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The Summer Signings Who Have Disappointed so Far This Season

Danny Ward | GettyImages
Danny Ward | GettyImages
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The Summer Signings Who Have Disappointed so Far This Season

Danny Ward | GettyImages
Danny Ward | GettyImages

With the January transfer window closing at 11 pm on Thursday, the next couple of days could shape the season for some Premier League clubs. Fulham would probably not be in the division this season were it not for the fact they signed Aleksandar Mitrovic this time last year. However, not all transfers are equal – as Fulham proved in the summer. Wrong moves in the market can be hugely costly as proven by this XI, who cost more than £200m in fees last summer but have not lived up to their promise.

Danny Ward, Leicester City
When Leicester signed Ward for £12.5m last summer, they did so at a time when Kasper Schmeichel was being linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium. Ward’s arrival from Liverpool appeared to pave the way for the Dane’s exit, but Schmeichel stayed and Ward has had to make do with appearances in cup competitions. The 25-year-old is yet to feature in the league and, while he’s still young, the fans are yet to see any real return on what was a significant investment.

Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester City
Sticking with Leicester, Turkey international Soyuncu has also failed to impress this season. The 22-year-old could be classed as “one for the future” but he would have been hoping for a bigger role. He has been unable to displace 35-year-old Wes Morgan at center-back, however, and has been the fourth choice in his position, having arrived for around £19m. He has started more games for Turkey in the Nations League than he has for his club in the Premier League.

Ben Gibson, Burnley
The former Boro captain’s arrival at Turf Moor was a curious one given Burnley were strong at the back last season. Burnley cannot really afford to sign a player for £15m and equal their club record transfer on a defender who sits on the bench. He, like Soyuncu at Leicester, has been fourth choice. Gibson has started one game in the league, a 5-1 defeat to Everton in which he scored.

Alfie Mawson, Fulham
Alfie Mawson, another former England Under-21 player, signed for Fulham when injured, which has not helped his case. The Fulham defence has looked stronger with him in it but that isn’t saying much. Having picked up another injury, the 25-year-old has started just 12 league games following his £15m move from Swansea.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Brighton
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the latest example of an Eredivisie player who has struggled to adapt to the English game. He has not featured for Brighton since the start of November, partly because of a hamstring injury and partly due to his run to the Asian Cup semi-finals with Iran. Even before that the winger failed to make an impact. He has neither scored nor set up a goal in 10 league appearances for Brighton, having had a direct hand in 33 goals for AZ Alkmaar last season.

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Fulham
After an impressive season with Marseille, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa cost Fulham £20m in the summer, but the 23-year-old midfielder has done little to live up to that price tag. He has started just seven games and hasn’t featured since being sent off against Manchester United in early December, with ankle injuries hampering his impact. Fulham picked up just one point in his seven starts.

Fred, Manchester United
By far the most expensive signing in this XI, Fred has failed to establish himself under two managers at United. The 25-year-old started Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s first home game in charge – a 3-1 win against Huddersfield – but he was replaced early in the second half and hasn’t played a single minute in the league since. The Brazilian has completed just three matches this season, which is disappointing to say the least for a player who cost £52m.

Mohamed Elyounoussi, Southampton
To class the £16m signing of a 24-year-old who had only ever played in Norway and Switzerland as a gamble is putting it lightly. Mohamed Elyounoussi had Champions League experience with Basel and plenty of international caps with Norway but it is not particularly surprising that he has struggled to step up. The winger has shown flashes of his ability but no end product in a Saints jersey, without a single goal or assist to his name in 12 league appearances, and he has played just 93 minutes in the league under new manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Bobby Reid, Cardiff City
Bobby Reid scored 19 goals for Bristol City last season, which convinced Cardiff to sign him for £10m in the summer. The 25-year-old had scored just five league goals in the two Championship seasons before the 2017-18 campaign, so placing their survival hopes on his shoulders was a risk. It hasn’t paid off yet, with Reid scoring just twice and starting only nine of his 17 league appearances.

Matej Vydra, Burnley
Matej Vydra has had a hit and miss career in English football. Burnley were hoping he would kick on and show greater consistency at Turf Moor but, as has often been the case with the Czech forward, he has struggled to pick up enough minutes on the pitch in the Premier League. The 26-year-old was the top scorer in the Championship last season at Derby with 21 league goals, having managed only eight in 64 appearances in the two previous seasons. He hadn’t started a Premier League match since the 2013-14 season, when he was at West Brom, before his move to Burnley and he has added just three starts since, scoring just one goal.

Adama Diakhaby, Huddersfield
For Huddersfield, who are already punching above their weight, any player who costs £10m has to make some impact. He may only be 22, but unfortunately Adama Diakhaby has done no such thing. The winger is yet to play the full 90 minutes for the club his season and he is also yet to score for the club. He will be hoping is form improves under new boss Jan Siewert as Huddersfield embark on Mission Impossible II.

(Bloomberg)

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England, Ghana Eye Last 32 as Portugal Look for Lift-off

England forward Harry Kane prepares for a Group L World Cup clash against Ghana. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP
England forward Harry Kane prepares for a Group L World Cup clash against Ghana. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP
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England, Ghana Eye Last 32 as Portugal Look for Lift-off

England forward Harry Kane prepares for a Group L World Cup clash against Ghana. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP
England forward Harry Kane prepares for a Group L World Cup clash against Ghana. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP

England will aim to become the latest of the World Cup big guns to book their place in the knockout rounds on Tuesday as Portugal attempt to kickstart their campaign after a lackluster opening draw.

A day after Argentina and France sailed into the last 32, England face Ghana in Group L knowing that victory will see them safely into the next phase of the tournament, said AFP.

England launched their campaign last week with a stylish 4-2 win over Croatia, a result that has given the Three Lions camp fresh belief as they chase a first major championship win in 60 years.

With captain Harry Kane scoring twice and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham netting, England midfielder Declan Rice believes Thomas Tuchel's squad should be a match for any team in the tournament.

Rice said Monday the challenge for England will be reproducing the swashbuckling attacking display that marked their second-half performance against Croatia.

"We know as players the level, we know what's required, and that second-half performance was probably the benchmark for us in terms of having to start the game at that level," Rice said.

"We believe that if we can do that from the opening minute, with the players that we also have to come on and finish the game, we can beat any opponent in the world.

"We want to be confident in our abilities and what we can do on the pitch."

England's German manager Tuchel meanwhile says his team are already embracing the pressure that comes with a World Cup campaign.

"There are emotions involved and you can at some point feel the tension and feel the pressure. I hope we can cope with it, accept it and turn it around," Tuchel said.

"I heard also a lot about it and I feel of course the excitement and the pressure, but I feel that we have so many winners and so many players who are experienced to cope with the pressure."

England though will be wary of the threat posed by Ghana's Antoine Semenyo, the London-born Manchester City winger who is the focal point of the Black Stars attack.

Ghana, 1-0 winners over Panama in their opener last week, can also qualify for the knockout rounds on Tuesday with a victory at Foxborough, just outside Boston.

- Portugal chase response -

Elsewhere, Portugal will attempt to draw a line under a turbulent first week of the tournament when they take on Uzbekistan in Houston.

Portugal arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament favorites, boasting a team studded with flair players and spearheaded by veteran Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

But Ronaldo's leaden performance in a faltering 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo renewed debate about the captain's place in the starting line-up.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has continued to offer staunch support of his 41-year-old captain, despite his failure to score in his last 10 matches at major tournaments.

"He's a good example for us, for all of us," Martinez said of Ronaldo.

"So he really wants to keep on improving, to contribute to the team, and he's really a role model for our team."

Martinez though stopped short of confirming Ronaldo will start against Uzbekistan when asked by reporters on Monday, saying he had not informed his players of the lineup.

Martinez said the disappointment Portugal felt after drawing with the DRC will be motivation against Uzbekistan, who are playing at a World Cup for the first time and will be heavy underdogs.

"The feeling of frustration that we all had as a team, the feeling of disappointment after the game, probably that's the best starting point to prepare for the next game," said the Spaniard.

Sports

Marquez Extends with Ducati Until 2028

Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez (L) competes to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Czechia in Brno, Czech Republic, on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)
Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez (L) competes to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Czechia in Brno, Czech Republic, on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)
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Marquez Extends with Ducati Until 2028

Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez (L) competes to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Czechia in Brno, Czech Republic, on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)
Team Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez (L) competes to win the MotoGP Grand Prix of Czechia in Brno, Czech Republic, on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has extended his contract with Ducati until 2028, the Italian manufacturer said on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Spaniard joined Ducati in 2024 and made a remarkable comeback the next year, winning his seventh MotoGP championship at the Japanese Grand Prix — his first since 2019.

This season began with a series of injuries, but Marquez soon returned to top form. ⁠He secured his 100th ⁠career victory across all classes with a commanding win at the Hungarian Grand Prix at Balaton Park earlier this month, less than a month after undergoing shoulder and foot surgery. He followed ⁠it up with victory at the Czech Grand Prix on Sunday.

"I'm red. I'm super happy with this new agreement with the Ducati Lenovo Team and to continue being part of this family," Reuters quoted Marquez as saying in a statement.

"With this renewal, they have once again reaffirmed this commitment, respecting my times and giving me the peace of ⁠mind ⁠I needed to make the right decision."

Marquez heads into this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix trailing championship leader Marco Bezzecchi by 40 points.

"I continue to compete because I love this sport and I want to achieve even more ambitious goals. I'm convinced this is the right place to do it. As long as I'm here, I'll give my all to paint the future red," he said.

Sports

Jordan Coach Proud of Players Despite Early World Cup Exit

Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami reacts after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami reacts after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
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Jordan Coach Proud of Players Despite Early World Cup Exit

Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami reacts after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami reacts after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)

‌Jordan coach Jamal Sellami said his players' inexperience may have cost them in a 2-1 defeat by Algeria at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Monday, but he was proud of their World Cup campaign despite their early exit.

Jordan bowed out of their first World Cup after consecutive defeats in Group ‌J. They ‌lost 3-1 to Austria in ‌their ⁠opener.

"The Algerian team ⁠did some substitutions that might have made a difference. They had a very tall offensive player ... I think our lack of experience allowed them to score from two corner kicks when ⁠we were waiting to make our ‌own substitutions with ‌the cooling break," Sellami said.

"Generally speaking, we had a ‌great match, and we should be proud ‌of our performance. Very first experience in the World Cup, we were better than the first match," he added.

"Now for us facing Argentina ‌is an opportunity. It's an opportunity for us to perform well ⁠and ⁠leave a great mark worthy of Jordanian football," he remarked.

Sellami, who is Moroccan, said Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein had visited the players' dressing room after the match and offered them congratulations. "Whenever you lose, there is always a negative feeling you're not in the best state of mind as the players that they have shown, but his words were a tonic for their spirit."