Transfer news, done deals, analysis and gossip
Nottingham Forest confirm signing of Swiss forward Dan Ndoye from Bologna in reported £35m deal
Man Utd make RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko their number one striker choice
Analysis: Sesko - Europe's top scorer aged under 23
Chelsea agree deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato for an initial fee of £37m I Hato - a versatile talent
Granit Xhaka joins Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen I Is Xhaka a shrewd signing?
Bayern Munich sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool for £65.5m
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Why do people keep going to Chelsea? Competition is incredibly deep since there's like 5 million players for each position, and some players don't even get picked and just make up squad numbers. Is it just the money?
James
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea are believed to be close to finishing their summer business but remain in the market for another attacker, having held talks with the representatives of RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons without making a formal bid.
They are also aiming to make further player sales with Christopher Nkunku likely to leave, as well as an openness to sell striker Nicolas Jackson for the right price.
There also remains a squad of unwanted players training separately from Enzo Maresca's first team, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu.
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Whilst there is every likelihood that Chelsea will improve as a team with some of their signings, it's also likely that they will run out of steam before the end of the season because of their long summer.
Jon
This is where the squad depth comes into play, Jon. Chelsea have enough talent and depth to make sure they don't run out of steam come the crucial part of the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona are wearing a striking away kit, inspired by the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, for the first time during a friendly against FC Seoul in South Korea.
This special edition jersey - part of a collaboration with the Kobe brand - replaces the traditional Nike swoosh with the “Kobe Sheath” logo and features a snakeskin-textured badge and trim, alongside gold and purple hues reminiscent of the LA Lakers.
Bryant, a Barca and AC Milan supporter, is celebrated in various details - the design honours his “Mamba Mentality”, with silicone‑3D textures and a bold 'Team Gold' impact.
The new kit officially launched on 29 July and is being worn during the Seoul fixture today, marking Barca's latest stop on their Asian pre-season tour.
Barcelona are currently leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal v spurs (12:30 BST)
Stay with us for transfer updates.
And if you want the latest updates from Arsenal v Spurs in Hong Kong, we have a dedicated live page.
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Chelsea and Arsenal are both genuine contenders, along with Liverpool, due to squad depth. Man City, I feel, will still have problems in defence with Ait Nouri showing defensive weakness in the Club World Cup.
Max
Image source, Getty ImagesHato would be Chelsea's eighth addition to the squad this summer, with their spending so far reaching a combined sum of over £250m, which is balanced by over £150m of player sales.
Monday Night Club discuss Jorrel Hato
On BBC Radio 5 Live's Big Transfer Talk, the panel discuss Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is potentially the next player to move to Chelsea.
"He is very technical for his age and very good on the ball," said Statman Dave. "When you look at his stats over the season, we are starting to see a player who is very composed and creative.
"He could potentially go on a similar path to Trent Alexander-Arnold - that is the player I would liken him to in Europe."
Listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesThere is less than an hour until kick-off at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong where the first oversees north London derby will take place.
We will be bringing you updates on a separate live page from 12:15 (BST) but here is the team news.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Norgaard, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz
Spurs starting XI: Vicario, Porro, van de Ven, Romero, Spence, Bergvall, Sarr, Bentancur, Odobert, Kudus, Richarlison
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Chelsea will be a dark horse, they can beat anyone on their day. However, I doubt they'll have the consistency to mount a full title challenge. Solidifying the top four will be good, considering they can't rotate in the UCL like last year. They'll do well in UCL too.
Matt
I don't think Chelsea will contend for the title. Despite signing eight players, they don't have the strength of Arsenal, City or Liverpool. The team will take time to gel. I would put them in the top six at a stretch.
Chris
Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport
Jorrel Hato’s switch from centre-back to left-back at Ajax in 2024-25, and a subsequent increased output in terms of creativity, has seen him likened to Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and there are some similarities in their respective skillsets.
Like the former Liverpool defender, Hato is calm and composed on the ball. The teenager completed 1,352 passes last season, the second-most of any Eredivisie full-back, while his pass success rate of 89.3% was the highest of any full-back in the Dutch top flight despite him regularly taking up more advanced positions – 48% of his open-play touches were in the opposition third of the pitch.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is known to want defenders who can progress the ball, dictate tempo, and play under pressure and Hato, like Alexander-Arnold, fits that bill.
Hato’s utilisation at full-back also saw him record a career-best six assists, Of Eredivisie defenders, only Utrecht’s Souffian El Karouani recorded more (8).
While the tactically-versatile Netherlands international has added end product to his game, he is not entirely alike Alexander-Arnold.
A comparison of their metrics from 2024-25 shows similar output in terms of goals and assists but the Englishman was far more prolific at creating chances and passing into the box – a by-product Alexander-Arnold spending time in midfield – while Hato is the more natural defender, winning far more duels on the ground and in the air.
Image source, BBC SportNew Chelsea signing Jorrel Hato has been compared to Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold
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With Jorrel Hato on the brink of becoming Chelsea's eighth signing of the summer, we want to know what you think of the Blues' title chances.
Following on from their Club World Cup triumph, are Chelsea genuine title contenders? What have you made of their business so far this window?
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Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesJorrel Hato has already amassed 111 senior appearances at the age of 19
Chelsea have agreed a £37m deal to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato – and it is a signing that makes sense for the dynamics of Chelsea’s bloated squad.
The Blues boast seven centre-backs in their current squad but only Levi Colwill, who played regularly last season, and Benoit Badiashile are naturally left-sided. Badiashile’s 2024-25 campaign was disrupted by a hamstring injury in December although a tally of just three Premier League starts suggests that head coach Enzo Maresca wants a more trusted option to compete with Colwill in the heart of defence.
Hato also offers versatility having spent large parts of last season at Ajax playing at left-back and with Ben Chilwell firmly out of favour, the 19-year-old can also offer competition to regular left-back Marc Cucurella with a Champions League campaign to come.
In 2023-24, Hato played 80% of his football at centre-back, most commonly in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, the arrival of head coach Francesco Farioli at Ajax ahead of the 2024-25 campaign saw Hato switched to left-back where he played 94% of his minutes last season, primarily in a 4-3-3 formation.
Hato has already played 111 competitive games for Ajax’s first team, including 96 in the last two seasons - 94 of which were starts. His Ajax debut aged just 16 years and 335 days in 2023 made him the third-youngest player to feature for the club in Eredivisie after Clarence Seedorf and Ryan Gravenberch. He also made his Netherlands debut less than a year later.
Hato has been nearly ever-present for Ajax since making his first appearance. Of players from Europe’s top six leagues born after 1 January 2003, Hato has played the most minutes at club level in all competitions since the start of the 2023-24 (8,347), ahead of Jude Bellingham (7,988) and Lamine Yamal (7,506).
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have agreed a deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato for an initial fee of £37m, subject to the Dutch club's supervisory board approval.
The 19-year-old Dutchman is expected to sign a seven-year contract lasting until 2032 and will complete a medical, having been given the green light to travel to west London.
Chelsea consider Hato a talented young option to add competition to the backline, where he is capable of playing at either left-back or in central defence.
Hato made his senior debut for Ajax in February 2023 at just 16 years and 335 days old, making him the third-youngest player ever to feature in an Eredivisie game for the club
He has made 75 appearances for the Eredivisie side and made his senior debut for the Netherlands in 2023.
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Just joining us? Don't worry, here's a quick recap of what we've covered so far this Thursday morning...
Let's hope for some more activity as the day goes on, but don't forget to keep sending in your views by clicking 'Get Involved' at the top of the page.
Image source, Getty ImagesSweden international Julia Zigiotti Olme has signed a two-year deal with Women's Super League club Manchester United.
The contract also has an option to extend a further year.
The midfielder, who competed at Euro 2025, joins from Bayern Munich.
She said: “I am so happy to be here and so happy to get started and to join this family. I have been watching Manchester United in the last couple of years and, having seen what they have been doing, I am very impressed.
"They are a team that fits me and my style, meeting the players has been great. They were like a family and it was a fantastic way to start.”
Nizaar Kinsella & Simon Stone
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesRangers are close to completing a loan deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Mikey Moore.
The move is subject to a medical and will include an extension to Moore's contract in north London that would allow him to spend the season at Ibrox.
The 17-year-old made 19 first team appearances last season and was on the bench in May's Europa League final win over Manchester United.
When asked about Moore's future, Spurs manager Thomas Frank said on Tuesday: "It is very important [he goes on loan]. Mikey is a big talent. I'm really excited about his future here at Tottenham."
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Isak was probably told at the end of last season that Newcastle would be looking to sign elite players such as Mbeumo, Delap, Ekitike and Sesko to move the club forward. All those targets have turned the club down, so now Isak feels he needs to move on too.
Tim Sutton, Devon
Image source, Getty ImagesAccording to the Mail, Newcastle have added Fulham's Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz to their list of targets. They report that the Magpies are looking to add another attacker to the squad after Swedish striker Alexander Isak agreed a contract with Liverpool.
Given how late we are in the transfer window there's only one sensible solution to the Isak saga. Tell him he's staying and agree he can leave next summer allowing the club to plan properly for his departure. He's put the club in a bad position.
Steve Graham, Huddersfield