US Forward Christian Pulisic Arrives in Italy for Expected Transfer to AC Milan 

03 December 2022, Qatar, Al-Rajjan: USA's Christian Pulisic in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
03 December 2022, Qatar, Al-Rajjan: USA's Christian Pulisic in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
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US Forward Christian Pulisic Arrives in Italy for Expected Transfer to AC Milan 

03 December 2022, Qatar, Al-Rajjan: USA's Christian Pulisic in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)
03 December 2022, Qatar, Al-Rajjan: USA's Christian Pulisic in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. (dpa)

United States forward Christian Pulisic arrived in Italy on Wednesday for a medical with AC Milan before an expected transfer from Chelsea.

The 24-year-old Pulisic, who has one year left on his contract at Chelsea, is expected to sign a four-year deal with the Rossoneri and become the third American to play for the club after Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest.

“I’m very happy to be here. I’m excited. I’m excited to start with this historic club,” Pulisic told reporters waiting for him at Milan’s Malpensa airport. “It’s legendary and I’m really excited to come here and try to win some titles here.”

Milan, which is owned by American investment firm RedBird, is preparing to pay a transfer fee of 20 million euros ($22 million) for Pulisic, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport. That would be less than half of what Chelsea paid Borussia Dortmund for Pulisic in 2019.

Hampered by injuries, Pulisic never fully lived up to expectations in England. Although he did win the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup with the Blues.

Pulisic would be the second player to leave Chelsea for AC Milan in this transfer window after Ruben Loftus-Cheek also signed for the Rossoneri. Pulisic could also be reunited with former Chelsea teammates Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori at Milan.

Pulisic has played 60 times for the United States, scoring 25 goals. The Pennsylvania native helped the squad reach the last 16 at last year’s World Cup in Qatar.



UK's Prince William, with Wife Kate, Launches Sports Drive to Prevent Suicide

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales depart the 2026 Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, June 15, 2026.  Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales depart the 2026 Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, June 15, 2026. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
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UK's Prince William, with Wife Kate, Launches Sports Drive to Prevent Suicide

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales depart the 2026 Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, June 15, 2026.  Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales depart the 2026 Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, June 15, 2026. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS

Prince William, joined by his wife Kate and a host of leading British sporting figures, launched a new initiative on Thursday aimed at helping the sports sector play a greater role in suicide prevention.

The issue of mental health and suicide prevention is one of the British heir's key campaigning priorities. Last October he came close to tears as he discussed the impact of suicide with a woman whose husband had taken his own life.

"Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service," William said at Everton soccer club's ground on World Suicide Prevention Day.

The campaign is backed by England captain Harry Kane, former striker Alan Shearer and Olympic gold medallists Kelly Holmes and husband-and-wife cycling champions Jason and Laura Kenny.

It was William's highest profile appearance in Britain since his brother, Prince Harry, and his wife and children, returned to live in Britain last month.

The brothers, who have fallen out since Harry moved to the United States six years ago and publicly criticized the royal family in interviews and his memoir, previously campaigned together to raise awareness of mental health issues.

AIMING TO CREATE A MOVEMENT ACROSS SPORT

William described suicide as one of society's greatest challenges and said preventing it was everyone's responsibility.

"We want to start a movement across sport," he said. "We're calling for a commitment to create environments where people feel able to speak openly, where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, and where support is never out of reach."

The initiative, called "On Your Side", has been developed by the Royal Foundation, the charitable organization founded by William and Kate. It aims to help people involved in sport recognise warning signs and support those struggling before they reach crisis point.

William's office, Kensington Palace, said the initiative's toolkit could be used by organizations ranging from grassroots clubs to elite sports bodies.

The Football Association, Premier League and British Cycling are set to commit to incorporating the toolkit into their policies and practices, the palace said.


Lamine Yamal Becomes Barcelona's Youngest Captain at 19

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
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Lamine Yamal Becomes Barcelona's Youngest Captain at 19

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona v Feyenoord - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - September 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

Lamine Yamal became the youngest Barcelona captain at 19 years and 58 days old during the ‌Spanish champions' ‌5-1 win ‌over ⁠Feyenoord in the ⁠Champions League on Wednesday.

First-choice captain Raphinha handed the ⁠armband to the ‌Spanish ‌forward when ‌the Brazilian ‌was substituted in the 71st minute, said Reuters.

Bojan Krkic was ‌Barcelona's previous youngest skipper, having ⁠captained ⁠the team during a 2010 Copa del Rey match when he was 20.


Asian Games Begin with Qatar Basketball Win, 9 Days Before Opening Ceremony

This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
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Asian Games Begin with Qatar Basketball Win, 9 Days Before Opening Ceremony

This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)
This general view shows players competing in the men's basketball Group B game between Iran and Qatar during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 10, 2026. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP)

The Asian Games began in Japan on Thursday with Qatar beating Iran in men's basketball, the first action in the continental multi-sport showpiece that has more participants than the Olympics.

Over 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to take part in 43 sports at the Nagoya-Aichi Games -- which do not officially start until the opening ceremony on September 19 and will run until October 4.

Several events such as basketball, football, cricket, hockey and modern pentathlon will get under way before the opening ceremony, AFP reported.

Qatar held off a comeback from Iran to win their Group B encounter 59-35 at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya in the first match of a men's basketball competition that will hold medal finals on September 20, the day after the opening ceremony.

"We know we need to win at least one game so we can qualify for the next round," said Qatar's Michael Lewis, the United States-born player who scored a game-high 21 points.

"Feels good to get some team camaraderie back, and now we have got to keep going."

Later in Group B, Taiwan beat Jordan 83-80.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifying spots are up for grabs in several sports at the Asian Games, which are returning to Japan for the first time since 1994.

Organizers hope the athletes will have a "unique experience" staying in accommodation ranging from a cruise liner and wooden containers to standard hotel rooms.

Officials are confident that the plan will not be affected by Japan's typhoon season, which is usually in full swing in September-October.

Weather has already caused disruptions, with record rainfall on Tuesday forcing hundreds of athletes briefly to evacuate their accommodation.

Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days.

Among those in action at the Games will be Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra Eala and a pair of world-class teenage talents in 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi.