Soccer transfer news summary: Friday 15 July 2022

Chelsea confirm Koulibaly deal

Chelsea have announced the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, the Senegal defender penning a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge. 

Rangers secure Malik Tillman deal

Rangers announced this evening that they have signed Malik Tillman on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is the Scottish club's fifth signing of the summer transfer window.

Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said, "He is an exciting young talent who will further add to our attacking options and myself and the coaching staff are looking forward to working with him".

Newcastle confirm Darren Eales as CEO

Darren Eales has switched Atlanta United for Newcastle United to join as chief executive officer as the Magpies continue to assemble their boardroom staff.

Newcastle managed to convince Dan Ashworth to leave Brighton and Hove Albion to become their sporting director in May, seven months after their controversial Saudi-backed takeover. Ashworth will now be joined by Eales, who he worked alongside at West Brom between 2006 and 2010, with the 49-year-old leaving MLS side Atlanta, where he was president and CEO.

Eales heads to Tyneside with sizeable boardroom experience, having been named the MLS Executive of the Year on two occasions and the World Football Summit Executive of the Year in 2019.

"Newcastle United is both a giant of a club, and the heartbeat of its community," said Eales.  "Every time I have visited St. James' Park, I've been overwhelmed by the passion of the fans. This is a club with an amazingly rich heritage, and I am delighted to be joining for this new chapter in its long history. I am grateful for the opportunity, and look forward to working with the rest of the team to help this storied club fulfil its potential."

Hugo Ekitike swaps Reims for PSG

Paris Saint-Germain have landed 20-year-old striker Hugo Ekitike from Reims. Ekitike, who netted 11 times for Les rouges et blancs last season, turned down an offer from Newcastle in the January window. He commits until 2027 with PSG.

Reims and

Bayern poised to make their fourth signing of the summer

According to Sky Sports, Bayern Munich have placed a 30 million euro offer for Austrian midfielder, Konrad Laimer. Nagelsman knows the player from their time together at RB Leipzig. The coach has requested that Bayern sign Laimer as an alternative to Marcel Sabitzer, who has not lived up to expectations in his first season at the club.

If Bayern and Leipzig can reach a deal, Laimer will become the fourth new arrival in Munich, following in the footsteps of Noussair Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch and Sadio Mané.

Chancel Mbemba joins Olympique Marseille on a free transfer

Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba has been snapped up by Olympique Marseille on a free transfer. The The 27-year-old spent the last four seasons in the Primeira Liga with Porto - prior to that he spent time at Anderlecht and Newcastle. He has signed up for three seasons with the Ligue 1 outfit, who welcomed him on board with a neat video posted on their social media platforms.

Mbemba becomes the third new recruit at OM this summer, after the arrivals of Samuel Gigot and Isaak Touré.

Alderweireld joins hometown club Royal Antwerp

Toby Alderweireld has completed his move to Royal Antwerp. The 33-year-old, former Atletico and Spurs defender, has signed a three-year deal with his hometown club

Alderweireld spent last season in Qatar with Al-Duhail, making 29 appearances for the club and winning the Emir of Qatar Cup.

Isco will lose a fortune by staying in LaLiga

Isco is wanted by both Sevilla and Betis. He has also been inundated with lucrative offers from England, Italy, Turkey and Qatar. The midfielder would prefer to play Champions League football next season but doesn’t want to move abroad...

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Laporta: “Frenkie de Jong will travel to the United States”

Barça appear to have changed tack with Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who now will be part of the squad that flies out to the United States this weekend for a mini summer tour.

On Friday the club insisted that it is counting on the player for the new season. But privately, they view the Dutch midfielder’s situation differently - on Thursday, it emerged that the club had ordered the player to leave. However, president Joan Laporta made it clear today that De Jong will be going on the US tour with the squad.

During his speech about new signing Raphinha, Laporta said, “This a player who I think is going to make history and it’s nice to be able to speak Brazilian again. It is not true that we are obliged to sell Frenkie de Jong. Xavi is the one who decides and I understand that the player will be travelling to the United States”.

Read more here:

Koulibaly on his way to Chelsea's US tour

Chelsea continue to strengthen ahead of the new Premier League campaign. 

Kalidou Koulibaly has joined the club from Napoli and will fly out to the United States for the club's pre-season tour.

Lewandowski to Barcelona

Barcelona are moving closer to completing a deal for Robert Lewandowski.

Lewandowski has been at the centre of a transfer saga since he said he would not renew his Bayern Munich contract in May and expressed a desire to leave.

After announcing the transfer of Raphinha on Friday, Lewandowski could the club's next signing.

Eriksen joins Manchester United

Manchester United have announced the signing of Christian Eriksen on a three-year deal.

The midfielder has been capped 115 times for Denmark, scoring 38 goals for his country. Eriksen has played 237 games in the Premier League, registering 52 goals and 71 assists. 

Eriksen said: 

“Manchester United is a special club, and I cannot wait to get started. I have had the privilege of playing at Old Trafford many times but to do it in the red shirt of United will be an amazing feeling."

Barcelona unveil Raphinha

Barcelona have unveiled new signing Raphinha, who has joined the LaLiga giants from Leeds United for an initial $58m.

"It's a dream come true," the Brazilian said.

Introducing the player to the media, Barça president Joan Laporta quipped: "'Joga bonito' is back."

Gnabry extends Bayern deal

Fabrizio Romano reports that Serge Gnabry has agreed a new contract at Bayern Munich, the German rebuffing interest from Chelsea to stay with the Bundesliga champions.

Aké to stay at Manchester City

It looks like defender Nathan Aké won't be returning to Chelsea after all. The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that Manchester City were only interested in selling the Dutchman if the Blues met their asking price, which hasn't happened.

"It is believed that Ake is pleased to be remaining at City, where he is a popular member of the squad," Ornstein says.

Isco eyes move back to Andalusia

My colleague José Espina reports that Isco is holding out for a move to one of Real Betis or Sevilla, and is prepared to take a significant pay cut to get a move back to his native Andalusia.

Isco was on six million euros a year after tax at Madrid, where his contract expired at the end of June.

He has had lucrative offers from Roma, Newcastle United, Galatasaray and Qatar, but is keen to remain in LaLiga and, if possible, play Champions League football.

That final wish would place Sevilla in pole position for the 30-year-old, but the club is not convinced his signing makes financial sense, and head coach Julen Lopetegui already has a number of creative midfielders in his squad.

(Photo: JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA/DIARIO AS)

BARCELONA

When could Robert Lewandowski make his Barcelona debut?

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernández has urged the LaLiga club to do everything they can to seal a deal for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as quickly as possible.

AS journalist Javier Miguel has more

Martínez set for Man Utd

Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester United are poised to wrap up the signing of Ajax defender Lisandro Martínez, in a deal worth $55m. The Argentina international, who'll be reunited with former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag, is to sign a five-year contract, Romano says.

Soccer

Solskjaer to Haaland: “Good luck on the wrong side of Manchester!”

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has taken a friendly swipe at Erling Braut Haaland, following his fellow Norwegian's move to crosstown rivals Manchester City.

“When I signed with City he congratulated me and wrote to me ‘good luck on going to the wrong side of Manchester’,” Haaland told the Manchester Evening News.

“We talk sometimes. As you know, he had a huge impact on my career when I was at Molde. He’s a good guy.”

Full story

De Jong: "There's no way I'm leaving"

Frenkie de Jong is currently refusing to swap Barcelona for Manchester United, with the Catalonia-based newspaper Sport reporting today that the Dutchman has told his Camp Nou team-mates: "There's no way I'm leaving."

Cash-strapped Barça are rather keen for De Jong to do one, allowing them to pocket an $85m transfer fee and get the midfielder's $30m gross salary off their wage bill.

The Blaugrana are even considering leaving De Jong out of their upcoming US tour, in a bid to put pressure on him to go.

AS' Juan Jiménez has more

Soccer

Saudi Arabian club offers €300M for Cristiano Ronaldo

One option seemingly open to Ronaldo is Saudi Arabia, where an unnamed club is reportedly ready to part with $300m to sign the Portugal captain.

Hmmm. He's holding out for Champions League football, but I'm not sure the AFC Champions League was quite what he had in mind.

Full story

Chelsea end Cristiano Ronaldo interest

In what's-gonna-happen-with-Cristiano-Ronaldo news, Chelsea are widely reported to have dropped their interest in the wantaway Manchester United star.

Following the Blues' signing of former Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, head coach Thomas Tuchel has said his "focus is on defence", per the BBC. 

It has also been reported that Tuchel feels the veteran, increasingly immobile Ronaldo doesn't fit into his plans for a fluid, versatile frontline next season.

Soccer

Official: Dembélé to stay at Camp Nou through to 2024

In case you missed it, Barcelona announced on Thursday that Ousmane Dembélé has signed a new, two-year deal at the Camp Nou, ending months of uncertainty over the Frenchman's future at the club.

AS' Juan Jiménez has the full story

Summer transfer news, live updates: welcome

Good morning! Let's see what transfer news Friday 15 July 2022 brings us.