“We play night games in domestic cricket. It got me used to such conditions,” says Haider after his impressive spell of 3 for 7 in series-decider

Mohammad Isam22-May-2025Haider Ali turned to an old-school method to prepare for Sharjah’s infamous dew: dipping the cricket ball in a bucket of water and practising with it. The tactic worked like a charm on Wednesday night as the left-arm spinner starred with figures of 3 for 7, helping UAE seal a historic 2-1 T20I series victory against Bangladesh.Dew, a well-known factor in night games in the UAE, hadn’t shown up in the first two T20Is. But it arrived early in the third and deciding match. Unlike many bowlers on both sides who struggled for grip and control, Haider was ready. He said that the experience of having played in Sharjah under lights helped him.”There was dew from the first over,” Haider said after the game. “It usually sets in a little later in the game. But we were prepared for it. We have played in Sharjah a lot. I practice a lot with the wet ball. You have to get used to bowling with the wet ball if you want to perform here. You have to dunk the ball in a bucket of water and then bowl with it. We play night games in domestic cricket. It got me used to such conditions.”Related

Five reasons Bangladesh couldn't pass the UAE test

Haider and Sharafu lead UAE to historic series win against Bangladesh

Haider's miserly spell and a record chase in UAE's series win

Making his T20I debut in this series, Haider had gone wicketless in the first two matches. But in the decider, he delivered right from the start. He dismissed batters Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy within his first three balls, then removed Mahedi Hasan in his next over, reducing Bangladesh to 49 for 4.His spell – tight, aggressive, and accurate – set the tone for UAE’s dominance with the ball. Haider credited his mindset shift for the turnaround.”The series was level at one-all. I saw in the previous games that if I was being a little defensive with the ball, runs were leaking from the other end,” he said. “After talking to the coaching staff, I decided that I will be aggressive in my bowling in this game. There was a lot of dew around, so the pitch had softened, which actually helped me. I could put together a good spell. The team needed my contribution.”We decided to stick to the plan we made before the game. The plan was obviously to win the game at any cost. We decided that I will bowl aggressively, like I do in the ILT20 or domestic cricket. I wank to thank all those people who have supported me in the last 12 months, especially my domestic teams who have helped me practice on these wickets.”.Haider was especially proud of dismissing Litton, whom he called “a big wicket.””He has performed all over the world,” Haider said. “He was also my debut wicket. He can build partnerships and take the game away from you. Waseem bhai and I decided to attack him. We thought, ‘we shouldn’t be bowling defensive lines to him. If we can get him out early, we can deprive them of an early big partnership’.”Bangladesh recovered from 84 for 8 to post a competitive 162 for 9, but UAE chased it down, thanks to an unbeaten 68 from No. 3 Alishan Sharafu.That apart, the 2-1 series win is a huge boost for UAE, as they head into a crucial year, having qualified for the Asia Cup.”The UAE cricket board and our management supported the players a lot,” Haider said. “I would like to thank them for the series victory. Bangladesh is a Test-playing nation, but UAE played really well in this series. The victory will boost the players, and it will boost our confidence in tournaments like the Asia Cup.”

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has months to prepare for the January transfer window after a very busy summer, and one of the key items on his agenda will be to raise money through player sales.

Arsenal under pressure to sell after busy summer

The Gunners, after completing eight key deals totalling over £250 million, only brought in around £9 million in return — thereby finishing the summer with a seismic net spend of around £246 million.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

It was a pivotal window for Berta which showcased the Italian’s natural flare as a proven deal-maker, with insiders behind-the-scenes nicknaming him a ‘club agent’—partly due to his expertise in facilitating transfers (The Athletic).

Mikel Arteta was backed with the signings of experienced back-up keeper Kepa, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and proven goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres, but most of the club’s outgoings brought in zero fees.

Big names like Kieran Tierney, Jorginho and Thomas Partey were allowed to leave as free agents, and that has perhaps pressured the club to balance their sheet with outgoing transfers next year.

Berta has some key decisions to make, as the exit-linked Gabriel Martinelli shined in Bilbao after coming off the bench to score and assist in a 2-0 Champions League win on Tuesday, showing Arteta that the Brazilian could still have a major role to play.

Leandro Trossard has also contributed when called upon with goals and assists from the bench in his last two games, right after the Belgian was awarded a new contract and pay rise with no extension.

Arsenal’s options to sell in lucrative deals are running thin, and Berta will bear in mind that the Premier League’s PSR rules only allow losses of £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

Arsenal "ready" to sell Gabriel Jesus with January exit possible

One of the senior stars who could raise some cash is £265,000-per-week striker Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazil international is still working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in an FA Cup defeat to Man United last season, with the presence of Gyokeres and Kai Havertz pushing him far down Arteta’s pecking order.

According to ex-Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well-connected in the game, Berta is ready to sell Jesus and an Arsenal exit could happen as early as January.

Since joining Arteta’s side from Man City in 2022, Jesus has bagged 26 goals and 20 assists in 96 appearances, and that kind of return wasn’t enough to spearhead Arsenal to a Premier League title after three consecutive second-placed league finishes.

Now, summer signing Gyokeres has hit the ground running with three goals in five appearances, and he’s showcasing the type of proficiency which Arsenal have seriously lacked up front for years — even if there are concerns that the Swede isn’t a big-game player (Gary Neville).

The FIFPRO World 11 is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers

The FIFPRO Women’s World 11 is voted upon annually by the best players in the modern game. Dating back to 2015, the award celebrates footballing excellence on the global level.

The 2025 awards will mark the 10th edition, and will be announced Nov. 3. The 11 players who receive the most votes at their position are selected for the FIFPRO World 11, to be announced on Nov. 3. Players from 70 countries have voted for the 2025 Men’s World 11 and Women’s World 11.

Here is a look back at every previous squad, with global superstars such as Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Sam Kerr, Aitana Bonmati and more, all taking centerstage.

FIFPRO2024

Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United/PSG)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)

Forwards: Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid), Lauren James (Chelsea), Marta (Brazil)

AdvertisementFIFPRO World 112023

Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (England)

Defenders: Olga Carmona (Spain), Alex Greenwood (England), Lucy Bronze (England)

Midfielders: Keira Walsh (England), Aitana Bonmati (Spain), Ella Toone (England)

Forwards: Alessia Russo (England), Alex Morgan (USA), Sam Kerr (Australia), Lauren James (England)

FIFPRO World 112022

Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Chile)

Defenders: Maria Leon (Spain), Wendie Renard (France), Leah Williamson (England), Lucy Bronze (England)

Midfielders: Alexia Putellas (Spain), Keira Walsh (England), Lena Oberdorf (Germany)

Forwards: Alex Morgan (USA), Sam Kerr (Australia), Beth Mead (England)

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FIFPRO World 112021

Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Chile)

Defenders: Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden), Wendie Renard (France), Millie Bright (England), Lucy Bronze (England)

Midfielders: Barbara Bonansea (Italy), Carli Lloyd (USA), Estefania Banini (Argentina)

Forwards: Marta (Brazil), Alex Morgan (USA), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)

Even though they have received plenty of criticism for it over the years, Chelsea’s transfer policy has seen them build a squad full of exceptionally talented youngsters.

The club might not be ready to challenge for a Premier League title this season, but over the next few years, as their youngsters become increasingly comfortable, they could be a real force in all competitions.

One of the players who looks like he could be a genuine superstar for the West Londoners is Estevao, who was sensational against Liverpool on Saturday.

However, Chelsea have already got their hands on another incredible prospect who could end up being an even bigger talent than the 18-year-old.

Estevao's brilliant performance against Liverpool

It should be said that Estevao’s brilliant display against Liverpool on the weekend didn’t come as much of a surprise to Chelsea fans and those who have been watching them this season.

After all, while he hadn’t scored before the game, he had made a couple of impressive cameos off the bench against the likes of Crystal Palace and Benfica.

Moreover, in his first start for the club, against West Ham United, he was near-enough unplayable and, thanks to some silky movement and technical brilliance, provided his first assist for Joao Pedro.

However, even then, it can’t be denied that his efforts against Arne Slot’s side felt far more significant and like a real statement to the rest of the league.

He only came on in the 75th minute, but once he was on the pitch, it was impossible to ignore him.

Granted, a lot of what he tried didn’t actually come off for him, but the fact that he attempted three dribbles, played two key passes, and was accurate in two of his three crosses in just a little over 20 minutes of action is hugely impressive.

He made Andy Robertson’s life miserable in the closing moments of the game and then, thanks to his awareness and positioning, was in the right place at the right time to poke home the winner.

Daniel Sturridge summed it up well after the game when he said the teenage gem “came on and was absolutely top draw.”

In all, Estevao looks destined to reach the very top of the game, but Chelsea have already signed another sensational prospect who might just be an even bigger talent.

Chelsea's bigger talent than Estevao

In good news for Chelsea fans, there are a few genuinely exciting youngsters set to join the squad next summer, including Denner, Geovany Quenda, and Kenry Paez.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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However, when it comes to someone who might be a bigger talent than Estevao, only one name comes to mind: Dastan Satpayev.

The Blues secured a deal for the Kazakhstani forward in February, but as he was 16 at the time and is now 17, he has to wait another season before he can move to West London.

However, that might not actually be such a bad thing, as he’s been getting plenty of game time with Kairat Almaty in recent campaigns and making quite the impression.

For example, in 27 appearances last season, totalling 1908 minutes, the young phenom scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 95.4 minutes.

Satpayev’s 24/25

Appearances

27

Minutes

1908′

Goals

13

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

Minutes per Goal Involvement

95.4′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So far this season, the Almaty-born ace has scored three goals and provided one assist in nine games, seven of which have been qualifiers for the Champions League, with the other two being in the competition proper.

The hype surrounding the forward is no joke, with one analyst going as far as calling him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and, as if that wasn’t enough pressure, “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”

Finally, the 17-year-old is not just impressing at club level, but also on the international stage.

After producing five goal involvements in ten games for Kazakhstan’s U17 side, and then making one appearance for the U21s, he has already won five senior caps, two of which have come against Wales.

Ultimately, Estevao is the man of the moment and appears destined for greatness, but it seems that Satpayev will follow a very similar path in a year’s time and could even surpass him.

Related Moises Caicedo tells Chelsea fans where he ranks himself compared to Kante

The Blues midfielder scored a stunning goal as his side went on to defeat Liverpool.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Oct 6, 2025

Well, that might not have been the perfect start to Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure as West Ham United boss, but it wasn’t far off.

The Hammers faced the difficult task of taking on a dangerous Everton side away from home on Monday night, and while they didn’t win, they also didn’t lose.

It was that man, Jarrod Bowen, who levelled the score for the East Londoners in the second half, and they looked more likely to score a winner than the Toffees.

Several West Ham starters put in a good showing on the night, but two stood out in particular, including Crysencio Summerville.

Summerville's eye-catching performance

Monday night was Summerville’s third start on the bounce for West Ham, and while he did earn two assists in his eight-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest last month, it was his best performance of the campaign.

Chalkboard

The former Leeds United star did make a few mistakes here and there, but was arguably as good, if not better, than Bowen, even if the Englishman managed to get on the scoresheet.

The Dutchman was a constant threat on the left, using his rapid pace, intricate close control and agility to make life nightmarishly difficult for Jake O’Brien from minute one.

On another night, the 23-year-old would have opened his account for the season when Jordan Pickford pulled off a brilliant reaction save from an incredibly close-range effort.

It wasn’t just us who were left seriously impressed with the winger, though, as Sky Sports awarded him the man of the match, and when you look at his statistics, it’s easy to see why.

Minutes

77′

Expected Goals

0.42

Expected Assists

0.12

Touches

55

Accurate Passes

27/29 (93%)

Key Passes

1

Shots on Target

1

Successful Dribbles

3

Ground Duels (Won)

8 (5)

Fouls Won

2

Clearances

3

Shots Blocked

1

In his 77 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assist figure of 0.54, took 55 touches, completed 93% of his passes, played one key pass, completed three dribbles, won five of eight ground duels, won two fouls, made three clearances and even blocked a shot.

In all, Summerville put in a performance that should have fans very excited about what he could do this season, just like one of his teammates.

Nuno's stand-out West Ham star

Now, while Bowen certainly deserves his fair share of praise for the goal he scored, everyone is already well aware of just how good he is.

El Hadji Malick Diouf might have been something of an unknown quantity to those non-West Ham fans who were watching – well, not anymore.

The former Slavia Prague gem was an absolute monster all night, bombing up and down the pitch with his, as one analyst put it, “explosive acceleration” that makes him so difficult to defend against.

The 20-year-old didn’t get himself an assist on the night, but it felt like every time he got forward in the second half, he would deliver a sensational cross into the penalty area with such whip and venom that, had someone got on the end of it, the Hammers would have scored another goal.

Moreover, Bowen’s goal came about thanks to Everton failing to deal with one of these crosses.

What made his deliveries so impressive was the fact that, a couple of times, he didn’t even stop to look or regain his balance; he’d just burst into space, wallop the ball with an immense amount of power, and it’d land in an extremely dangerous area.

It’s things like this that justify Sky Sports’ Joe Thomlinson calling the Senegalese star an “astonishingly good footballer and athlete” and another analyst making the bold claim that he’s “one of the best fullbacks in the league.”

Ultimately, while they didn’t get the win, West Ham looked like a far better team under Nuno on Monday night, and that is largely down to Summerville and Diouf making the left-hand side so much more dangerous.

Nuno can instantly win fans over by dropping Kilman for West Ham "animal"

West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo could immediately get supporters onside by dropping Max Kilman.

ByDan Emery Sep 28, 2025

Steven Gerrard was keen to avoid entering a “really tough” situation after being approached for the Rangers job after the sacking of Russell Martin. The Liverpool legend was at the top of the Scottish side’s shortlist for replacements, having already had a successful spell in Glasgow. But after the club’s poor start to the season, the Premier League icon opted not to take the risk.

• Gerrard unwilling to take Rangers risk

  Rangers have had a disastrous start to their 2025-26 campaign, winning just one of their opening seven Scottish Premiership matches. It has left the powerhouses in a difficult situation, sitting 11 points off the top spot and already at a huge disadvantage in the title race.

  With the club unwilling to give Martin – who had previously been in charge at Southampton – time to rectify his bumpy beginning to life in Scotland, they instead turned to Gerrard. The ex-midfielder was in charge between 2018-2021, halting a formidable Celtic side to claim a league title before departing for Aston Villa.

  Reports claim Gerrard was interested in returning to Ibrox, but ultimately opted against risking his immaculate reputation with the hardcore fans in the north.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Nevin: ‘I feel sorry for the board’

  Former Scotland star Pat Nevin can see the logic behind Gerrard’s decision, and claims it will be incredibly difficult to draft in a top manager after the start Rangers have made.

  Speaking to OLBG, he said: “Steven Gerrard's the last one that won a title and it stopped Celtic doing the ten titles in a row. So he's literally as good as anyone else and he's certainly got a tune out of that team that season.

  “I feel sorry for the board because when you look elsewhere it's tough. It's really, really tough to get a top manager because when you come into Rangers, it's not just Russell Martin.

  “You're behind the eight ball already. When you walk in, they're so far behind the league just now. The expectation is, if you got second this season, even from so far behind, people will still be a bit grumpy with you.

  “I understand that, they've got high standards. But the amount of managers that have gone in there and come out and been trashed, absolutely trashed. And there's no win for it. Celtic typically have so much more money.

  “Celtic have got a base there. Celtic can go and blow Rangers out of the water with money just now if they want, (but) they're not. They've got plenty in the bank they can use. There's all sorts of stuff that Celtic have got in place.

  “Rangers have got this team that's been built by a whole bunch of different managers. And I go to see Celtic-Rangers games a lot and you think, so who's playing for Rangers now? And that's not what you want.“

• Rangers can turn you into a laughing stock

  The 28-cap international also admitted that Rangers could turn any manager into a laughing stock, a likely reason why Gerrard was unwilling to return.

  He added: “You want a core that's going through that you believe in and you trust in. They've actually made one or two good signings, Bojan Miovski was a good signing this season.

  “But you can go in there and as a manager, a well-respected manager, and come out as a laughing stock. And that's maybe what's happened with Stevie G this time. Because remember, Stevie G needs a job. He needs a profile, again, after what's happened to him.

  “So Stevie turned that down, that's not because he doesn't want to be Rangers manager, he'd like to be Rangers manager. He’s looking at them and thinking, ‘ooh, I don't know about that’.

  “If he's saying that, some of the other very top ones will say the same. So whoever it is that comes now, it’s really tough.”

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• Getty
  

  The hunt for a new coach continues

  Rangers return to action on Saturday when they face Dundee United, one of the four teams below them in the table. With no permanent manager in place, the club continue to run the risk of falling further behind their rivals, a situation the board will want to avoid at all costs. Rangers also remain in the Europa League, having failed to progress from their Champions League play-off. If they are to make any progress in Europe this season, they will need to make the right decision when it comes to replacing Martin.

When Liverpool signed Luis Suarez from Dutch giants Ajax in January 2011, there was a general acceptance that a deal was possible because Europe’s leading clubs, of which Liverpool were not one in that former phase, were dissuaded by his conduct.

Suarez, now 38 and playing Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, will retire as one of the most decorated and greatest strikers of his generation. He will be remembered by many for his incredible goalscoring record and mesmeric movements and ability to blend with attacking teammates.

But he will also be remembered for his volatile and aggressive nature. Suarez plays with his heart on his sleeve, but not always in a sporting fashion. He is both bark and bite.

Even so, he was a superstar for Liverpool, and many others besides. Trumping him would take some doing at number nine, and for all their success under Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, it is something the Reds have not achieved yet.

Well, not until this summer. Now, Liverpool may have not one but two new centre-forwards capable of emulating the Uruguayan’s Premier League legacy.

Liverpool's new strikers

Meet Liverpool’s new strikers. Hugo Ekitike has already familiarised himself with the Anfield crowd, scoring three goals and supplying an assist across his first three matches for the club.

Liverpool won a charged race for his signature, beating off a number of competitors, notably Newcastle United, to sign the French forward in a £69m deal, plus £10m in add-ons.

And he’s repaying the faith. Ekitike looks at home in the Premier League, leading the line. Still only 23, perhaps the most exciting part is that Ekitike has so much potential, and there’s little question that FSG have hit the jackpot, even given his lofty price tag.

Aleander Isak hardly needs an introduction. Liverpool signed Newcastle’s star striker in a British record £125m deal on transfer deadline day, ending a month of speculation that was as contentious as it was compelling.

The Sweden international scored 27 goals across all competitions in 2024/25 and won the Carabao Cup, scoring as Eddie Howe’s side beat Liverpool at Wembley.

Erling Haaland is the only player to have scored at a more clinical rate in the Premier League since Isak left Real Sociedad in Spain and joined Newcastle for £63m. Even Mohamed Salah, in all his brilliance, hasn’t provided the same frequency.

PL Top Scorers (22/23 to 25/26)
Player	Apps	Goals (rate)
Erling Haaland	101	90 (0.89)
Mohamed Salah	112	68 (0.61)
Alexander Isak	86	54 (0.63)
Ollie Watkins	112	50 (0.45)
Chris Wood	96	39 (0.41)
Bryan Mbeumo	105	39 (0.37)
Data via Transfermarkt

No doubt, Isak hopes to leave a legacy comparable to that of Suarez, and Ekitike will too. However, Liverpool’s new version of the South American star is actually another member of Slot’s squad.

Liverpool's new version of Suarez

Suarez was a maverick, a game-changer. Rarely has the Premier League seen such boundless quality in one man, and he almost single-handedly dragged Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool to the top-flight title in 2013/14, scoring 31 goals and assisting 13 more as he plied a campaign for the ages.

But he didn’t quite hit the ground running a few years earlier, when he joined from Ajax. Suarez scored off the bench on his Premier League debut, netting against Stoke City in a 2-0 win.

Then the goalscorer would go on to bag just once across his first eight starting appearances in the competition. The circumstances differ, but this curious fact could be applied to contextualise the slow start of Florian Wirtz.

Wirtz, 22, joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a record-breaking £116m fee that was swiftly superseded by Isak. The attacking midfielder is one of the most talented footballers in the world and has earned acclaim for his performances in his German homeland.

Fleet feet and a sharp assist for Ekitike in the Community Shield issued a solemn warning to the rest of English football, but four games into the league campaign, the £195k-per-week talent has yet to break his duck.

Journalist Declan Carr conceded that the marquee arrival “has struggled since joining Liverpool”, but there is little reason for concern. As journalist Sam McGuire noted, he is a “statistical unicorn” – a “final third freak”.

Devastating in the Bundesliga and equally as mesmerising across his exploits in the Champions League, Wirtz has proven himself on every stage, and in spite of his relative struggles so far, data from Sofascore reveals that he is averaging two key passes per game for Liverpool, also winning 50% of his ground duels and completing 60% of his dribbles.

In a similar way, Suarez was always going to be a star on Merseyside. Perhaps he outgrew his reputation and potential, becoming one of the best to do it, but still, the forward just needed a bit of time to find his feet.

Suarez might not have made the fastest start in Premier League history, but he played and fought and won like a man possessed once he got going.

And Wirtz carries himself with the air of the footballing elite. You can see it when he takes a deft touch, scans and rolls his way through and into space. There’s a tenacity in his play and an undercurrent which is just waiting to erupt.

Has it been a disappointing start? Perhaps. Wirtz has not been bad, by any stretch, but those who expected him to set the English game aflame from the get-go would be forgiven, as he cost a significant sum, after all.

But Wirtz is young and adapting to a new league; Liverpool, let’s not forget, are adapting to a new system, and have emerged from a summer transfer window characterised by upheaval and change.

It is a matter of when, not if, and if Wirtz keeps on as he has been, he will soon find himself playing with all the gusto of Suarez in his Liverpool prime, and the plaudits will follow.

The new Rooney: Liverpool already sold Salah's heir in "world-class" talent

Liverpool have so much attacking quality but might come to regret selling this star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 13, 2025

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.

While Leeds United fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss on the road at Fulham on Saturday, Sunderland battled to a hard-fought draw at nearby Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have only lost one of their opening four matches in the league, too, with this battling draw away at Selhurst Park the first point picked up on their travels, which will surely only boost the confidence even more as they bid to beat the drop.

Granit Xhaka impressed once more from the middle of the park as Sunderland’s warrior centrally, with the decision to instantly gift the ex-Arsenal man the captain’s armband appearing to be a masterstroke.

Xhaka's performance in numbers vs Palace

The Swiss enforcer joining the building for £17m this summer did look to be a mightily impressive pick-up before the football had even got underway. After all, this is a player who had once scored nine and assisted seven goals in a solitary campaign for Arsenal.

Now, it certainly looks to be a top purchase for a Sunderland side attempting to make survival look a breeze.

Indeed, Xhaka backed up a standout performance against Brentford, which saw him pick up an assist, with a far more attritional effort away at the Eagles.

Indeed, alongside Robin Roefs heroically keeping the ball out of his net with six big saves, Xhaka would come up trumps, rolling his sleeves up and doing the dirty work, winning a high ten duels and completing eight clearances, meaning Palace were limited in their approach.

However, Xhaka wasn’t the only one figure after the dust had settled on the hard-fought draw that was receiving many a plaudit, with a new recruit defensively sticking out, having been heralded as an “unreal” bit of business by journalist Michael Graham after the full-time whistle was blown.

Le Bris' biggest coup after Xhaka

It was expected that Xhaka was going to be a success, considering the 32-year-old already had a mammoth 225 Premier League games in his back pocket.

On the contrary, Nordi Mukiele might well have been viewed as needing more time to acclimatise to the tough division, having only ever plied his trade in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, before making the late switch to England this summer.

However, it’s clear from his opening two games in the heart of Le Bris’ defence that the Frenchman was born for the fight of the Premier League.

Minutes played

90

90

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

84

72

Accurate passes

49/55 (89%)

43/50 (86%)

Clearances

9

7

Total tackles

5

2

Total duels won

12/16

3/4

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that adding Mukiele for just £12m could now go down as a sensational coup on the same level as Xhaka, with a remarkable 15 duels already won by the gritty 27-year-old across his first two near faultless starts.

With just 13 passes misdirected too, it’s clear that the ex-Bayer Leverkusen defender – who would have known Xhaka at the BayArena – is cut out for the tough fight ahead, having reduced Jean Philippe-Mateta, who is revered for being a handful, to just 31 touches of the ball and one paltry duel won at Selhurst Park.

Having previously shone in the Champions League, it shouldn’t be a shock that Mukiele has instantly settled in. The Premier League can be a tricky beast to adjust to, but the early proof indicates that it’s a phenomenal capture.

Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson certainly agrees, with a glowing 9/10 post-match rating handed to the brand new number 20 after he ‘completely shut down’ the threat of Mateta.

With the French defender further heralded as “outstanding” by the aforementioned Graham, the hope will be that both Mukiele and Xhaka can continue to be crucial parts of Le Bris’ machine, as survival is triumphantly secured without any real worries seeping in.

Le Bris could unleash his own Mateta in Sunderland's “one man machine”

Regis Le Bris could unleash Sunderland’s very own Jean-Philippe Mateta for his side’s away test at Crystal Palace.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

T20 Blast champions Gloucestershire have signed D’Arcy Short for their title defence, where he will play alongside his Western Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft.Short is a two-time Big Bash League player of the tournament, and won 23 T20I caps for Australia between 2018 and 2020. He has previously played in the Blast for Durham (2019) and Hampshire (2021) and is due to be available throughout the group stages, which start next week.”I can’t wait to join the reigning Blast winners, Gloucestershire, for the 2025 T20 Vitality Blast,” Short said. “They are a well-run club and I can’t wait to meet the players, the rest of the club, and be a part of their success in 2025.”Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire’s coach, said: “We are so pleased to get D’Arcy over the line… He brings a batting versatility with him, being brilliantly effective from No. 1-6, and offering spin options in the Powerplay and middle. D’Arcy complements everything we are about and [we] can’t wait to get him on board.”Durham, one of Short’s former clubs, have also announced an overseas signing for the Blast, with New Zealand’s James Neesham agreeing a deal which will see him play alongside compatriot Zak Foulkes. Durham will become Neesham’s sixth county, after stints with Derbyshire, Essex, Kent, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.”I am really looking forward to playing for Durham this summer,” he said. “The Vitality Blast is one of my favourite competitions and I have heard good things about the Durham squad. I look forward to getting stuck in with the lads in a few weeks.”Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said: “Jimmy is an experienced international T20 allrounder with a proven track record of delivering performances for New Zealand and in franchise competitions around the world. His ability to influence games either with the bat or ball provides us with a proven matchwinner.”The rearranged IPL dates will affect availability for some players at the start of the Blast. Mitchell Santner, who is playing for Mumbai Indians, is likely to arrive late at Surrey, while Yorkshire and Warwickshire have lost Jonny Bairstow and Richard Gleeson respectively to late replacement deals with the same franchise.Elsewhere, Warwickshire have announced that Australia’s Laura Harris will represent the Bears in the inaugural women’s Blast this year. “I’ve heard fantastic things about the team environment and the passion of the supporters,” Harris said. “I’m eager to get started, contribute on the field, and hopefully play a big role in a successful campaign.”