The 31-year-old joined Man City from Ligue 1 outfit Monaco for a transfer fee of £43 million in 2017.

Silva has scored 76 goals and registered 77 assists in 451 appearances in his nine-year stay at the club.

The Portuguese international has won 18 trophies at City, including six Premier League titles, One UEFA Champions League trophy, five Carabao Cups, two FA Cups, three FA Community Shields and one FIFA Club World Cup trophy.

Bernardo confirmed the news on his Instagram account, with a heartfelt message to the club and its supporters.

Cityzens,

When I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad 😉

In a few months it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!

To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget. My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I hope you felt that every single game. I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team and I’m pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future.

To the club, Pep, the staff and all my teammates these 9 years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long. The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.

Love you all,
Bernardo.

The post Bernardo Silva set to leave Man City At End of Season appeared first on SportsClub.

The 33-year-old joined the Reds from Serie A side AS Roma back in July 2017 for a transfer fee of £34 million.

Salah has managed to rack up 255 goals and registered 122 assists in 435 appearances across all competitions for the Reds.

The Egyptian has also won eight trophies at the club, including two Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, an FA Cup, one EFL Cup, an FA Community Shield, a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup trophy.

The Reds have since announced he will part ways with the club at the end of the 2025-26 season, calling time on his nine-year stay at Anfield.

“Mohamed Salah is to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career with Liverpool FC at the end of the 2025-26 season,” Liverpool confirmed in a statement.

“The forward has reached an agreement with the Reds that will see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield.

“Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.

“Signed from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, the No.11 has firmly established himself as one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history, helping the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as an FA Community Shield.

“His tally of 255 goals in 435 appearances to date has the Egyptian sitting third on the Reds’ all-time leading goalscorers chart, winning the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions in addition to a host of personal accolades.

“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.”

The post Curtain Falls on Salah’s Liverpool Career as Exit Confirmed appeared first on SportsClub.

The United Strand, as he is known, is close to ending his challenge, which began almost 500 days ago.

Ilett is one step closer to completing the challenge after United secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday to extend their winning run to four matches.

He is now at the final hurdle as United take on West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.

WATCH: Frank Ilett’s latest video head of Man Utd clash against West Ham

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A post shared by Frank Ilett (The United Strand) (@theunitedstrand)

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The round gets underway on Friday evening with Nottingham Forest visiting Wrexham.

The Premier League side go into the tie as favourites, but Wrexham’s strong recent cup runs and the atmosphere at the Racecourse Ground ensure a challenging opening fixture.

Saturday’s programme is packed with traditional third-round contrasts. Leicester City travel to Cheltenham Town, while Wolverhampton Wanderers face a trip to Shrewsbury Town, with the Premier League side looking for some respite in the cup.

Everton host Sunderland, while Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa meet in an all-Premier League clash that stands out as one of the headline fixtures of the round. Chelsea are also on the road, travelling across London to Charlton Athletic later in the evening.

Sunday features another notable away test for a title contender as Arsenal make the trip to Portsmouth. The day also includes a high-profile Premier League meeting at Old Trafford, where Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion, ensuring one top-flight side will exit the competition at this stage.

The third round concludes on Monday night with Liverpool welcoming Barnsley to Anfield, closing the programme under the lights.

All ties will be settled on the day, with extra time and penalties used if scores are level after 90 minutes, as replays are no longer part of the competition at this stage.

The winners will progress to the fourth round, with the draw to follow shortly after the completion of the final match.

FA CUP THIRD ROUND FIXTURES (SOUTH AFRICAN TIME)

Friday, 9 January
21:30 – Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic
21:30 – MK Dons vs Oxford United
21:30 – Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town
21:30 – Wrexham AFC vs Nottingham Forest

Saturday, 10 January
14:15 – Macclesfield FC vs Crystal Palace
14:15 – Everton vs Sunderland
14:15 – Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
14:15 – Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City
17:00 – Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton
17:00 – Stoke City vs Coventry City
17:00 – Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
17:00 – Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
17:00 – Fulham vs Middlesbrough
17:00 – Ipswich Town vs Blackpool
17:00 – Manchester City vs Exeter City
17:00 – Burnley vs Millwall
17:00 – Boreham Wood vs Burton Albion
17:00 – Salford City vs Swindon Town
19:45 – Cambridge United vs Birmingham City
19:45 – Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
19:45 – Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare
19:45 – Bristol City vs Watford
22:00 – Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea

Sunday, 11 January
14:00 – Derby County vs Leeds United
16:00 – Portsmouth vs Arsenal
16:30 – West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers
16:30 – Norwich City vs Walsall
16:30 – Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion
16:30 – Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers
16:30 – Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town
18:30 – Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Monday, 12 January
21:45 – Liverpool vs Barnsley

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Maresca leaves the club after a poor run of results, which has seen him secure just one win in his last seven Premier League matches.

The Italian tactician has won the UEFA Europa Conference titles and the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during his 18 months in charge of Chelsea.

Maresca leaves the club sitting in fifth place in the Premier League standings with 30 points from 19 matches, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

“Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company,” Chelsea released the following statement.

“During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the Club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the Club.

“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the Club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.

“We wish Enzo well for the future.”

The post Chelsea confirm Enzo Maresca’s departure after 18 months appeared first on SportsClub.

Chelsea secured a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City to reach the semi-finals and will play either Arsenal or Crystal Palace after they meet at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Newcastle beat Fulham 2-1 to reach the last four, while City defeated Brentford 2-0 on Wednesday night.

The Blues will be the home side for the first leg at Stamford Bridge, while Newcastle will host City at St James’ Park in their respective first leg.

Carabao Cup Semi-Final Draw In Full:

Newcastle vs Manchester City
Chelsea vs Arsenal or Crystal Palace

The post Newcastle Draw Man City in Carabao Cup Semis as Chelsea Await Opponents appeared first on SportsClub.

RIO NGUMOHA
Club: Liverpool
Age: 17
Position: Left winger
Country of origin: England

Liverpool teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha is a highly promising talent and one of the top prospects in English football. Ngumoha’s rapid rise through the ranks at Liverpool has been nothing short of remarkable. He has already made significant strides in his professional career, having broken into the Reds’ senior team this season. The 17-year-old made history by becoming Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer, and his explosive pace, technical skill, composure in front of goal, and impact on the field, suggest he could potentially become a world-class talent.

IBRAHIM RABBAJ
Club: Chelsea
Age: 16
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country of origin: Morocco

Ibrahim Rabbaj has quickly risen through the ranks at Chelsea and is one of their most exciting prospects. The 16-year-old has already earned comparisons to Lionel Messi due to his exceptional dribbling, quick feet, creativity, and versatility as an attacking midfielder or winger, making him one of the top prospects to watch in the future. Although he has not yet made his senior debut for Chelsea, Rabbaj has the potential to make a difference in the Blues squad if he continues his development.

CLAUDIO ECHEVERRI
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (on loan from Manchester City)
Age: 19
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country of origin: Argentina

Claudio Echeverri is regarded as one of South America’s brightest young playmakers, which secured him a move to Manchester City, but he was loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen to further his development. Echeverri made a name for himself following his impressive performances for River Plate and the Argentina youth team during the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, in which he won the Bronze Boot. Like Ibrahim Rabbaj, Echeverri has also drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi thanks to his close control and strong dribbling ability, vision, and playmaking skill, and his keen eye for goal, which earned him the nickname “El Diablito”.

FRANCESCO CAMARDA
Club: Lecce (on loan from AC Milan)
Age: 17
Position: Centre-forward
Country of origin: Italy

Francesco Camarda has been considered the new golden boy of Italian football and has been compared to legends such as Michael Owen and Filippo Inzaghi. The Italian has already written his name in football’s history books after he became the youngest debutant in Serie A history at 15 years and 260 days and the youngest Italian debutant in the UEFA Champions League. Camarda has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of. He has racked up a reputation for his deadly goal-scoring ability with both feet, his physical presence and aerial threat, and his exceptional ball control.

GEOVANY QUENDA
Club: Sporting CP
Age: 18
Position: Right winger
Country of origin: Portugal

After rising through the ranks at Sporting CP, Geovany Quenda has been labelled as one of Portugal’s best young players. Quenda already has elite dribbling ability, exceptional pace, high football IQ, and versatility to play on the wing and at wing-back, which earned him the crown as the Best Young Player of the 24/25 Portuguese League season The 18-year-old has the potential to become a world-class player, and he will continue his development at Chelsea next season after securing a £40 million move to the Blues.

RODRIGO MORA
Club: FC Porto
Age: 18
Position: Attacking midfield
Country of origin: Portugal

Rodrigo Mora is one of the brightest young talents to come through FC Porto’s academy ranks and is considered a big talent for the future of Portuguese football. The 18-year-old has already broken into the first team but is yet to cement a regular starting berth. Mora has been praised for his overall gameplay, vision, and maturity, and has been compared to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for his goal-scoring and playmaking abilities. However, he has room to grow and improve in the hopes of becoming the next best player for his country.

SVERRE NYPAN
Club: Middlesbrough (on loan from Manchester City)
Age: 18
Position: Central midfield
Country of origin: Norway

Sverre Nypan is considered one of Norway’s top prospects and has been labelled as the ‘next Martin Odegaard’. The 18-year-old completed his move to Manchester City from Rosenborg BK for a deal worth £12.5m, but he was subsequently loaned out to Middlesbrough. The Norwegian already has an exceptional football IQ, likes to dribble with the ball, is known for his technical ability, and is versatile enough to play anywhere in the midfield, whether as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, or false nine. Nypan has the potential to become one of the top midfielders in Europe, having already shown glimpses of elite-level football.

AYYOUB BOUADDI
Club: Lille
Age: 18
Position: Central midfield
Country of origin: France

Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of Europe’s top young talents and has been lighting up the stage in Ligue 1 with Lille. The 18-year-old has been described as the club’s most exciting talent to come through the ranks at Lille since Eden Hazard. Bouaddi made history by becoming the youngest player in Ligue 1 since 1981 and the youngest Lille player to debut in a European club competition. His incredible potential is limitless, and it will be hard for the French outfit to keep their hands on him.

JULIEN DURANVILLE
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Age: 19
Position: Left winger
Country of origin: Belgium

Julien Duranville is one of the most highly rated young players to come out of Belgian football in years. The 19-year-old is already considered a potential contender for future Ballon d’Or awards. Despite several injuries during his time at Borussia Dortmund, Duranville has already proven himself to be a top talent. He has made a number of appearances for Dortmund’s senior team and earned call-ups to the Belgian national team. While Duranville is still in the development stage of his career, he has shown his electric pace, good close control, and tricky dribbling ability with a strong work rate.

FRANCO MASTANTUONO
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 18
Position: Right winger
Country of origin: Argentina

Argentine prodigy Franco Mastantuono has established himself as one of the world’s brightest young talents. The 18-year-old secured a move to Real Madrid during the offseason and has already secured his place in the senior team with some impressive performances for Xabi Alonso’s side. Mastantuono has been described as Argentina’s future. He has already played for the senior national team, where he was given the iconic No.10 jersey, previously worn by Lionel Messi. The Argentine could potentially become one of the world’s best, with his masterful dribbling ability, vision, set-piece ability, and versatility in playing free in an attacking role.

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Now in its fifth consecutive season, the SPORTY LALIGA MVP recognises the deep wealth of African talent across LALIGA, which has a long and storied connection to African football dating back to the 1940s and beyond. Past winners of the award include global stars such as Iñaki Williams (2024, 2025), Samuel Chukwueze (2023) and Yassine Bounou (2022).

Building on this proud legacy, this season’s edition of the SPORTY LALIGA MVP once again partners with official sponsor SPORTY GROUP, one of Africa’s leading sports entertainment and technology brands.

Miguel Puche, Brand Director of Sporty Group, said: “At Sporty Group we are proud to be part of the fifth edition of the SPORTY LALIGA MVP. This award is a celebration of African excellence in one of the world’s most competitive leagues, and a reflection of Sporty Group’s commitment to elevating African talent on the global stage. Through initiatives like this, we aim to inspire the next generation of players and fans who see football not just as a game but as a bridge between continents, cultures, and communities.”

Tresor Penku, Managing Director of LALIGA Africa, said: “The SPORTY LALIGA MVP is more than just an award for us. It embodies LALIGA’s vision to celebrate the deep-rooted and long-lasting connections that football has fostered between Africa and Spain. For decades, African stars have made LALIGA their home, shaping the identity of our league. We’re delighted to be back with the fifth edition of this award, an opportunity to continue recognising the remarkable contribution of these players and engage even more with millions of Spanish football fans across Africa.”

The campaign kicks off this week and will run from December to May 2026. In this initial phase, LALIGA will publish regular special content showcasing the standout performances of African stars and stories of African players past and present, while Sporty TV will feature regular coverage during each of its Monday night shows.

The 20 nominees will be announced in March, after which a two-fold voting process will open between 13 March and 10 May to determine the winner. The first will involve an expert jury of 25 leading sports journalists from across the continent, while the second will give fans across Sub-Saharan Africa the chance to cast their votes on the MILIGA FAN ZONE, LALIGA’s online fan zone. This season, the campaign will culminate in a live event in Nigeria, celebrating the MVP winner with fans, influencers and football legends from across Africa.

The winner will be announced on May 13, coinciding with Matchday 36 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season.

The post LALIGA & SPORTY GROUP to honour Africa’s best in Spanish football appeared first on SportsClub.

“It is a London derby. It’s always a difficult game, and everyone waits for it, now especially with Arsenal on top and us second,” Fofana said.

“But we will just focus on the game. It is a London derby, it is important for the team and for the fans, and we want to win the game. We don’t care who is first or second.”

The derby comes straight after a monumental week which saw the Blues secure a massive Champions League win against Barcelona.

Fofana reflected on the victory.

“It was a great night and a great performance. We played well, we deserved the win, and we kept the clean sheet. Now our focus is on Sunday’s game. Yes, it was a great night, and we were all happy.”

For Fofana, who recently returned from a tough spell on the sidelines, being part of a solid defensive unit is critical, particularly after that hard-earned clean sheet against the Catalan giants.

“We played well and kept the clean sheet. Barcelona is very good, and we work every day to continue like this. As a defender, for me it is very important to keep the clean sheet, and we are all happy as a team.”
His return to fitness has been a personal triumph, allowing him to now enjoy his football and contribute to the team’s success.

“I feel good and happy. There were hard moments, but I’m happy now. I’m back with the team, trying to add contributions, that is the least I can do. I’m happy we are winning and keeping the clean sheet. For myself, it is very good. I play football and I’m happy.”

Fofana candidly discussed the hardest part of being injured.

“It is very hard because you are angry at your body and you can’t control everything. You are outside, not with the team, and you are alone. It is very difficult, but every time I try to stay focused and come back stronger. I’m back now, I’m fit, and I will continue to stay fit for the team.”

This winning mindset is clearly driven by manager Enzo Maresca, who Fofana credits with building a tight-knit squad.

“Enzo Maresca is a good coach. He keeps us close as a family. He speaks with everyone and the team trusts him.”

“We all have a good relationship with the coach and all the staff. We speak as a family, and we need that to win games over a long season,” he shared.

“He has a good relationship with me. He calls me, he sends messages, we are very close. He helps me a lot. He always tries to protect me and gives me a lot of confidence.”

The defender believes this cohesion is the key to their overall success this season, which sees them second in the league and doing well in Europe.

“The key is working every day and trying to improve everything. Staying together is important because not every day is easy or good as a team.”

“The most important thing is to continue fighting and progressing. We are only in November, and the season is still long, so we need to keep pushing until the end.”

This maturity extends to protecting their younger stars, such as Estevão.

“Estevão is amazing. We see him every day in training. We know for the fans and for people outside he is still a little bit new, but we know his quality. He is amazing in what he brings. He is young, and we try to protect him because he is the last born of the team, and he is very good.”

“We help him to progress because we don’t know how far he can go. He is amazing for himself and for the team as well.”

When asked what advice he would give to the young and talented player, Fofana kept it simple: “I think the most important thing is to focus on football, continue to work, and protect his body because it is important. He must stay as he is and enjoy football. That is the only thing he can do.”

So do Chelsea have pressure to follow on from their Club World Cup exploits?

Fofana shrugs off any notion of pressure, even with Chelsea being Champions of the World.

“Pressure, I don’t know, but it is a good moment for the team.”

“ The team played amazing, but for sure now people wait a little bit because when you’re a champion the fun is a little bit… but I don’t think the team has pressure.”

“We just play football and look for opportunities to progress. That is important, to try to improve every day. We don’t feel the pressure; we are chilled.”

He insists that the young squad has already learned from past experiences.

“I think age is nothing, we just play. You improve when you play more seasons in the Premier League. For sure, you know so much more about the teams and how to play certain games. Now we know that, and it is good for this season.”

Fofana is optimistic about the club’s potential.

“Anything is possible. We don’t know, no one can say. But anything is possible because we are doing well and have improved and matured compared to last season.”

“We need to continue progressing because we have a lot of good quality players. We try to win as many games as possible and then we will see at the end of the season.”

While Fofana is delighted by the Blues progress this season, he insists all the teams focus lays on Sundays massive encounter.

“We celebrated on Tuesday after beating Barcelona, but now we focus on winning again.”

“It is a big game and we are playing a good team. We’ll try to repeat what we did against Barcelona. It’s 11 against 11, all together trying to do everything in our control.”

“The aim is to keep the clean sheet. We work well as a team, and it is important to stay together and solid. Everyone needs to attack as well. I hope we keep the clean sheet and enjoy the game.”

The massive London Derby between Chelsea and Arsenal kicks off on Sunday, 30th November at 18:30, live on Showmax Premier League.

Issued by Showmax