Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu has joined Bundesliga side Stuttgart on a season-long loan.
The 22-year-old, who made 16 Premier League appearances in his first season at Chelsea, signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge last month.
A knee injury has hampered Romeu s development and he will now look to gain further first-team experience with a side who finished 15th in the German top flight last term.
I look forward to the challenge, to a new country and new people, too, which brings me further in my development, Romeu told Stuttgart s official website.
Stuttgart coach Armin Veh, who returned to the club for a second spell in May, also signed forward Daniel Ginczek and midfielder Adam Hlousek from Nuremberg in June.
Romeu has represented Sp…
One of football’s characters and, on his day, a very fine footballer indeed, announced his retirement from the game yesterday at the age of just thirty-two.
httpv://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6lBe84Q-4F8
Danish international midfielder Thomas Gravesen has had a career lasting more than thirteen years and has played for Vejle BK, Hamburg, Everton, Real Madrid and Celtic.
On announcing his retirement Gravesen said,
I have spent some extraordinary years abroad, I have played and lived in four countries. But I m 33 in March, so before age and health force my hand I have opted to take the decision to stop myself.
He spent three years with Danish club Vejle BK before moving to Germany to play for Hamburg. After three years in the Bundes…
Kelly Smith, the England forward who was a finalist for FIFA Women s Player of the Year in 2008, signed a multi-year contract on Wednesday with the Boston Breakers of Women s Pro Soccer.
The seven-team US league will open its inaugural season in April with US rosters joined by top international talent such as Smith, who has 33 goals in 76 matches over a 14-year career with England s national squad.
We are delighted to have signed such a world-class, creative attacking talent, Breakers president Joe Cummings said.
Kelly has been playing at the top level for a long time, and I feel she will have a tremendous impact, not only on our team, but also the league.
Smith has scored 100 goals in 112 matches for Arsenal Ladies, which in 2007 won the English Wome…
Barcelona are still working hard to solve the financial problems which have been preventing them from signing captain Lionel Messi to a new contract. The Argentinian superstar has been a free agent since the end of last month, but he reportedly wants to stay at the Camp Nou despite interest from the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi is currently on holiday, having just won the 2021 Copa America with Argentina, his first-ever international trophy.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team have already started pre-season training.
Saturday s Workout Highlights
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
…
Wolves players have been blocked from going to the supermarket as the club aims to limit their risk of contracting coronavirus.
Some Premier League clubs have been allowed to welcome fans back to grounds over recent weeks, as the United Kingdom government moved to a tier system .
However, with large swathes of the country now back under stricter restrictions as infection rates rise, only Liverpool and Everton are allowed to welcome home fans to their matches.
Only one Premier League match this season has had to be postponed due to COVID-19, with Newcastle United s squad having been unable to attend their training ground ahead of a clash with Aston Villa due to an outbreak within the group.
Festive training.
— Wolves (@Wolves)
T…
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is shocked to see Steven Gerrard named as the frontrunner for the vacant manager s job at Rangers.
Gerrard, who worked under Rodgers during his three-year spell at Anfield, has been touted as a shock contender to take charge at Ibrox next season, replacing interim boss Graeme Murty.
The former England captain has been in charge of Liverpool s Under-19 side this season after moving into coaching following his retirement from playing in 2016.
Rodgers acknowledges the 37-year-old has always had a desire to become a manager, but he was not expecting to potentially come up against him in future Old Firm clashes.
I was a little bit surprised when I saw it, Rodgers told a news conference ahead of Sunday s clash with Rangers, whe…
Marouane Fellaini has suggested Manchester United could pay the price for failing to renew his contract last year.
The Belgium international s deal at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season and there has been no decisive breakthrough in talks with the club over an extension.
Fellaini – who has struggled for game time in 2017-18 largely due to a knee ligament injury – came off the bench to score the winner against Arsenal on Sunday, after which manager Jose Mourinho claimed an agreement over fresh terms was almost there .
The 30-year-old says he has not yet made a final decision, though, and has accused United of failing to resolve the contract dispute when they had more time on their side.
The whole staff are doing everything for me to stay…
Marseille have secured the services of promising youngster Aaron Leya Iseka from Anderlecht on a one-year loan deal.
The Ligue 1 side were keen to sign a new attacker following the departure of Michy Batshuayi to Chelsea and they have opted for the Belgium international s younger brother.
Leya Iseka, 18, came through the Anderlecht youth academy and made his first-team debut for the Brussels-based side in December 2014.
A serious knee injury halted his progress last term, though, and he will now be looking to take the next step in his career at Stade Velodrome.
[Vidéo] Aaron Leya Iseka est Olympien
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— Olympique Marseille (@OM_Officiel)
I have chosen to join Marseille because it is a great club, Leya Iseka told the team s webs…
Hamburg midfielder Alen Halilovic has hailed Lionel Messi s humble attitude and says the Argentine is hugely popular in the Barcelona dressing room.
The Croatia international teamed up with Messi after joining Barcelona from Dinamo Zagreb in 2014 and he has nothing but fond memories of his time alongside the prolific attacker.
Leo is an incredibly nice guy. He is always willing to help, very polite and down to earth, Halilovic told Bild.
Everybody in the team likes him and not just because he is such a great player.
I really like the way Messi plays. I have learned a few things from him. I love to take on my direct opponent and play a risky pass. I always try to focus on my own game and to just do my job.
Halilovic left Barcelona for Hamburg …
Japan are bidding for their first East Asian Cup success when they face South Korea in the final game of the 2013 edition of the tournament.
Both teams are in contention for the title going into the last round of fixtures on Sunday, with China also harbouring hopes of victory as they prepare to take on whipping boys Australia in the day s earlier game.
However, Japan s previous results mean they cannot be caught at the top should they beat the hosts at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul.
The Japanese established their advantage courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Australia on Thursday, which came despite head coach Alberto Zaccheroni changing his entire starting XI.
I guess in total I ve called 70 players in three years, but I still wanted to see these guys, he said …