Here's All the History and Records A's Rookie Nick Kurtz Set in Historic Four-Homer Night

Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz had himself a night Friday as he powered his team to a 15-3 win over the Houston Astros.

He smacked four home runs out of Daikin Park in Houston, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to hit four homers in one game. It wasn't just the long ball, either. He wrapped up the night a perfect 6-for-6 from the plate with eight RBIs, 19 total bases and six runs scored.

The No. 4 pick in the 2024 MLB draft set plenty of firsts with his historic night, making a case for the best single-game performance ever. Here's a list of the feats Kurtz accomplished with his massive game:

First rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in one gameFirst player in MLB history to finish a game with at least six hits, six runs and eight RBIsTies a single-game record for total bases (19, Shawn Green)Ninth game in MLB history with six or more runs scored (first since 2004)First player in MLB history with at least four home runs, six hits and eight RBIs in one gameBecomes the 20th player in MLB history with four home runs in one gameFirst player in A's history with a four-homer gameSecond A's hitter with at least five hits and three homers in a game (Jimmie Foxx, 1932)Second game with at least six hits and four homers in MLB history (Shawn Green, 2002)First player in MLB history to have a game with at least four homers, five extra-base hits, six hits, six runs and eight RBIs

Quite the night for the 22-year-old slugger. The wild evening continues what's been an amazing stretch for Kurtz. Per the A's, he's leading the American League in nearly every batting stat over the month of July, including batting average, OPS, home runs and RBIs.

His four home runs gives him 23 on the year. He's now slashing .305/.374/.686 with 56 RBI alongside the 23 dingers.

Look how close he was to becoming the first player ever to hit five home runs in a game, too:

Sunderland’s “signing of the season” is now their best player since Amad

Sunderland had to take the long route back to the Premier League after they were relegated from the division at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The Black Cats endured seasons in League One, a Championship play-off loss, and a midtable finish in the second tier before they eventually earned promotion back to the big time earlier this year under Regis Le Bris.

One of the most impactful signings made on their journey back to the Premier League, despite it not being in their promotion season, was the loan arrival of Amad Diallo.

Where Amad ranks among Speakman's pre-Premier League signings

Kristjaan Speakman brought a strategy of buying and loaning in talented young players with potential to improve with him to the sporting director role at the Stadium of Light, and has had plenty of success with it over the years.

In the seasons leading up to this summer’s recruitment, it is hard to argue against Jack Clarke being his best piece of business. The winger initially joined on loan in the 2021/22 campaign, signing permanently in 2022, and scored 28 goals in 114 matches, per Transfermarkt.

1

Jack Clarke

2

Amad Diallo

3

Ross Stewart

4

Daniel Ballard

5

Trai Hume

Ross Stewart also deserves to be up there for his 24-goal haul in the 2021/22 League One season, per Transfermarkt, whilst defender Dan Ballard and Trai Hume also rank highly as they have both played in the Championship and the Premier League.

Amad, though, ranks in second place, with his return of 14 goals and three assists in the second tier on loan from Manchester United in the 2022/23 campaign, per WhoScored.

The Ivorian talent fired the Black Cats to the play-offs, scoring four more goals than any other player in the squad, as an incredibly exciting player to watch on the right wing, and his impact was evident by the fact that Sunderland finished 16th the season after he left.

Now, Sunderland have found their most impactful signing since Amad Diallo by bringing Granit Xhaka to the club from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Why Xhaka is Sunderland's most impactful signing since Amad

As Amad was signed more recently than Clarke was, the former United loanee is the player to beat to be the most impactful signing since his arrival on Wearside.

Xhaka, signed from Leverkusen for £13m in the summer, has had a colossal impact on the side with his exceptional performances in the middle of the park for Le Bris.

The left-footed star arrived at the club as a proven Premier League performer, with 297 appearances for Arsenal (Transfermarkt) under his belt, and his performances have reflected that experience.

FotMob rating

7.42

1st

Assists

4

1st

Goals + assists

5

1st

Chances created

18

1st

Big chances created

5

1st

Passes made per 90

42.9

1st

xA

1.3

1st

Long passes made per 90

4.4

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Switzerland international tops the charts for the Black Cats in a host of key statistics, which highlights just how influential he has been on the pitch in the top-flight this term.

Last month, Wayne Rooney described him as “the signing of the season” and suggested that Xhaka, 33, is like a “father figure” to the rest of the players in what is a young squad, setting an example for his teammates.

Rooney’s point about him being a father figure is an interesting one. He was the oldest signing of the summer, per Transfermarkt, and is the oldest player in the squad to have made an appearance in the Premier League this season.

Whilst this is unquantifiable, someone like Rooney, a Manchester United legend, will know what kind of an impact that can have in a dressing room, and he feels that Xhaka is an important presence for this young Sunderland squad.

Couple that with his clear and quantifiable impact on the pitch in the Premier League, and it is hard to argue against him being the most impactful signing of the summer.

Xhaka has been a phenomenal addition to the squad, their best since Amad’s sublime loan spell, and Le Bris will be hoping that he continues to be a shining light in midfield for the rest of the season and beyond.

Sunderland now eyeing move to sign midfield ace who Chelsea wanted to sign

Regis Le Bris could hold one key advantage.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 7, 2025

The signing of the Swiss star has shown how important it is to have experienced players in key positions to be the backbone of the side, in order for the younger players to develop and thrive around them.

Aaron Judge, Pitching Position-Player Share Fun Moment During Blowout

In the eighth inning of the New York Yankees' game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, right fielder Aaron Judge came up with a chance to make history.

Judge was bidding to become the 19th player ever to hit four home runs in one game—and the first Yankee to do it since first baseman Lou Gehrig in 1932. Attempting to stop him: Brewers "pitcher" Jake Bauers—a position player in disguise.

Amazingly, Bauers—Judge's teammate in 2023—was able to "solve" the slugger. With a 55 mph curveball, he induced Judge into a harmless flyout—and left Judge laughing as he strode back to the dugout.

Judge ended his day 4-for-6 with three home runs and eight RBIs. Not bad.

Bauers, however, was the real hero for throwing a scoreless inning with just one walk. He also had an RBI double in his day job as a first baseman.

Despite Bauers's heroics, New York emerged a 20–9 victor.

Roland-Jones four-for sees Middlesex claim innings win

Gloucestershire’s rearguard falls short despite OIlie Price fifty on final day at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025Middlesex 634 for 9 dec (du Plooy 263, Morgan 97, Cracknell 64, Geddes 60, Hollman 55, Singh Dale 5-108) beat Gloucestershire 286 (Bracey 60, Gohar 5-53, Cornwell 4-58) and 281 (Price 61, Roland-Jones 4-47) by an innings and 67 runsToby Roland-Jones claimed four wickets to round off Middlesex’s Rothesay County Championship campaign in winning fashion as they ground down Gloucestershire on the final day at Lord’s.The 37-year-old seamer finished with 4 for 57, ending the campaign as Division Two’s second highest wicket-taker behind Derbyshire’s Luis Reece to dismiss the visitors for 281 in their second innings, despite Ollie Price’s knock of 61. Former Gloucestershire duo Zafar Gohar and Ryan Higgins backed up Roland-Jones with three and two wickets apiece as the Seaxes sealed an innings victory with 22 overs unused.The result meant Middlesex finished fourth in the final table, 11 points short of the promotion places, with Gloucestershire in sixth.Gloucestershire began the final day with nine wickets standing and rarely looked in danger of losing any more during the opening hour and a half where the ball swung, but not enough to cause genuine problems for Price and Joe Phillips.Having dispatched Roland-Jones for two early boundaries and survived Noah Cornwell’s appeal for a catch down the leg side, Price settled into the groove, advancing to his half-century from 91 balls.It was teenage seamer Sebastian Morgan who eventually made the breakthrough, sending down three tight overs before switching to the Pavilion End and gaining immediate reward as he tempted Phillips to drive to gully. Morgan might also have removed Miles Hammond, who edged just short of second slip, but the left-hander quickly gained rhythm with a series of fours as he and Price guided their side through to lunch.However, Price’s return to the crease after the interval lasted one ball – a Roland-Jones delivery that kept low, nipped back and clattered into his off stump and, when James Bracey glanced Higgins behind without scoring, Gloucestershire were suddenly on the back foot again.Having escaped when Morgan, leaping to his right at gully, could not cling onto a difficult chance, Hammond eventually perished to a similar stroke off Higgins to leave the visitors five down.Graeme van Buuren, having taken 17 balls to get off the mark, sprang to life with a trio of boundaries off Roland-Jones and pounced on anything wide outside off stump as he and Jack Taylor added 49.Gohar came on to dismiss his former county captain for 46, with Ben Geddes plunging forward at short leg to take a bat-pad catch, but the Taylor brothers steered their side into the final session.Middlesex’s hopes were lifted again by the new ball, which brought Roland-Jones the wickets of Matt Taylor – and then his elder brother, one short of his half-century – both snapped up at second slip. With Ajeet Singh Dale falling to Gohar, there was still time for Marchant de Lange to launch a brief, defiant counterattack against the spinner, hitting 14 from three deliveries before he was caught behind.

Key ALCS Matchup Data Between Yankees, Guardians: Regular Season Matchup, Stats, More

The ALCS matchup is set for 2024. After the Cleveland Guardians outlasted the Detroit Tigers in a maximum fifth game of the ALDS, they move on to face the No. 1 seed New York Yankees in the ALCS to determine who will represent the American League in this year's World Series. The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in the divisional round.

The schedule, barring changes due to weather:

Game No.

Date

Home team

1

Monday, October 14

Yankees

2

Tuesday, October 15

Yankees

3

Thursday, October 17

Guardians

4

Friday, October 18

Guardians

5*

Saturday, October 19

Guardians

6*

Monday, October 21

Yankees

7*

Tuesday, October 22

Yankees

Here's a quick glimpse at how the two teams matched up this year in both the six games they played as well as key season-long stats.

Yankees vs. Guardians Record 2024

During the 2024 regular season, across two three-game series, the Yankees walked away victors with a record of 4-2. But thanks to a nine-run explosion by Cleveland in one of its wins, the Guardians outscored the Yankees in those six games 22-19.

These two franchises faced off two years ago in the ALDS, with the Guardians losing in six games. That year, New York won all but one of the six regular season matchups.

Yankees vs. Guardians Stats in 2024

Matchup Facts

The Yankees tallied the fifth-most home runs per plate appearance and the fewest strikeouts per plate appearance against Cleveland compared to all other teams in 2024.

Cleveland's relief pitching was 13th-best in MLB in terms of ERA against the Yankees, allowing several on base (of all bullpens against New York, Cleveland allowed the ninth-most hits) but sitting above-average in left on base percentage (74.7%).

Batting Stats

Here's how the two teams stack up in key offensive stats:

Stat

Yankees

Guardians

BA

.248

.238

OBP

.333

.307

SLG

.429

.395

Runs per game

5.03

4.37

Hits per game

8.34

7.80

Strikeouts per game

8.22

7.44

Home runs

1.46

1.14

Triples

0.09

0.11

Doubles

1.5

1.51

Singles

5.29

5.03

Walks

4.30

3.06

Pitching Stats

Here's how the two staffs face up in selected pitching metrics, split by starter vs bullpen.

Starters

Stat

Yankees

Guardians

ERA

3.85

4.44

Opp. SLG

.403

.444

K%

23.7%

22.2%

BB%

8.4%

8.4%

WHIP

1.25

1.32

Relievers

Stat

Yankees

Guardians

ERA

2.57

3.62

Opp. SLG

.371

.328

K%

23.9%

26.0%

BB%

9.1%

8.1%

WHIP

1.24

1.05

Enjoy the series.

Corinthians goleia o América de Cali e avança à semifinal da Libertadores Feminina

MatériaMais Notícias

Sob forte chuva no Estádio Pascual Guerrero, o Corinthians segue com 100% de aproveitamento e está na semifinal da Libertadores Feminina. As Brabas venceram o América de Cali por 4 a 0, com gols de Tarciane, Millene, Vic Albuquerque e Fernandinha.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoEx-Corinthians, Jorge Henrique relembra vacilo com Tite: ‘Ele não guarda rancor’Fora de Campo15/10/2023CorinthiansDo artilheiro ao jogador com mais cartões: Veja os números do Corinthians na temporadaCorinthians15/10/2023CorinthiansMano ‘ignora’ cenário caótico e já pensa no planejamento do Corinthians para 2024Corinthians15/10/2023

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

O América de Cali perdeu grande chance no primeiro minuto da partida, e o Corinthians conseguiu impor sua superioridade e abriu o placar na bola parada, após Duda Sampaio quase anotar um gol olímpico.

A forte chuva afetou o desempenho das Brabas na etapa final, mas as colombianas também sentiram o efeito do gramado encharcado e não conseguiram produzir muitas chances de gol. Aos 26 minutos do segundo tempo, Yantén cometeu pênalti em Millene.

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A própria atacante cobrou e converteu a cobrança. Seis minutos após o gol de Millene, a lateral Daniela Arias fez falta dura em Gabi Zanotti e foi expulsa. Nos minutos finais, Vic Albuquerque e Fernandinha deram números finais ao jogo. As Brabas irão enfrentar o Internacional ou o Colo-Colo na semifinal da Libertadores Feminina.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

CORINTHIANS 4 X 0 AMÉRICA DE CALI
QUARTAS DE FINAL – LIBERTADORES FEMININA

Data:15 de outubro de 2023, domingo
Horário:17h30 (horário de Brasília)
Local:Estádio Pascual Guerrero, em Santiago de Cali, na Colômbia

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CORINTHIANS (Técnico: Arthur Elias)
Lelê; Tarciane, Mariza e Yasmim; Luana, Duda Sampaio, Gabi Zanotti, Gabi Portilho e Tamires; Millene e Jheniffer.

AMÉRICA DE CALI (Técnico: Gustavo Pineda)
Giraldo; Arias, Natis, Ospina e Bahr; Pineda, Usme e Cortes; Restrepo, Castañeda e Candelo

Tudo sobre

Corinthians

Crystal Palace now keen on "extraordinary" £24m forward with six goals in 25/26

Crystal Palace have now expressed an interest in signing an “extraordinary” forward, who has made a fantastic start to the 2025-26 campaign.

Palace looking to sign another top-level forward after Pino

It was always going to be a tall order to replace Eberechi Eze, after losing the attacking midfielder to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, but the statement signing of Yeremy Pino from Villarreal went some way to allaying Palace fans’ fears about losing the talisman.

Pino led the Eagles to victory in their opening Europa Conference League match, chipping in with two assists in the 2-0 victory, and the Spaniard is not the only forward off to an impressive start, with Ismaila Sarr already on three Premier League goals.

Despite Oliver Glasner already being blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, however, it has now been revealed the Eagles have expressed an interest in another forward, with Steve Parish proving he means business.

According to a report from Spain, Crystal Palace are now keen on signing AS Monaco star Ansu Fati, following his impressive start to the season, but there could be competition for the 22-year-old’s signature, with Everton and Newcastle United also keen.

It is unclear what sort of fee Monaco would be looking to receive for Fati, but FC Barcelona have a buy-back clause of around €28m (£24m), which provides a potential reference point.

Palace are said to be looking to bolster their squad with young talent, meaning the Monaco forward would be an ideal addition, and his displays in Ligue 1 this season suggest he could make a real impact at Selhurst Park…

Crystal Palace now eyeing move to sign "incredible" Marc Guehi replacement

The Eagles have joined the race for a new centre-back, with their captain expected to leave on a free in the summer transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Oct 12, 2025 "Extraordinary" Fati fulfilling his potential at Monaco

Once widely regarded to be the next big thing, the former Barcelona man flattered to deceive at the Camp Nou, but he has since gone on to prove he still has the potential to become one of the best wingers in the world since signing for AS Monaco.

Indeed, the Spaniard has made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign, scoring six goals in five matches in all competitions, including his side’s only goal in a 4-1 defeat against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

The left-winger has also received high praise from Xavi in the past, with the ex-Barca manager once lauding him as “extraordinary”, which suggests he has the ability to be a real difference-maker for Palace.

With it being widely reported that Parish has held talks with Glasner about a contract extension, making a statement signing in January could play a major role in convincing the Austrian to stay, and Fati could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time

Newcastle United and PIF may have spent big on a number of new signings over the years, but the club have also sold a plethora of stars in recent history, dealing with clubs from all over the world.

But who is the Magpies’ record sale in their history? Here’s a look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

Newcastle United's most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a look at the 10 most expensive signings in Newcastle United’s history.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

1

Alexander Isak

£125m

Liverpool

2025

=2

Andy Carroll

£35m

Liverpool

2011

=2

Elliot Anderson

£35m

Nottingham Forest

2024

=4

Yankuba Minteh

£30m

Brighton

2024

=4

Ayoze Perez

£30m

Leicester City

2019

=4

Moussa Sissoko

£30m

Tottenham

2016

7

Georginio Wijnaldum

£25m

Liverpool

2016

8

Allan Saint-Maximin

£23m

Al-Ahli

2023

9

Aleksandar Mitrovic

£22m

Fulham

2018

10

Yohan Cabaye

£20m

PSG

2014

11

Lloyd Kelly

£15.2m

Juvents

2025

12

Chris Wood

£15m

Nottingham Forest

2023

13

Jonathan Woodgate

£13.4m

Real Madrid

2004

14

Andros Townsend

£13m

Crystal Palace

2016

=15

Mathieu Debuchy

£12m

Arsenal

2014

=15

James Milner

£12m

Aston Villa

2008

=15

Sean Longstaff

£12m

Leeds

2025

18

Mikel Merino

£10.5m

Real Sociedad

2018

=19

Dietmar Hamann

£9m

Liverpool

1999

=19

Jermaine Jenas

£9m

Tottenham

2005

Here is a detailed look at Newcastle's 10 biggest departures… 10 Yohan Cabaye £20m to PSG, 2014

Central midfielder Yohan Cabaye spent two and a half years at St James’ Park after signing for Newcastle from Lille in 2011.

The Frenchman took the No 4 shirt and was a regular in black and white, scoring 18 goals before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £20m in January 2014.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic £22m to Fulham, 2018

Newcastle gave Aleksandar Mitrovic his first taste of English football in 2015 after signing him from Anderlecht. The Serbian couldn’t help keep the club in the top flight during his first season, but did play his part in the title-winning squad of 2016/17.

In 2018, Mitrovic was loaned to Fulham before making his move permanent and won promotion to the Premier League with the Cottagers on three separate occasions after his £22m transfer.

8 Allan Saint-Maximin £23m to Al-Ahli, 2023

Tricky winger Allan Saint-Maximin was a fan favourite during his four-year stint at St James’ Park, getting supporters off their feet with his ability on the ball.

Newcastle also made a profit on the Frenchman when selling him to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for £23m in 2023, a transfer which helped balance the Magpies’ books.

7 Georginio Wijnaldum £25m to Liverpool, 2016

Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum only spent one season with Newcastle in 2015/16 after joining from PSV.

The Dutchman’s displays were enough for Liverpool to come calling under Jurgen Klopp, with Wijnaldum going on to win the Premier League and Champions League wearing the No 5 shirt for the Reds following his £25m transfer after Newcastle had been relegated.

6 Moussa Sissoko £30m to Tottenham, 2016

Powerful central midfielder Moussa Sissoko had his first taste of English football with Newcastle when he joined from Toulouse in 2013, and will go down as an extremely shrewd signing.

Sissoko only cost the Magpies £1.5m and went on to make more than 130 appearances in black and white before being sold to Spurs for a huge £28.5m profit.

5 Ayoze Perez £30m to Leicester City, 2019

Like Sissoko, Ayoze Perez also only cost Newcastle £1.5m and was sold for £30m. The forward joined from Tenerife in 2014 and went on to score 48 times in 195 appearances.

Leicester City splashed the cash on the attacker in 2019, with Perez going on to win the FA Cup with the Foxes.

4 Yankuba Minteh £30m to Brighton, 2024

The most recent player to leave for an initial £30m was winger Yankuba Minteh, who signed for Brighton in 2024.

Minteh signed for Newcastle from Danish club Odense in June 2023 and spent the next year on loan with Feyenoord. He never made a first-team appearance at St James’ Park, but still brought in an eye-catching fee.

3 Elliot Anderson £35m to Nottingham Forest, 2024

Elliot Anderson’s big-money move to Nottingham Forest may read £35m in the transfer books, but with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading to St James’ Park from the City Ground for £20m, the true value of the deal is up for debate.

It was a transfer that helped the Magpies and the Reds when it came to the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, with Anderson a homegrown academy product and therefore representing pure profit.

2 Andy Carroll £35m to Liverpool, 2011

Also bringing in an official £35m transfer fee – without the complications – was Andy Carroll’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool.

The boyhood Magpies fan impressed after coming through the club’s academy and sealed a deadline-day move to Anfield in January 2011. Carroll would only spend 18 months with Liverpool, moving on loan to West Ham in the summer of 2012, where he stayed for a number of years before briefly returning to Tyneside on a free in 2019.

1 Alexander Isak £125m to Liverpool, 2025

14 years on from Carroll’s deadline day move to Anfield, Alexander Isak also swapped St James’ Park for the Reds in a British record £125m deal.

Isak went on strike at Newcastle for weeks and eventually got what he wanted with a move to Liverpool, with his transfer going through on the final day of the summer window. The Magpies did bring two forwards in with the Isak money in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

Chelsea signed the OG Pedro under Poch, now he's been sold for a big loss

If we just ignore the minor injury crisis, this looks set to be an incredibly exciting campaign for Chelsea.

Granted, Enzo Maresca’s side did drop points in their Premier League season opener, but back-to-back wins against London competition have proven that they’re a better team than last year.

That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, though, as the Blues made a host of brilliant signings over the summer, including Joao Pedro, who already looks more than settled.

That said, Todd Boehly and Co will hope he keeps up the good form as they’ve already made a significant loss on someone who’s been compared to him.

Joao Pedro's start to life at Chelsea

Chelsea were quick to sign Pedro this summer, paying Brighton & Hove Albion around £60m and bringing him in before the end of the Club World Cup campaign.

It was a good thing they did, as the Brazilian made an instant impact, scoring three goals in three appearances in the competition, including one in the final against Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain.

His brilliant form continued into pre-season with a couple of goals against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, before his first blank in the season opener against Crystal Palace.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro

However, you can’t keep such an incredible player down for too long, and away to West Ham United, the former Watford ace got back up and running with a headed goal, and then he grabbed another goal at home to Fulham on Saturday.

In all, it’s hard to think of another signing in the Premier League this season who has got off to as good a start as the prolific forward has.

It’s not just the goals either, as the 23-year-old dynamo has also provided two assists in the league so far, and his overall play makes him stand out wherever he is on the pitch.

Interestingly, Chelsea signed a player who has been compared to Pedro, but instead of him becoming a success in West London, he was just sold for a sizable loss.

Chelsea's former Pedro

Given the number of players Chelsea have signed over the years, it’s no surprise that they’ve had more than their fair share of duds.

Where Are They Now

Yet, unlike many teams, the Blues are remarkably good at either minimising their losses on these players or even making a small profit on them.

Unfortunately, that did not happen with Christopher Nkunku.

The French international joined the Blues under former boss Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around £52m, and after two disappointing years in West London, was sold for up to £36m to AC Milan this summer.

While that isn’t too bad a fee to get for the player, it does represent a £16m loss, which is quite sizable for a player who has been compared to Pedro.

Yes, the former RB Leipzig gem, who could only muster a tally of 18 goals and five assists in 62 appearances for the Blues, has been likened to Maresca’s new star.

The comparison stems from FBref, which has concluded that the new Milan man was the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the former Brighton ace in the Premier League last season.

We can see how such a conclusion was reached by delving into some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked so closely.

These include metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.51

0.49

Key Passes

1.39

1.37

Shot-Creating Actions

3.32

3.32

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.39

Ball Recoveries

2.73

2.84

These numbers do suggest that the underwhelming Frenchman is still a talented attacker, but just someone who could not get to grips with life in the Premier League and turn good underlying numbers into concrete results.

Away from the stats, the other similarity between the two players is their ability to start in various positions, from up top to out wide and even in attacking midfield.

Esperance Sportive de Tunis' Onuche Ogbelu in action with Chelsea's ChristopherNkunku

Ultimately, Pedro looks like the real deal for Chelsea, and while there is always a chance things don’t work out, it feels like he’ll succeed where Nkunku failed.

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 3, 2025

Kemar Roach back at Surrey for start of Championship

Kemar Roach, the West Indies fast bowler, will return to Surrey for his fifth consecutive season of County Championship cricket after signing a deal to play in the first four rounds.Roach has taken 93 wickets at 25.60 in 28 first-class appearances for Surrey, the defending champions, playing a key role in the club’s three consecutive title wins. He will be available for the season-opener against Essex, starting next Friday, as well as games against Hampshire, Sussex and Somerset.”I’ve enjoyed every moment of my time with Surrey over the last four years and I’m excited to join up with the team again,” Roach said.Related

  • Rory Burns reaps the benefit as Surrey set sights on four in a row

  • Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson ready to have it all – again

  • Dan Lawrence still has shots to play after missing his Test opening

“The Kia Oval is my second home and the environment led by Alec Stewart, Gareth Batty and Rory Burns is one of the best I’ve been a part of. I’m looking forward to contributing to more success for Surrey in whatever way that I can.”Roach’s arrival adds further depth to a bowling attack that has been strengthened by the signing of Matt Fisher from Yorkshire over the offseason, with New Zealand allrounder Nathan Smith also due to join the club from May.Alec Stewart, Surrey’s high performance cricket advisor, said: “Kemar has been a big part of our dressing room in the last four years and it is great to have him back. His quality, work ethic, and commitment to the club speak for itself.”I am confident he will once again play an important role at the start of this season, and the group is looking forward to working with him again.”

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