Premier League
Tottenham’s Summer Statement: Xavi Simons and a Clear Creative Plan
Simons’ £51.8m move gives Tottenham a marketable, creative spark capable of changing their attack. .
Tottenham’s late-window capture of Xavi Simons felt like the conclusion of a hectic transfer saga and the start of a different approach. The club completed a £51.8 million ($70 million) deal for a 22-year-old who arrived with a high profile from early youth days at La Masia.
Simons was already widely known long before his senior breakthrough. He had a million Instagram followers and a Nike deal by the time he was 14, developing a reputation as the “boy with golden curls”. His senior path has taken him to Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig and included a hugely successful loan at PSV Eindhoven. He can speak six languages and has recorded 63 goal contributions over the past three seasons.
The move came after a summer in which Tottenham showed clear ambition. The club opened business with West Ham United over Mohammed Kudus and pursued Forest captain Gibbs-White, only for Evangelos Marinakis to keep his skipper at the City Ground. Arsenal’s move for Eze under Daniel Levy’s nose, and the collapse of other targets, left Thomas Frank with a creative void after James Maddison’s ACL tear in Seoul and Dejan Kulusevski’s expected absence until the new year.
Chelsea were reported as rivals for Simons, a reminder of how often the Blues have targeted high-profile talent. The draft also recalled earlier Chelsea swings for Eden Hazard and Willian that Tottenham failed to convert. Still, BlueCo’s market activity allowed Spurs to sign Simons, a player who can be both a marketable face and a footballing solution.
Frank will ask Simons to add invention and unpredictability to an attack that has relied on Pape Matar Sarr’s pressing and Kudus’s ball retention. Simons is not an elite athlete, but he excels in transition and tight spaces and the manager has said he can “unlock defences”. The player himself sees the move as right for his development, calling Frank the “right coach” to advance a game defined by moments of magic.
For supporters, Simons’ unveiling offered a rare sense of uplift: a talent of this profile rarely ends up at Tottenham, and the club will now expect him to deliver both on and off the pitch.
Manchester United
Amorim Sticks with Altay for Manchester Derby as Injuries Bite
Amorim confirms Altay starts the derby; Cunha, Mount and Dalot ruled out as United juggle injuries .
Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Altay Bayındır will continue as Manchester United’s starting goalkeeper for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.
Amorim set out the selection as a balance between the present and the future. Contributing to Onana’s decision to leave was the summer arrival of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth £18.2 million ($24.7 million). Hopes are incredibly high for the 23-year-old but Amorim is prepared to be patient when it comes to his involvement in the team.
“Altay is going to continue,” Amorim told his pre-match press conference. “It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“We are also in the moment that we have to look at the present, but also with a focus on the future. [Lammens] is a guy with great potential, that is one more option to play. We believe a lot in our goalkeepers. I believe in Altay. He’s ready to play.”
Amorim also confirmed limitations in his attacking options for Sunday. Matheus Cunha has not recovered since being forced off against Burnley before the international break. Mason Mount is also unavailable after picking up an injury in the same game. Right back Diogo Dalot has been sent home from Portugal duty with a muscle injury and is another addition to the treatment room.
“They are out for this game,” Amorim confessed. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take. We need those guys to be a very, very competitive team. We have very good players that are eager to play. So we will be competitive on Sunday.
“I don’t want to say [how long] because if you talk with Cunha, if you catch Cunha outside, he will say that he can play this game. So I don’t know. We will manage day by day. But they are pushing really hard.”
Manchester United
Amorim Confirms Altay as United’s Derby Starter; Three Players Miss Out
Amorim picks Altay for derby and confirms Cunha, Mount and Dalot will miss Sunday Manchester clash.
Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Altay Bayındır will remain Manchester United’s starting goalkeeper for Sunday’s derby with Manchester City.
Amorim framed the goalkeeper decision in terms of experience and adaptation, while acknowledging a longer-term view for the club’s options between the sticks. Contributing to Onana’s decision to leave was the summer arrival of Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth £18.2 million ($24.7 million). Hopes are incredibly high for the 23-year-old but Amorim is prepared to be patient when it comes to his involvement in the team.
“Altay is going to continue,” Amorim told his pre-match press conference. “It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“We are also in the moment that we have to look at the present, but also with a focus on the future. [Lammens] is a guy with great potential, that is one more option to play. We believe a lot in our goalkeepers. I believe in Altay. He’s ready to play.”
Amorim also confirmed Manchester United will be without several attacking options for the derby. Matheus Cunha has not recovered since being forced off against Burnley before the international break. Mason Mount is also unavailable after picking up an injury in the same game. Right back Diogo Dalot has been added to the treatment room after being sent home from Portugal duty with a muscle injury.
“They are out for this game,” Amorim confessed. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take. We need those guys to be a very, very competitive team. We have very good players that are eager to play. So we will be competitive on Sunday.
“I don’t want to say [how long] because if you talk with Cunha, if you catch Cunha outside, he will say that he can play this game. So I don’t know. We will manage day by day. But they are pushing really hard.”
Chelsea FC
Chelsea Confirm Agreement to Sign Emanuel Emegha as Forward Move Is Finalised
Chelsea have confirmed Emanuel Emegha will join from Strasbourg; a seven-year deal is reported. Club
Chelsea have confirmed a deal has been struck to sign Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha. The club initially framed the transfer as a commitment for the 2026 summer transfer window, but that commitment was evidently further advanced than first suggested: Chelsea say Emegha will join Stamford Bridge at the end of the current season.
Emegha, 22, joined Strasbourg in 2023 in a transfer worth €13 million (£11.2 million, $15.2 million) and quickly became an important player for the BlueCo-owned side. His debut season produced nine goals across all competitions. The 2024–25 campaign represented a clear step forward, registering 14 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances under the management of Liam Rosenior and generating significant transfer interest during the recent window.
Strasbourg had been firm that there would be no move for Emegha as links to Chelsea began to circulate, yet the player has now put pen to paper with the Blues. No details of a transfer fee have been disclosed, but Fabrizio Romano states a seven-year contract has been signed.
Emegha is the second player to move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in the same period, following centre back Mamadou Sarr. Sarr travelled to the Club World Cup with the Blues but is back with Rosenior’s side on loan this season. Two other Chelsea-linked players, Mike Penders and Kendry Páez, are also spending time at Strasbourg on loan. Strasbourg sit sixth in Ligue 1 after three games of the current campaign.
The agreement closes a chapter of speculation and sets a clear path for Emegha to integrate with Chelsea following the end of the ongoing season.
