Real Madrid announce transfer of Jude Bellingham from Dortmund for initial £88m
Real Madrid have announced the signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund – with the England midfielder agreeing a six-year contract at the Bernabeu. The 19-year-old moved to Germany from boyhood club Birmingham City in 2020 but has long dreamt of playing for the La Liga giants. Dortmund confirmed in a statement last week that Real have agreed to pay an initial €103m (£88.5m) to land Bellingham. Now Real have confirmed the deal is complete. “Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on the transfer of the player Jude Bellingham, who will remain linked to our club for the next six seasons,” their statement read. “Tomorrow, Thursday, June 15, at 12:00 noon at Real Madrid City, the presentation ceremony for Jude Bellingham as a new Real Madrid player will take place. “After, Jude Bellingham will appear before the media.” He scored his first England goal in their World Cup win over Iran but is absent from the squad to face Malta and North Macedonia in Euro 2024 qualifiers this week due to injury. He has long been keen on a move to the 14-time European champions and recently said that he sees the Champions League as “the biggest stage”. “The goal has always been winning,” he said last month. “When you ask me what my biggest ambitions are in the game, it’s to win everything. And I’m not afraid to say that. “Everyone should have that goal I feel like as professional footballers.” Bellingham was recently named Bundesliga Player of the Season after his starring role for Dortmund, who missed out on the title in agonising fashion on the final day of the campaign. PA Read More Bellingham gone but who’s next? Midfield merry-go-round will define summer Football rumours: Man United, Real Madrid and Chelsea fight for Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe breaks silence after speculation over PSG exit Manchester City quintet set to arrive for England duty on Tuesday evening
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Exclusive-World Bank chief to 'push' its balance sheet, vows to protect 'AAA' rating
By David Lawder KINGSTON, Jamaica World Bank President Ajay Banga told Reuters that he will "push" the lender's
1970-01-01 08:00
Ghana’s Surprise Uptick in Inflation May See Rate Hikes Return
Ghana’s inflation rate unexpectedly rose in May, adding pressure on the central bank to resume rate hikes next
1970-01-01 08:00
Marketmind: Fed rate mystery and a wall of cash
A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Harry Robertson. There's only one show
1970-01-01 08:00
Bank of America Leads Big Banks Back to the ESG Market
Bank of America Corp. returned to the green bond market last week, ending a seven-month issuance drought for
1970-01-01 08:00
HSBC’s Head of Global Banking Sustainability Takes Sabbatical
HSBC Holdings Plc’s head of global banking sustainability, Alexi Chan, is planning to take a five-month sabbatical starting
1970-01-01 08:00
Man City youngster Rico Lewis left out of England Under-21s squad for Euro 2023
Rico Lewis is a surprise omission from the England Under-21s squad for their Euro 2023 campaign this summer. Lee Carsley’s Young Lions head to Romania and Georgia hoping for a first European Championship success since 1984, but they will be without the young City star after he was not included in the 23-man squad. Lewis, just 18, played 23 times for City during their treble-winning season. Folarin Balogun is a notable absentee following his recent decision to represent the United States. Head coach Carsley had been hopeful that Balogun would decide on his future after this summer’s tournament, but the 21-year-old informed the Football Association of his choice to play for the US last month. His absence means Cameron Archer is the only out-and-out striker in the squad, with Rhian Brewster injured. Tottenham right-back Djed Spence, City forward James McAtee, who is injured, and Club Brugge goalkeeper Joe Bursik also missed out. But there is a plethora of Premier League experience in there, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Emile Smith Rowe, Oliver Skipp, Anthony Gordon, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott among the 23-man squad gunning for glory. England begin their campaign against the Czech Republic in Georgia on June 22. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
1970-01-01 08:00
Transfers LIVE: Liverpool targets, PSG-Kane talks, Why Man Utd could sign Mbappe, Rice to Arsenal news
The summer transfer window is officially open ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season and there are already plenty of news and rumours ahead of what promises to be a busy few weeks for clubs, players and agents. Having signed Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool are keen to bring in at least two more top players, with Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Inter’s Nicolo Barella top of the shopping list, according to the Mirror. The same paper also reports that Paris Saint-Germain have opened preliminary talks with Tottenham’s Harry Kane. PSG are likely to be the big focus of the window with Kylian Mbappe’s future up in the air. The France forward will be a target for Manchester United, according to the Metro, should Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim buy the club. Meanwhile 90min reports Declan Rice is moving closer to Arsenal, with the Gunners preparing a bid higher than £100m for the Hammers’ captain. Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours below. Read More Football rumours: Man United, Real Madrid and Chelsea fight for Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe breaks silence after speculation over PSG exit
1970-01-01 08:00
Jodi Jones relishing chance to take on England after overcoming injury despair
Jodi Jones was wooed by Malta on Instagram and now he is looking for a picture perfect finish against England. The Bow-born forward is ready for Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Gareth Southgate’s side and he has been ready for some time. Three cruciate ligament injuries in just over three years at Coventry put his career on hold and thwarted a move to Leeds. His injury despair also delayed international recognition with Malta, who initially made contact with Jones via social media four years ago. But, having made his debut in last year’s Nations League loss to Estonia before winning promotion to the Football League at Wembley with Notts County this season, Jones is ready to make up for lost time. “I remember getting messages on Instagram. Obviously, I didn’t know if they were genuine but then they started contacting my family regularly,” he tells the PA news agency. “It was the president (Bjorn Vassallo) who reached out to me on there, then he got my number and was calling me a lot. It's got my love for the game back. It's been a great experience, playing international football, even just little things on a shirt like a badge that says Euro qualifiers Jodi Jones “I played against Luke (Gambin, Sutton’s Malta international) and he messaged me on Instagram saying they were asking about me out there. “Then they reached out to me not too long after that with a proper phone call and contacted the club, that’s when I thought, ‘oh, yeah, obviously this is genuine’. “I was injured at the time so I wasn’t really interested, not because I didn’t want to do it, I was interested but I just wanted to focus on getting back fit. As soon as I was and I thought I was back to my best I thought, ‘now’s the perfect time’.” A seventh appearance came in Friday’s 1-0 win in Luxembourg, a victory which may not resonate worldwide but against a team 80 places above them in the FIFA rankings it suggests quick progress in Michele Marcolini’s three games in charge. “It’s got my love for the game back. It’s been a great experience, playing international football, even just little things on a shirt like a badge that says Euro qualifiers,” says Jones. “As a kid when you get a football kit you want it to have everything on. I remember Arsenal kits when I was younger, I wanted the Champions League badge on it, I wanted the Premier League badge. I’m still like a kid when I see things like that. “It’s got my name back out there as well, which I really needed because if you mentioned my name, people say, ‘well, he’s done his ACL three times’. “Now, if you say my name they’ll say, ‘he did his ACL three times, but he’s still playing, he’s just been promoted with Notts County, he’s an international and is playing against England’. So the positives have overtaken now. “I just enjoy the little things, like just being able to play. I know how quickly things can change, especially with what I’ve been through.” The support of his family – and godparents Terry and Geraldine – has been crucial in helping Jones return from despair but it took dad Jay to remind him of how far he has come. “My godparents, they’ve sacrificed a lot for me. From the age of six they’ve taken me to football because my parents were very young when they had me,” said the 25-year-old, who made just two appearances for Coventry between November 2018 and August 2021 because of injury. “Without them I definitely wouldn’t be a footballer. I can’t thank them enough. For my parents and my partner I’d say it’s more they’re just relieved to see me back playing. “My dad said to me the other day, ‘for all you’ve been through you’ve still played at Wembley twice, you’re going to be playing against England, you’ve been promoted two or three times’. “He said for someone to have missed so much you’ve also achieved so much. “Being from England and watching England when I was a kid, playing against them would mean just a little bit more. It’ll just be a massive thing. “I’m just really excited my family can come and watch me play. I want to be able to be a role model to them, just show them to follow your dreams and they can come true.” Jones has Maltese connections on both sides of his family but more on his father’s side with Jay and mum, Frances, flying out. His partner Zoe, children and godparents will be at the Ta’ Qali Stadium for the Group C game. He also remains close with James Maddison, remaining in a WhatsApp group with former Coventry team-mates with the ribbing about trying to keep up with the Leicester star ongoing. Friday will cap his comeback season after Notts County’s dramatic National League play-off promotion. Last month, Jones’ first goal since October 2018 sent the Magpies to Wembley after his last-minute extra-time winner capped a thrilling 3-2 semi-final victory over Boreham Wood before a penalty shoot-out win over Chesterfield in the final. Jones, who made his senior debut at 16 for Dagenham in 2014, scored in the shoot-out and knows how special one more goal on Friday would be. “I’ve pictured it loads of times, whether it’ll happen is another thing,” says Jones, who joined the Magpies permanently this month after leaving Oxford. “I believe in my ability and I know if I get one chance I will take it.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Greenpeace activists climb Deutsche Bank HQ in climate protest
Greenpeace activists scaled Deutsche Bank's headquarters in Frankfurt Wednesday and strung up a large yellow banner to protest against the climate investment policies of the German lender and its asset management company DWS.
1970-01-01 08:00
UBS Amasses 1,200 Private Bankers in Asia as Region Spared Cuts
UBS Group AG initially plans to take on the bulk of Credit Suisse private bankers in Asia Pacific,
1970-01-01 08:00
Andy Morrison expects Manchester City to build on Champions League glory
Former captain Andy Morrison expects Manchester City’s Champions League triumph to open the door to many more European successes. City are celebrating becoming continental kings for the first time, as well as a memorable treble, after beating Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday. Victory marked the end of a long quest for the club and Morrison does not think City, and their inspirational manager Pep Guardiola, will rest on their laurels. Morrison told the PA news agency: “The celebrations are well deserved. What they’ve done in the last four months has been miraculous. It was physically draining and even more so mentally. “They’ll have a break but then start again next season. I know how the manager works. He will be relentless. “It is so important to him to keep winning. It’s in his DNA and he’s done it all his career. Next season will be no different. “He’s spoken this week about the two years left on his contract and he’ll want back-to-back (Champions League) titles. That’s the way he is. “It’s a knockout competition and it’s so hard but they’ve done it once now and will believe they can do it again.” City’s triumph saw them become only the second side to win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the same season, emulating the achievement of rivals Manchester United in 1999. United’s success came when City were at one of the lowest points in their history, having sunk to the third tier of the English game. Their revival began when they beat Gillingham in a play-off final to secure promotion at the end of that 1998-99 campaign and Morrison, who led the team at Wembley, says the journey since has been extraordinary. Morrison, 52, said: “It is remarkable. The stigma City had to carry being in that second division, especially when their rivals won the treble – it was so difficult for City fans at the time but they stuck with the club. “There were 32, 33, 34,000 every week cheering us on. “Good things happen to good people. These fans deserve it. It is another part of the journey. “There are good times, bad times, indifferent and incredible times. It is all part of the journey and at this moment it is magical for City fans.”
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