France Winger Diaby Joins Saudi’s Al-Ittihad 

Soccer Football - Europa Conference League - Semi Final - First Leg - Aston Villa v Olympiacos - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Europa Conference League - Semi Final - First Leg - Aston Villa v Olympiacos - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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France Winger Diaby Joins Saudi’s Al-Ittihad 

Soccer Football - Europa Conference League - Semi Final - First Leg - Aston Villa v Olympiacos - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Europa Conference League - Semi Final - First Leg - Aston Villa v Olympiacos - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

France winger Moussa Diaby has joined Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad, where he will team up with compatriots Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante under French coach Laurent Blanc, the Saudi club said Wednesday.

The 25-year-old who began his career with Paris Saint-Germain leaves English club Aston Villa after just one season following his transfer from Leverkusen a year ago.

He played 54 matches for Villa last season, scoring 10 goals and making nine assists.

In a statement on Wednesday, Al-Ittihad said Diaby was joining on a five-year contract, adding that he has arrived in the club's training camp in Spain, without mentioning the value of the deal.

"He will be a significant asset to the team," Al-Ittihad CEO Domingos Oliveira said in a statement.

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after former France manager Blanc was announced as the next coach of Al-Ittihad, reuniting with Benzema who was in his Euro 2012 squad.

The Al-Ittihad squad also includes N'Golo Kante, a starter in the France team that reached the last four at the current Euros, and former Monaco and Liverpool Brazilian Fabinho.



Andy Murray Withdraws from Olympic Tennis Singles, Will Only Play Doubles 

Britain's Andy Murray plays a forehand return to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during their men's singles match on day one of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (AFP)
Britain's Andy Murray plays a forehand return to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during their men's singles match on day one of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Andy Murray Withdraws from Olympic Tennis Singles, Will Only Play Doubles 

Britain's Andy Murray plays a forehand return to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during their men's singles match on day one of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (AFP)
Britain's Andy Murray plays a forehand return to Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka during their men's singles match on day one of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at The Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 26, 2024. (AFP)

Two-time Olympic tennis gold medalist Andy Murray pulled out of singles at the Paris Games on Thursday and only will compete in doubles with Dan Evans.

Murray, a 37-year-old from Britain, has said these Olympics will be the final event of his career.

He’s dealt with a series of injuries, including a hip replacement in 2019, and most recently needed surgery last month to remove a cyst from his spine.

Murray pulled out of singles at Wimbledon this month and played one match in doubles alongside his older brother, Jamie.

“I’ve taken the decision to withdraw from the singles to concentrate on the doubles with Dan. Our practice has been great and we’re playing well together,” Murray said Thursday. “Really looking forward to getting started and representing GB one more time.”

His withdrawal announcement came shortly before the draw for the Olympics tennis tournament. Play begins Saturday on clay courts at Roland Garros, home to the French Open.

Murray won singles gold medals at London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, making him the only tennis player with two.

He won three major titles: his two at Wimbledon coming after his first at the US Open. He reached the French Open final in 2016, losing to Novak Djokovic.