Man City Sign Dutch Midfielder Reijnders Ahead of Club World Cup

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, left, and Roma's Manu Kone battle for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Milan at the Rome's Olympic stadium, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, left, and Roma's Manu Kone battle for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Milan at the Rome's Olympic stadium, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
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Man City Sign Dutch Midfielder Reijnders Ahead of Club World Cup

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, left, and Roma's Manu Kone battle for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Milan at the Rome's Olympic stadium, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, left, and Roma's Manu Kone battle for the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Roma and Milan at the Rome's Olympic stadium, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Manchester City confirmed the signing of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan on a five-year contract on Wednesday and said the Netherlands international will be available for this month's Club World Cup.

Financial details were not released but a City team source has put the transfer fee at 55 million euros ($62.85 million).

"City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities.  Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles, and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years," Reijnders said in a statement, according to Reuters.

"It is also a dream come true to play in the Premier League. This league has seen many of the best Dutch players perform through the years and it's an inspiration to follow in their footsteps."

The 26-year-old, who has been capped 23 times, joined Milan in 2023 on a five-year contract before extending it until 2030 in March.

He made 104 appearances for the club in all competitions, winning the Italian Super Cup and was named Serie A's best midfielder last season.

"He arrives here with extensive top-level experience in Europe both at club level as well as on the international stage with the Netherlands," City's Director of Football Hugo Viana said.

Reijnders is City's fourth addition of the transfer window after left back Rayan Ait-Nouri, winger Rayan Cherki and goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.

The expanded 32-team Club World Cup runs from June 14 to July 13 in the United States with $1 billion in prize money at stake.



Arteta Urges Arsenal to Focus on Premier League Title Push Ahead of Fulham Clash

 Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP)
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Focus on Premier League Title Push Ahead of Fulham Clash

 Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his players to refocus on their Premier League title push as they prepare to host Fulham on Saturday, days after being held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Arsenal's pursuit of a first Premier League title in more than two decades has entered a tense final stretch, with Arteta's side attempting to end a drought that dates back to their unbeaten "Invincibles" campaign of 2003-04.

"Focus on Fulham. And hunger. ‌Hunger to play, ‌hunger to compete, hunger to win, hunger ‌to ⁠be closer to ⁠achieve our dream," the Spanish coach told reporters on Friday.

"We are playing to win the Premier League. It's exactly where we wanted to be. Four games to go. It's game two. Ready to go."

Having led the standings for much of the campaign, Arsenal's occasional dropped points have allowed Manchester City ⁠to close the gap, with Pep Guardiola's ‌side applying pressure by stringing ‌together a sequence of late-season victories.

The gap between leaders Arsenal and second-placed ‌Man City is three points, with City having a ‌game in hand.

"We have only four games to play now and everything is at stake, so it doesn't get better than that," Arteta said.

The Spaniard confirmed attacker Kai Havertz and center back Jurrien ‌Timber will miss the Fulham clash. Havertz has been sidelined since picking up an injury ⁠against Newcastle ⁠United last weekend, while Timber has been out since March.

Arteta added that Havertz could be back for the second leg fixture against Atletico.

"He's (Havertz) been a huge miss. We're talking about one of the most important attacking players that we have and he's been out for seven or eight months," Arteta said.

"He cannot do this game but hopefully for Atletico he will be available. He is pushing every boundary to achieve that."

Fulham sit 10th with 48 points, two behind sixth-placed Brighton, one behind Bournemouth, and level with Chelsea and Brentford as the battle for European competition intensifies.


Salah ‘Deserves Big Send-Off’, Says Liverpool Boss Slot

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
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Salah ‘Deserves Big Send-Off’, Says Liverpool Boss Slot

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 25, 2026 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds fans as he walks off the pitch after being substituted. (Reuters)

Arne Slot said Mohamed Salah "deserves a big send-off" as he confirmed he expected the departing superstar to return from injury before the end of the season.

The Egypt forward, who will leave Anfield at the end of the campaign, was forced off in last weekend's 3-1 win at home to Crystal Palace, prompting fears he may have played his final game for the Reds.

Salah applauded the fans and was given a standing ovation as he made his way off the pitch.

Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday that Salah, 33, had suffered a "minor muscle injury" and was expected to be able to return to action before the campaign comes to an end.

The club travel to face Manchester United on Sunday after three straight wins put them firmly on course for a place in next season's Champions League.

"We expect him to be back in the final part of the season, but not for Sunday," Liverpool boss Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"It's a big relief that his injury is minor, so that he's able to play for us, that he's able to play at the World Cup.

"And if there's ever a player who deserves to get a big send-off, it's definitely Mo."

Salah has scored 257 goals in 440 appearances since his arrival at Anfield in 2017, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in Liverpool's list of leading goalscorers.

He had a public spat with Slot in December, declaring he had "no relationship" with the Dutchman after being dropped for three consecutive games.

But the Liverpool manager later said he had "no issue to resolve" with the forward returning to the fold.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed dramatically from late September, have four games remaining, starting with their trip to face United.


Japanese Trailblazer Nishikori to Retire at End of Season

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
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Japanese Trailblazer Nishikori to Retire at End of Season

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)

Kei Nishikori will hang ‌up his racquet at the end of the 2026 season, the 36-year-old said on Friday, bringing down the curtain on a professional career that saw him break new ground for Japanese tennis.

Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open and was the second Asian man after Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan to make it into the top 10.

He ‌reached a career-high ‌ranking of number four in ‌2015 ⁠and won 12 ⁠titles on the ATP Tour, but has been plagued by injuries for years and has fallen to 464 in the world rankings.

The last time he was ranked in the top 10 was in October 2019 and last month he admitted he ⁠was "barely hanging on" in terms of physical ‌fitness.

"Reaching the ATP Tour, ‌playing at the highest level of competition and maintaining ‌a presence in the top 10 is something ‌I am extremely proud of," Nishikori wrote in a post on social media.

"Whether in victory or defeat, the special atmosphere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable ... ‌To be honest, I still wish I could continue my playing career. Even ⁠so, looking ⁠back on everything up to this point, I can proudly say that I gave it my all.

"I am truly happy to have walked this path. I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end."

Nishikori's most recent appearance in a tour-level event came at last year’s Cincinnati Open, though he has played in five Challenger events this year.

He also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal in three sets.