33 h. ago Aston Villa ‘killed’ by spending rules in transfer window, says Ezri Konsa

Club affected by Premier League and Uefa financial fair play‘It’s crazy. We’re going to have to deal with what we’ve got’Ezri Konsa has said that football’s spending regulations “killed” Aston Villa during a difficult summer transfer window. The club, who have started the season badly with one point from three games and no goals scored, were hemmed in by the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules and the equivalent in Uefa competition.Villa paid out one major fee – £30.5m to Nice for Evann Guessand – and made only four further first-team additions, Marco Bizot being followed in on deadline day by Victor Lindelöf, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho. The club were open to selling Emiliano Martínez only for there to be no buyer and moved Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £39m despite Unai Emery preferring to keep him. As a homegrown player, Ramsey counted as pure profit on the books. Continue reading...

Events

37 h. ago Football club owners could face prison under Independent Football Regulator's new powers

The Independent Football Regulator will have a new licensing system to protect clubs from financial ruin or bad owners after Morecambe FC came within days of closure

Events

38 h. ago ‘Rogue owners’ risk forced sales under new independent football regulator

Football’s new independent regulator has proposed a significant tightening of rules on ownership

Events

41 h. ago Lucas Paquetá plans legal claim against FA for more than £1m after spot

West Ham player wants to recover his legal costsFA already facing bill of about £1m for its legal expensesLucas Paquetá is planning to launch a legal claim for more than £1m in costs against the Football Association after the publication of the regulatory commission’s 314-page report that cleared the West Ham player of spot-fixing.The Guardian has learned that while Paquetá is unlikely to sue the FA for damages for lost earnings from its two-year case against him, which led to the collapse of a proposed £85m transfer to Manchester City in the summer of 2023, the 27-year-old will make a claim to recover legal costs of between £1m and £1.5m. Continue reading...

Economics

60 h. ago Officials must ‘get off bums’ and quickly set up football regulator – Blunkett

Legislation passed in July paves the way to set up the body which will oversee the professional men’s game in England.

Politics

4 d. ago Dele Alli looking for new club again after just one appearance for latest team

England international midfielder Dele Alli had hoped to rebuild his career in Italy with Como but the former Tottenham star has left in search of regular first-team football

Politics

4 d. ago Liverpool braced for transfer exit immediately after agreeing Alexander Isak deal

Liverpool are open to the departure of Harvey Elliott, who is looking for regular football, and Alexander Isak's imminent move to Anfield could open the door for the England U21 star

Economics

1 week ago Scotland star lined up for shock La Liga switch in bid to stay in World Cup reckoning

Right-back has been unable to find regular first-team football at Toffees

Events

3 w. ago Jack Grealish joins Everton on loan and hopes to emulate Rooney and Gascoigne

‘It’s massive for me, honestly,’ says England wingerPlayer targets regular football before World CupDavid Moyes believes Everton can provide a platform for Jack Grealish to showcase “the best version of himself” with the midfielder targeting an England recall before the World Cup.Grealish completed his move from Manchester City on Tuesday on a season’s loan that will cost Everton more than £12m in wages and fees. The 29-year-old had been marginalised at City by Pep Guardiola and was not included in his 27-man squad for this summer’s Club World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Where it went wrong for Jack Grealish at Man City – and how Everton can fix him

The Toffees will offer regular first-team football in the player’s bid to make England’s 2026 World Cup squad

Politics