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Brighton announce €35m record striker signing amid Joao Pedro uncertainty

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Brighton announce €35m record striker signing amid Joao Pedro uncertainty

Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the acquisition of promising young striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Greek champions Olympiacos.

The 18-year-old has completed his medical and signed a long-term deal that will keep him at the Amex Stadium until 2030. The official move is set to take place on July 1, pending the successful completion of all standard regulatory procedures.

Reports suggest Brighton will pay an initial £29.8 million (€35 million) for Kostoulas, with an additional £1.7 million (€2 million) in performance-based clauses.

This transfer marks a historic moment for Greek football, smashing the previous record for the highest fee ever received by a Greek club. That record was previously held by Olympiacos as well, when Wolverhampton Wanderers paid £16.6 million for Daniel Podence back in 2020.

If all add-ons are eventually activated, Kostoulas would eclipse Kostas Manolas’s £30.6 million transfer from Roma to Napoli in 2019, making him the most expensive Greek player of all time.

This deal also continues Brighton’s recent focus on emerging Greek talent, following their January signing of 19-year-old Stefanos Tzimas for a reported £20 million. Tzimas spent the latter half of the season on loan at German club Nürnberg.

Brighton’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler shared his excitement over the new signing, praising the teenager’s talent and drive. He described Kostoulas as an exceptional young footballer who is eager to challenge himself in the Premier League.

Hurzeler also emphasized the value the striker brings to the squad, noting that his versatility in attack will provide the team with fresh tactical options.

Kostoulas had attracted attention from other major European clubs prior to joining Brighton. Manchester United are believed to have scouted him in late 2024, even initiating contact about a potential transfer. Arsenal were also previously linked with the Olympiacos prodigy.

Widely regarded as one of Europe’s top emerging talents, Kostoulas first made headlines when he debuted for Olympiacos B at just 15 years old in January 2023, becoming the youngest player to ever appear for the club.

He has showcased his ability to play across the front line and even in advanced midfield roles, demonstrating tactical intelligence and technical skill beyond his years.

In the 2023–24 campaign, Kostoulas played a key role in Olympiacos’ UEFA Youth League triumph, scoring five times in eight appearances. He also found the net seven times in 22 outings for the senior team in the Greek Super League.

His move to Brighton coincides with growing speculation around the future of Joao Pedro. The Brazilian forward is reportedly drawing interest from several top Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United, which could open up further opportunities for Kostoulas to make an early impact at his new club.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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