Hello and welcome to The Athletic's coverage of today's breaking football stories.
Man City have confirmed the signing of Erling Haaland on a five-year deal, while Liverpool have agreed a fee with Benfica for Darwin Nunez and that PSG have reached an agreement with head coach Mauricio Pochettino to part ways ahead of the new season.
We'll keep you updated with all the latest transfers and the news from the Nations League and final World Cup qualifiers.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
June 13, 2022 at 12:43 PM EDT
Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Ajax midfielder Ryan Gravenberch on a five-year deal.
The 20-year-old Netherlands international follows Noussair Mazraoui by swapping Ajax for the Bundesliga champions this summer.
Gravenberch made 103 appearances for Ajax under new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Getty Images)
June 13, 2022 at 11:57 AM EDT
Marcelo said a tearful goodbye to Real Madrid on Monday — but made clear he has no plans to retire and could play against the Spanish club in the near future.
Marcelo, 34, has spent the last 16 years at Real Madrid and departs the Santiago Bernabeu as the most decorated player in the club’s illustrious history.
After signing for the club from Fluminense in 2007 he has won six La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, five Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups and four FIFA Club World Cups.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Getty Images)
June 13, 2022 at 10:36 AM EDT
Manchester United have confirmed their final pre-season game will be up against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, which will also be Erik ten Hag's first match in charge at Old Trafford.
Kick-off will be at 16:00 on Sunday 31 July, which is a day after the first-team take on Atletico Madrid in Olso, Norway.
Football director John Murtough said: “Pre-season is all about preparation and this is a great opportunity for those squad members who may not have featured in some of our earlier Tour and pre-season matches to get valuable minutes on the pitch– and where better to do this than Old Trafford?
“This will be the new manager’s first match at Old Trafford, and I am sure the fans will provide him with a warm welcome."
(Photo – Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
June 13, 2022 at 9:37 AM EDT
Former Juventus and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has signed with Los Angeles Football Club, he announced on Monday. The 37-year-old recently retired from the Italian national team and now joins LAFC after ending his contract with Juventus.
The Athletic first reported that Chiellini would sign an 18-month targeted allocation contract with the Major League Soccer side.
Chiellini has been linked with a move to MLS since last summer after helping Italy win the European Championship. At the time, Chiellini was a free agent and reportedly had strong interest in continuing his career in the United States ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)
June 13, 2022 at 8:07 AM EDT
Chelsea have exercised an option to extend Billy Gilmour’s contract until 2024.
The 21-year-old Scotland international spent last season on loan at Norwich City, where he endured a difficult spell as the club finished bottom of the Premier League table.
Gilmour's deal was set to expire at the end of the upcoming season and, while he faces considerable midfield competition, remains highly rated by Thomas Tuchel.
Full story.
June 13, 2022 at 6:05 AM EDT
Erling Haaland's former club, Borussia Dortmund, have wished the striker a farewell on social media.
Overall, Haaland scored 86 goals and registered 23 assists in 89 games for the German club.
Thanks for the great memories, Erl!
Wishing you the best of luck on your new journey pic.twitter.com/gLpVwKofZo
June 13, 2022 at 5:33 AM EDT
Erling Haaland has admitted Riyad Mahrez encouraged him to make the move to the blue half of Manchester when the pair met on holiday.
"He told me to come to City, so he was right about that!" Haaland said in his City arrival interview. "He talks, he said some good things about the club…"
(Photo: Man City)
June 13, 2022 at 5:08 AM EDT
Confirmation then that Manchester City have signed of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year-deal.
Haaland, who will join the club on July 1, has been speaking to City's website and reckons his new employers' style is "perfect" for him.
“This is a proud day for me and my family,” he said. “I have always watched City and have loved doing so in recent seasons. You can’t help but admire their style of play, it’s exciting and they create a lot of chances, which is perfect for a player like me.
“There are so many world-class players in this squad and Pep is one of the greatest managers of all-time, so I believe I am in the right place to fulfil my ambitions.
“I want to score goals, win trophies and improve as a footballer and I am confident I can do that here. This is a great move for me and I can’t wait to get started in pre-season.”
June 13, 2022 at 5:03 AM EDT
#HaalandAnnounced
Welcome, @ErlingHaaland! 💙https://t.co/qH2Rz7ER3i
June 13, 2022 at 4:44 AM EDT
England manager Gareth Southgate has sent a warning to Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, saying the Manchester United players have "a lot to do" to get back into the frame for the World Cup.
While left-back Luke Shaw is out injured, Rashford and Sancho — who missed the last three games of the Premier League season — have not been selected for form reasons, leaving Harry Maguire as the only United player in the squad for Tuesday's Nations League game against Hungary.
When asked if United's players would be fresher in the coming season without Champions League football to contend with, Southgate told reporters: "We've only got one with us. They've got a lot to do to get back in the squad.
"I think the lower the load then of course the less likely for injuries and the hope that players can be that little bit sharper but there's no way of knowing. Some players are at their best when they're in a rhythm of playing."
Full story.
June 13, 2022 at 4:30 AM EDT
If you're catching up after the weekend, here's what else is done or bubbling away in the transfer world:
June 13, 2022 at 4:19 AM EDT
Benfica plucked Darwin Nunez from the Spanish second division only a year and a half ago but what appealed then — and now, to Liverpool?
The Athletic's Nick Miller and Mark Carey have cast their sharp scouting eyes over Nunez in a must-read piece below…
"He’s 6ft 2in tall, broad-chested and rapid, his size making his pace all the more terrifying for defenders who might consider getting in his way, but he's a very different player to his compatriot and fellow front man Edinson Cavani.
"Despite most frequently playing more centrally, Nunez also plays quite a bit to the left when Benfica set up in a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 formation. Even when he is nominally starting in the middle, he often does much of his good work from the left, operating in what you might call the “Thierry Henry channel” — not a winger, not quite even a wide forward, but drifting in and out of those bits of the pitch where defenders aren’t."
GO FURTHER
Darwin Nunez: The Benfica striker Liverpool are signing and Man Utd wanted
June 13, 2022 at 4:02 AM EDT
Benfica have confirmed their impending sale of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool.
As The Athletic reported at the weekend, Nunez will cost Liverpool an initial €75 million. Benfica added in a statement that the deal could be worth €100 million.
The statement continued: "It is further informed that the aforementioned agreement is dependent on the signing of the player's sports employment contract with Liverpool FC."
Read the full story here
June 13, 2022 at 4:01 AM EDT
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Stick with us throughout the day for the latest from across football.
