Europe

Saudi Arabia is attempting what China failed to do in the late 2010s and attract the big soccer names away from Europe to their country’s top league. The list of players going to Saudi Arabia or that have been linked grows by the day.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the first major domino to fall in December when the Portuguese star joined Al Nassr and is expected to make $75 million a year.

Brazil forward Neymar Jr. is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain, Saudi state media reported on Monday.

There was no immediate comment from the Ligue 1 champions, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, but French newspaper L'Equipe said the deal could net 31-year-old Neymar 160 million euros ($175 million).

The transfer fee was reported to be about 90 million euros plus add-ons and subject to completing a medical.

LONDON — Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to media reports on Sunday which said the fee would be a British record.

Sky Sports reported that Chelsea will pay 115 million pounds ($145.98 million), eclipsing the previous mark set when they bought Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for 106.8 million pounds in January.

It added that Caicedo would sign an eight-year contract, with the Blues paying 100 million pounds plus 15 million in add-ons.

It's a record that you'd imagine can never be broken, but that's exactly what you would've thought about the previous mark. In 2022, on a Wednesday night in Sunderland, the world record for the longest penalty shootout ever was set when Washington and Bedlington Terriers went 27 rounds — taking 54 penalties total — after a 3-3 draw in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup.

MUNICH — RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo scored a hat-trick to guide them to a 3-0 victory in the German Super Cup over champions Bayern Munich on Saturday, snatching the spotlight from record signing Harry Kane and spoiling his debut for the Bavarians.

England captain Kane had signed a four-year deal amid a media frenzy only hours earlier and made a substitute appearance in the second half but could not prevent a season-opening defeat against the German Cup winners.

Arsenal won 2-1 vs. Forest on Saturday but it was a decent first EPL game for the United States men’s national team No. 1 goalkeeper, Matt Turner.

Turner never made an appearance for Arsenal in the Premier League last season. It was only fitting that after making a $9 million transfer to Nottingham Forest his first opponent in his first EPL start was his former club.

SYDNEY — Alessia Russo's second-half goal lifted England to a thrilling 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Colombia on Saturday and into the Women's World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive time.

Lauren Hemp also scored for the European champions, who now face hosts Australia on Wednesday in Sydney for a place in their first World Cup final.

"It's exciting, what more do you want in front of a home crowd?" Russo, who was named player of the match, told ITV. "We got a bit of that tonight against Colombia. You want to play against the best teams.

AUCKLAND — Pictures of Sweden fullback Jonna Andersson taking time out from celebrating her side's 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over Japan to comfort Maika Hamano have spread quickly online as the pair's club connections became a talking point.

Hamano plays for Andersson's former club Chelsea, but the 19-year-old Japanese forward has spent the current season at the Swede's current club Hammarby in Stockholm.

BREAKING: In a shocking twist the deal between Tyler Adams and Chelsea collapsed at the very last minute after Moisés Caicedo turned down Liverpool's offer and chose Chelsea.

Tyler Adams deal, currently OFF after Chelsea decision to bid again for Moisés Caicedo — as @skysports_sheth called earlier #CFC