favorite, and the injury-prone midfielder's confidence plummeted when Pep Guardiola publicly accused him of being overweight. Phillips started two Premier League matches in 18 months for City, had an error-strewn loan stay at West Ham United, and is now trying to rebuild his career on loan at Ipswich Town. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>25. Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United)</h3><p><em><strong>Henrikh Mkhitaryan sent to Arsenal in swap deal in 2018</strong></em></p><p>Sanchez wanted to leave Manchester United after just one training session. He famously asked his people if he could "rip up" his contract and return to Arsenal, and of course, they laughed. Manchester United had already sent Henrikh Mkhitaryan the other way and committed to paying Sanchez an enormous salary worth around £350,000 per week. But his gut was telling him the right thing. The next year and a half was miserable. Sanchez scored just three Premier League goals in 32 appearances for United and ended up leaving for Inter on a free transfer. <em>- Lopopolo</em></p><h3>24. Winston Bogarde (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/cropped_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w220xh124_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w320xh180_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w640xh360_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w768xh432_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764811/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1089635.jpg?ts=1736625247 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed on free transfer from Barcelona in 2000</strong></em></p><p>Bogarde committed career suicide at 29. The English media accused him of kicking back and letting £40,000 per week - a huge wage at the time - roll into his bank account during his final four years as a pro. However, the Dutchman has since <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/27/winston-bogarde-chelsea-interview">blamed</a> his inactivity on Chelsea's insistence that clubs pay his <em>full</em> salary to sign him on loan. No one did, and the Blues' stubbornness was peculiar during a financially unstable period for the club. Bogarde played 11 times in his first campaign and appeared just once as a substitute over the three seasons that followed. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>23. Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for £12 million in 2023</strong></em></p><p>In under six months, Henderson destroyed his reputation and harmed Saudi Arabia's expensive mission to make its league respected across the globe. Henderson, previously a vocal advocate of the LGBTQ+ community, was slammed for chasing the money to a Middle East nation where same-sex sexual activity is illegal. England fans jeered the midfielder, believing he didn't merit national team selection while playing in a weaker league. Henderson's miserable 19-game spell in Saudi Arabia also shed light on the oil-rich state having a weak appetite for the sport, with crowds not reaching 1,000 for some Al-Ettifaq games. It was a terrible transfer all around. - <em>Rouse</em></p><h3>22. Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich)</h3><p><em><strong>Signed from Borussia Dortmund for €37 million in 2013</strong></em></p><p>Gotze was on top of the world in the summer of 2014. Germany was a World Cup champion again thanks to his dramatic title-winning goal in the final in Brazil. All that was left was to repair his domestic reputation. The summer before, Gotze was one of the most sought-after midfielders, and he eventually decided to take the well-trodden path from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich. However, unlike those before him, Gotze didn't enjoy success. His development stunted under Guardiola's guidance, and he ended up re-joining Dortmund. But the damage was done. Gotze has never been the same. - <em>Brunt</em></p><h3>21. Fernando Torres (Chelsea)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/cropped_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w220xh124_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w320xh180_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w640xh360_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w768xh432_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/764810/w1080xh607_GettyImages-108663979.jpg?ts=1736624952 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Darren Walsh / Chelsea FC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><em><strong>Signed from Liverpool for £50 million in 2011</strong></em></p><p>It was awful from the beginning. Months went by before Torres scored his first goal after his shock move from Liverpool to Chelsea. The 14-game drought was initially viewed as a blip on the radar, but the worst was yet to come. Torres suffered long periods without a goal during crucial stretches over the next two seasons while producing some truly bizarre misses along the way. The once-revered forward was broken. He etched his name in Chelsea lore with a dramatic Champions League semifinal goal in 2012, but it wasn't enough to gloss over how much of a letdown he ultimately was at Stamford Bridge. - <em>Brunt</em></p><p><strong><em>The rollout continues Wednesday with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3161826" href="https://thescore.com/news/3161826">Nos. 20-11</a>.</em></strong></p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29909899/related

Ranking the 30 worst transfers in soccer history (Part 1)

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developmen...

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 22 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Reinforcements won't help Arsenal</h3><p>An Arsenal win seemed like the only possible outcome at the Emirates Stadium at halftime. After they cruised to a 2-0 lead, nobody expected the conversation after the game to focus on Arsenal falling out of the title race again, or their shortcomings in the transfer market last summer. But, hours after leaders Liverpool turned a draw into a win with a last-second goal, Arsenal went the opposite direction.</p><p>The dent Arsenal made in Liverpool's lead after their midweek north London derby win disappeared after a disastrous eight-minute spell cost them two valuable points. After the 2-2 draw, Mikel Arteta spoke enviously of Liverpool's depth after saying Arsenal are actively looking to improve in January. But after failing to keep up with the Premier League leaders this weekend, it's likely too late for reinforcements to impact the title race; Arsenal sit six points back of Liverpool, who have a game in hand.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How costly will it prove to be for Arsenal in May? 🤔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MOTD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MOTD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBCFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBCFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARSAVL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSAVL</a> <a href="https://t.co/HEbfMoYY4P">pic.twitter.com/HEbfMoYY4P</a></p>— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1880751364588114239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Arteta complained about a lack of attacking options off the bench. Unlike Liverpool, he didn't have a Darwin Nunez to turn to late when Arsenal needed a goal. It's been an area of concern most of the season, as Raheem Sterling was the only senior attacking option available after Gabriel Jesus' season-ending injury. But even before things went downhill, it was glaringly obvious Arsenal were paying the price for neglecting other areas that should've been addressed last summer.</p><p>Their depth was tested earlier this season when multiple stars were sidelined with injuries. Suspensions were also an issue, with William Saliba missing a defeat to Newcastle United due to a ban in November. That was around the time Arsenal ruled themselves out of a league title. Liverpool were just too good at the time for the Gunners to slip in such a manner.</p><p>The situation is more dire now. A worrying injury for Saliba makes matters worse.</p><p>Saturday's game offered a glimpse of what life would look like without the French center-back. And it isn't pretty. Thomas Partey was moved from midfield to right-back, while Jurrien Timber assumed center-back responsibilities. There was hardly anything to complain about until Aston Villa's two quick goals put a spotlight on Arsenal's patchwork squad.</p><p>Partey became a liability, losing sight of his marker, Ollie Watkins, whose volley brought Villa level. Arsenal squandered chances to win late - and had an injury-time goal chalked off by VAR - reigniting calls to sign a striker. But even adding a forward, midfielder, and defender at this point wouldn't be enough to reverse Arsenal's fortunes in what's becoming another lost season.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Don't overlook TAA's part in big Liverpool win</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/cropped_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/w220xh124_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/w320xh180_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/w640xh360_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/w768xh432_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766041/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2193926833.jpg?ts=1737223349 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Nunez's super-sub appearance is the story of the match. He came off the bench to score two stoppage-time goals and double his overall Premier League tally to tighten Liverpool's grip on first place. But at 0-0, when Brentford threatened to seize the initiative in Saturday's entertaining clash, few visiting players showed as much attacking intent as Trent Alexander-Arnold.</p><p>The right-back forced Mark Flekken to scramble for one shot - his fourth of the match - that narrowly missed in the 83rd minute before his one-two with Harvey Elliott preceded Nunez's crucial first strike. Liverpool also failed to capitalize on some of Alexander-Arnold's trademark fizzed deliveries earlier in the match, and his defensive frailties weren't evident as the Bees focused on Bryan Mbeumo's clear superiority over Kostas Tsimikas on the other flank. Nunez will dominate the headlines, but Alexander-Arnold's urgency in Brentford's half was pivotal in the 2-0 victory.</p><p><strong>United's colossal clean-up</strong></p><p>Antony seems to be <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3194736" href="https://thescore.com/news/3194736">on his way out</a>, albeit temporarily, but Ruben Amorim will be discarding Erik ten Hag's expensive mistakes for some time. The center-backs are flat-footed, the auditions at the wing-back positions have gone poorly, there's little creativity from the aging midfield, and there are few who can finish in attack. Plus, Sunday's 3-1 home defeat to Brighton &amp; Hove Albion, shed light on a growing concern in goal. Andre Onana's errors happen too often, negating any benefits gained from his ball-playing ability. His latest gaffe, a spilled low cross that eventually fell to the feet of Georginio Rutter, put the game out of United's reach.</p><p><strong>Is Foden fixed?</strong></p><p>Pep Guardiola started his preparation for Wednesday's important Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain after just over an hour had elapsed at Ipswich Town. With the score already 5-0 in Manchester City's favor, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden were withdrawn with three goals and three assists between them. Foden's recent form is a massive bonus; the attacking midfielder battled a virus earlier in the season, and he didn't score his first Premier League goal until Dec. 21, but he has now helped his team leap up to fourth place. Foden is on five goals and an assist over his past three league appearances following his brace and inviting pass for Mateo Kovacic's strike in the 6-0 win at Portman Road. The second half of City's campaign could improve drastically with an on-fire Foden in Guardiola's ranks.</p><p><strong>Everton, Spurs on different trajectories</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/cropped_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/766213/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194714851.jpg?ts=1737307174 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Matt McNulty / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Ange Postecoglou's stubbornness can be detrimental, and he should take blame for that, but elements outside his control have arguably contributed more to Tottenham's regression. Eleven players are out injured, including several key components of the defensive group, and the recruitment has been inexcusably poor. For example, the drop-off in quality from center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is considerable, and it was emphasized when, for Everton's second goal Sunday, Iliman Ndiaye versus Radu Dragusin resembled a speedboat dodging a deflated dinghy. Dragusin, a year into his Spurs stint, looks far below the required standard.</p><p>It was certainly Everton's day, and there were plenty of positives in the first league win of David Moyes' second coming. Aside from Ndiaye's run and finish, Dominic Calvert-Lewin turning Archie Gray inside-out twice before scoring his first goal since September was a huge boost. Everton were genuinely good, and almost adventurous, in the opening half of their 3-2 victory.</p><p><strong>Van Nistelrooy's reign already turning toxic</strong></p><p>Tensions boiled over at Leicester City after their survival hopes were dealt another blow. Less than a week after the Foxes were held goalless in defeat to Crystal Palace after producing 21 shots, coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was subject to chants of, "You don’t know what you're doing," at King Power Stadium while his squad faced an attacking barrage in a 2-0 loss to Fulham.</p><p>The two home performances were vastly different, but the outcomes were exactly the same. Van Nistelrooy's decision to remove Leicester's best player, Bilal El Khannouss, from Saturday's game proved to be the last straw for a fan base that loudly discredited Van Nistelrooy's coaching abilities afterward. At this point, fans are justified in wondering whether Leicester would've been better off if Steve Cooper was still in charge. They've lost seven of their last nine games and sit 18th - two positions lower in the table than they were when Cooper was fired in late November.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth)</strong></p><p>England's hottest team was no match for Justin Kluivert. Newcastle United - in search of their 10th straight win - were humbled 4-1 at home against Bournemouth, with Kluivert producing his best performance of the season at his dad's old stomping ground. While Dutch great Patrick Kluivert struggled at St. James' Park during his spell at Newcastle, goals weren't nearly as hard to come by for Saturday's hat-trick hero in the northeast of England.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">8 - Only Mohamed Salah (11) has scored more Premier League goals away from home this season than Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert (8). Travels. <a href="https://t.co/4utMeVfa2A">pic.twitter.com/4utMeVfa2A</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1880607421988827192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Over 20 years after Patrick scored his lone goal at St. James' Park, Justin needed just 44 minutes to surpass his dad's record, netting a first-half brace. His second goal was cleverly taken, as Kluivert opted for precision over power. But <a href="#Highlight">his third was the best of the lot</a>, sealing three points with a blistering shot in injury time before setting up the Cherries' fourth goal. The hat-trick was his second of the season - and, by far, his most impressive after scoring a hat-trick of penalties in a game earlier this campaign. Kluivert's 10 goals put him in the conversation for the Premier League Golden Boot.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=330643:Flekken,682548:Aina,243138:Tarkowski,1367619:Huijsen,1195281:Kerkez,239219:Kovacic,540963:Berge,1400227:Minteh,815006:Foden,942368:Doku,794253:Kluivert&amp;formation=4-2-3-1 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>
<a id="Highlight" name="Highlight">Highlight of the weekend</a> 🎥</h3><p>Confidence was pulsing through Kluivert's veins as he shaped to shoot for his superb third goal.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justin Kluivert became just the seventh player in <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@premierleague</a> history to score two hat-tricks away from home in the same season ✅✅✅ <a href="https://t.co/wYpkiBu8Zl">pic.twitter.com/wYpkiBu8Zl</a></p>— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) <a href="https://twitter.com/afcbournemouth/status/1880736932843446730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>Brentford were dangerous on counter-attacks, but Liverpool were persistent at the other end. The match was goalless until Nunez broke the deadlock in the 91st minute; still, there was a total of 48 shots in an engaging end-to-end fixture in west London.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liverpool's 37 shots vs Brentford is the most an away team has had in a Premier League game in recorded history (since 03-04) <a href="https://t.co/DFhKro0FNh">pic.twitter.com/DFhKro0FNh</a></p>— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaAnalyst/status/1880664595972730957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>Match of the Day's iconic Saturday night slot on BBC One is at risk following reports that a Manchester United legend with a miserable managerial record could join the punditry team.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">He’ll get them relegated to BBC 2 <a href="https://t.co/DuE3tDZLMa">https://t.co/DuE3tDZLMa</a></p>— Will🔴⚪️ (@WillThomas96) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillThomas96/status/1880680926646272165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>+30</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+22</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+11</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Newcastle United</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>+15</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+5</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+4</td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham United</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-16</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>+10</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>-17</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-23</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Leicester City</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-25</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>-35</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsm/players/14263" href="https://thescore.com/olymsm/players/14263">Neymar</a> wouldn't be opposed to reviving the once-revered MSN trident.</p><p>With his contract in Saudi Arabia expiring in June, the 32-year-old Brazilian said he'd be open to reuniting with former Barcelona teammates <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/4433" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/4433">Luis Suarez</a> at Inter Miami.</p><p>"Obviously, playing again with Messi and Suarez would be incredible," Neymar told <a href="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1876649697906946466">CNN Sport</a>. "They are my friends. We still speak to each other. It would be interesting to revive this trio.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I am happy at Al Hilal and in Saudi Arabia, but who knows? Football is full of surprises."</p><p>Neymar played alongside Messi and Suarez for three seasons at Barcelona before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. The trio scored 253 goals in 113 matches together.</p><p>Neymar has been plagued by injuries since joining Al-Hilal in 2023. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament shortly after signing for the Saudi team and has struggled with various smaller injuries that have limited him to seven appearances over two seasons.</p><p>He added that he'll do "everything" he can to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America.</p><p>"I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot," Neymar said.</p><p> </p>

BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 28: Neymar (C) of FC Barcelona celebrates with his teammates Luis Suarez (L) and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelonaa after scoring his team's third goal of FC Barcelonaduring the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on November 28, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain.

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<p>The FIFA Women's World Cup is moving to Netflix.</p><p>Netflix secured the rights to broadcast the Women's World Cup in the United States during the 2027 and 2031 tournaments, the streaming service <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/womens-world-cup-netflix">announced</a> Friday.</p><p>"Studio shows and top-tier talent will supplement coverage with commentary and entertainment," Netflix said in a statement. "And in the lead-up to the tournament, Netflix will produce exclusive documentary programming spotlighting the top players, their journeys, and the explosion of the sport around the globe. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Nowhere was that more on display than in 2023, when Spain bested England by a score of 1-0 to win its first title."</p><p>The 2027 Women's World Cup will be the first time the tournament has been broadcasted on a streaming service. The value of the deal wasn't disclosed.</p><p>"This is a landmark moment for sports media rights," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. "As a marquee brand and FIFA’s new long-term partner, Netflix has shown a very strong level of commitment to growing women’s football.</p><p>"This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game. FIFA and Netflix partnering together makes this a truly historic day for broadcasting and for women’s football."</p><p>Brazil will host the 2027 Women's World Cup, which will feature 32 teams and 63 games, while the host for the 2031 tournament has yet to be decided. The <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/04/us-soccer-and-mexican-football-federation-to-pursue-2031-fifa-womens-world-cup">United States and Mexico</a> are expected to make a joint bid for hosting the 2031 Women's World Cup.</p><p>The United States has won the tournament a record four times but lost in the round of 16 in the last edition in 2023. Spain won last year after beating England.</p>

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 20: Women's World Cup trophy after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final game between England and Spain at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

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<p>Pep Guardiola won't manage another club after his Manchester City career ends, the Spanish coach revealed.</p><p>"At some point I will feel like it’s enough and at that moment I will stop for sure," Guardiola told the Desmontadito YouTube channel, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/10/pep-guardiola-rules-out-managing-another-club-after-manchester-city">The Guardian's Jamie Jackson</a>. </p><p>"I'm going to stop. I am not going to join another team, I'm not going to leave to go to another country (for a club). I won’t have the energy. Now I'm still here, but to think about starting again, the whole process of training – no, no."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Guardiola is fresh off signing a new contract that'll keep him at Manchester City until 2026. While it's not clear if he'll leave Manchester City after the deal expires, Guardiola said an international job would interest him in the future.</p><p>"It's not every day (training), every three days (playing)," he said of coaching at the international level. "I think I would have to stop (from the daily cycle). To rest, to see what we have done, what we can do better, because day-to-day we don’t have much time to rest.</p><p>"It's continuous and to rest I think would be good for me. But right now, no, right now I’m here."</p><p>Guardiola has won every major trophy since his arrival at Manchester City in 2016, including a historic treble in 2023.</p>

Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola kisses the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, Britain, on May 19, 2024.

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Guardiola rules out coaching another club after Man City

Lorenzo Insigne will be available in the upcoming expansion draft after Toronto FC left the Itali...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/7611" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/7611">Lorenzo Insigne</a> will be available in the upcoming expansion draft after Toronto FC left the Italian winger unprotected, the Major League Soccer club announced Tuesday.</p><p>Toronto FC were allowed to protect up to 12 players who wouldn't be eligible for selection by San Diego FC in the MLS expansion draft on Wednesday.</p><p>However, Insigne - Major League Soccer's second-highest-paid player - was left unprotected after three disappointing seasons since his arrival as a designated player in 2022.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 33-year-old had a cap hit of $15.4 million in 2024 and a designated player option for next year.</p><p>TFC have never made the playoffs with Insigne, who has 14 goals and 11 assists over 54 games.</p><p>San Diego - the 30th MLS team - will select up to five players from the eligible player list at the draft. Teams are removed from the expansion draft once one of their unprotected players is selected.</p><p>All 29 MLS teams submitted their <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2024-mls-expansion-draft-eligible-players-how-to-watch">lists of unprotected players</a> Tuesday.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 4 : Lorenzo Insigne of Toronto FC warms up during MLS League match between Toronto FC and New York City FC at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on May 11, 2024.

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TFC leave Insigne unprotected for San Diego FC expansion draft

<p><em>Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 15 of the 2024-25 season.</em></p><h3>Are Chelsea true title contenders?</h3><p>The results say they are. Chelsea are second in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, and are well ahead of expectations. Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez are turning in match-winning performances, and the likes of Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson are starting to nail down regular roles in the team. The trajectory of the club has crossed a key threshold, and it would be silly to deny it.</p><p>But Sunday's 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur doesn't suddenly make them title contenders. Liverpool have a game in hand, and Chelsea have a number of shortcomings to overcome.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Marc Cucurella slipped on the plays that led to Tottenham's first two goals, and giveaways by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and defender Benoit Badiashile could've heaped misery on Chelsea when the tide was turning in Sunday's London derby. The Blues also needed two penalties - which Spurs gift-wrapped in the most careless possible way - to ignite the comeback effort.</p><p>"Arsenal, (Manchester) City, and Liverpool probably don't slide - like Cucurella did," head coach Enzo Maresca <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c4g2pd77dert?post=asset%3Ad88ac3d2-507f-40c7-a2ff-aeed3f4636e9#post">said</a> afterward. "To be serious, we are not ready. We are far from these teams, but we focus on (it) day by day and (are) trying to improve the team."</p><p>Chelsea play an open and risky transition game, and as rewarding as it can be, it has its defects. Sometimes you see Moises Caicedo scrambling, and sometimes he lunges, and sometimes he gets away with a studs-up challenge, as he did Sunday. Chelsea's game is built around moments, and they can go both ways. Chelsea have already committed five errors leading to goals - higher than any other top-five team and a clear sign that they still struggle to control matches. The majority of Chelsea's wins have also come against teams in the bottom half of the table.</p><p>None of that is to say Chelsea can't win the title. But there's a lot to do before they can truly consider themselves a complete package.</p><h3>Quick free-kicks 📝</h3><p><strong>Unsung coaching heroes</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/cropped_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759590/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188885195.jpg?ts=1733687626 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Besides players underperforming, there's another big reason why teams like Newcastle, Manchester United, and Tottenham are struggling outside the top 10. The trio should be competing for places in Europe. Instead, they can barely string two wins together. While they've toiled, teams like Bournemouth, Brentford, and Fulham have stepped up, overachieving with squads that aren't nearly as expensive. The difference comes down to coaching. Unlike the three high spenders, stability on the touchline has benefited Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Brentford's Thomas Frank, and Fulham's Marco Silva. Their innovations and impact aren't talked about nearly enough. But after a weekend in which Brentford battered Newcastle, Bournemouth came from behind to beat Ipswich Town, and Fulham held title contenders Arsenal, it's time to give credit where it's due to the Premier League's most underrated coaches.</p><p><strong>Man United their own worst enemy</strong></p><p>Ruben Amorim has a massive task on his hands to turn Manchester United around. He knows that. It's going to take time and a lot of work. One thing he can't legislate for, though, is basic errors from his players. A brutal giveaway inside his own half from Bruno Fernandes, together with some truly confounding goalkeeping by Andre Onana, gifted Nottingham Forest one goal Saturday. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez simply watched on, as if frozen in time, as a looping Chris Wood header, moving almost in slow motion, nestled into the net for another. The latter stood up as the winner at Old Trafford, consigning Amorim to his second consecutive defeat. Getting the fallen club back to the top is going to be difficult enough for the Portuguese tactician. It'll be downright impossible if his players keep torpedoing their own progress with the types of mistakes commonly seen in semi-pro leagues.</p><p><strong>'Season to suffer'</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/cropped_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759591/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188715340.jpg?ts=1733687707 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Manchester City didn't lose this weekend. Considering how things have gone for much of the last month, that's actually an improvement. It's also a sad statement that reflects the reality at the club right now. Pep Guardiola <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/4190268?sf275709994=1">admitted</a> after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace that this is Man City's "season to suffer." Whether this team is built for that remains to be seen. Most of these players have won everything already. Sure, they've had to battle extremely hard in previous seasons, fending off fierce title challengers and winning huge matches. But they've never had to deal with a soul-sapping rut like this. Even Guardiola himself isn't sure if he and his squad are capable of digging themselves out of this hole. One thing that would help right off the bat: stop conceding early. Man City have given up a league-high seven goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season. Always playing from behind isn't a recipe for success.</p><p><strong>Good luck, schedule-makers</strong></p><p>By the Premier League's <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/261976">own admission</a>, compiling the annual fixture list is a "meticulous and painstaking process that lasts almost half a year." One of the unintended byproducts of the current schedule, already loaded to the gills with matches, is the difficulty of rescheduling postponed games. With the top clubs seemingly in action every three days, finding a decent window to squeeze in an extra contest is no simple task. The Merseyside derby, called off Saturday due to Storm Darragh, will likely have to be shoehorned into a rare midweek opening somewhere after the jam-packed holiday slate. An already tricky test for Liverpool will be that little bit more challenging.</p><h3>Star performer 🌟</h3><p><strong>Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)</strong></p><p>Vardy is the definition of a talisman.</p><p>Leicester City's season hasn't gone to plan. However, Sunday's come-from-behind draw with Brighton &amp; Hove Albion, which followed an impressive win over West Ham, suggests momentum may finally be shifting in the Foxes' favor. And it was all thanks to their trusted striker.</p><p>With the Foxes teetering toward a defeat, the 37-year-old turned back the clock with a vintage display in the closing stages that was reminiscent of the performances that helped Leicester City win a shock Premier League title almost a decade ago.</p><p>As he's done so often over the years, Vardy brought the King Power Stadium to its feet after cutting Leicester's deficit in half in the 86th minute. The confidence-booster led to bigger celebrations five minutes later after Vardy set up the equalizer to become the second-oldest player to score and assist in a Premier League match.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jamie Vardy's last 7 games for Leicester... <br><br>• ⚽️ vs Southampton<br>• ⚽️ vs Nottingham Forest<br>• 🅰️ vs Ipswich<br>• ❌ vs Chelsea <br>• 🅰️ vs Brentford <br>• ⚽️ vs West Ham<br>• 🅰️⚽️ vs Brighton<br><br>37-years-old. Incredible. 👏 <a href="https://t.co/tAjtDh0AdN">pic.twitter.com/tAjtDh0AdN</a></p>— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1865789410551148704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Ten years after Ruud van Nistelrooy watched Vardy break his revered Premier League scoring record, Leicester's new coach is now relying on the revived veteran, who has six goals and three assists this season, to keep Leicester from dropping right back down to the Championship.</p><h3>Best XI 😎</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=317564:Arrizabalaga,955139:Lamptey,766611:Milenkovic,950485:Lacroix,966026:Maatsen,816325:Kamara,923312:Mbeumo,789502:Gibbs-White,1096353:Palmer,846381:Sancho,286119:Vardy&amp;formation=4-1-4-1 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution"></span></figcaption></figure><p>(Source: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)</p><h3>Highlight of the weekend 🎥</h3><p>Bryan Mbeumo is having the season of his life. Through just 15 matches, the Brentford talisman has already matched his career high for goals in a Premier League campaign, registering his ninth tally in Saturday's win over Newcastle. He did it in style, too, helping the Bees maintain their status as the best home team in the country.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧑‍🎨 Bryan Mbeumo, a master of his art <a href="https://t.co/YBuWzOaL6v">pic.twitter.com/YBuWzOaL6v</a></p>— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentfordFC/status/1865516642073194893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Stat of the weekend 🔢</h3><p>We're still trying to figure out how, exactly, Andre Onana <em>didn't</em> save this. Even the commentators, absolutely perplexed, thought there must have been a deflection to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. There was no deflection.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A goalkeeper would be expected to save this shot 97% of the time, according to xGOT. <a href="https://t.co/9CVTvpXrMt">pic.twitter.com/9CVTvpXrMt</a></p>— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) <a href="https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1865467570540642607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Social media moment 📱</h3><p>If you swapped doppelgangers Jota Silva and Jack Grealish, would anybody at their respective clubs even notice?</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">31' 🟨 Jota Silva is booked for elbowing Garnacho. <br><br>🔴 1-1 🌳 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUNNFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUNNFO</a> <a href="https://t.co/wyM7qw5dFT">pic.twitter.com/wyM7qw5dFT</a></p>— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) <a href="https://twitter.com/StretfordPaddck/status/1865457376788189461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Where we stand 👀</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>Played</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1.</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>+18</td>
<td>35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+17</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+14</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+6</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5.</td>
<td>Nottingham Forest</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.</td>
<td>Brighton</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.</td>
<td>Bournemouth</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.</td>
<td>Brentford</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10.</td>
<td>Fulham</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+2</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11.</td>
<td>Tottenham</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+12</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12.</td>
<td>Newcastle</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13.</td>
<td>Manchester United</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+1</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14.</td>
<td>West Ham</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.</td>
<td>Everton</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.</td>
<td>Leicester</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.</td>
<td>Crystal Palace</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-6</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.</td>
<td>Ipswich Town</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-13</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19.</td>
<td>Wolves</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>-14</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20.</td>
<td>Southampton</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>-20</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>View more stats <a href="thescore:///epl/leaders">here</a>.</em></p>

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EPL Review: Chelsea move into title conversation, Vardy's still got it

The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was held Thursday, with the 32 teams involved in next s...

<p>The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was held Thursday, with the 32 teams involved in next summer's revamped competition finding out which groups they'll be in.</p><p>European giants Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain face tricky tests in the opening round after they were each drawn into arguably the most difficult groups of the tournament.</p><p>Meanwhile, reigning Club World Cup champions Manchester City will like their chances of repeating. While they face at least one tricky test in the opening phase of the tournament after being lumped with Juventus, City should make it out of the group stage. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Defending Champions League winners Real Madrid were also drawn into a manageable group in their quest to win the Club World Cup for a record sixth time.</p><p>The groups in full:</p><h3>Group A</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Palmeiras</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>FC Porto</td>
<td>Portugal</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Al Ahly</td>
<td>Egypt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Inter Miami</td>
<td> United States</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group B</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Paris Saint-Germain</td>
<td>France</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Atletico Madrid</td>
<td>Spain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Botafogo</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Seattle Sounders</td>
<td> United States</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group C</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>Germany</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Auckland City FC</td>
<td>New Zealand</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Boca Juniors</td>
<td>Argentina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>Portugal</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group D</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Flamengo</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Esperance de Tunis</td>
<td>Tunisia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
<td>England</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Leon</td>
<td>Mexico</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group E</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>River Plate</td>
<td>Argentina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Urawa Red Diamonds</td>
<td>Japan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Monterrey</td>
<td>Mexico</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Inter Milan</td>
<td>Italy</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group F</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Fluminense</td>
<td>Brazil</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>Germany</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Ulsan HD</td>
<td>South Korea</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Mamelodi Sundowns</td>
<td>South Africa</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group G</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
<td>England</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Wydad AC</td>
<td>Morocco</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Al Ain</td>
<td>United Arab Emirates</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>Italy</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Group H</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>POT</th>
<th>CLUB</th>
<th>COUNTRY</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>Spain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Al-Hilal</td>
<td>Saudi Arabia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Pachuca</td>
<td>Mexico</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Salzburg</td>
<td>Austria</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Tournament schedule and format</h3><p>The monthlong tournament, staged in the United States, will begin June 15, 2025. A total of 12 U.S. venues will host the event's 63 matches, with the final slated for Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on July 13.</p><p>The competition follows a tried-and-true formula: Upon the completion of the group stage, where each team plays three matches, the top two sides in each group advance to the round of 16. Every game will be single elimination from that point on until a champion is crowned.</p><p>The full match schedule and tournament bracket can be found <a href="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/match-schedule-announced">here</a>.</p>

The Club World Cup groups are displayed during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw ceremony in Miami on December 5, 2024.

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