Manchester City is set to finalize a £500,000 agreement to acquire England full-back Niamh Charles from Chelsea, as confirmed by reliable sources. The transfer is anticipated to be completed shortly.
The 26-year-old has earned 34 caps with the Lionesses and notably scored during the European Championship final against Spain in 2025. She has been part of Chelsea since 2020 and has one year left on her contract, which was signed in 2024.
Charles’ move to Manchester coincides with Leila Ouahabi’s departure from the club at the end of this month, following the expiration of her contract. Chelsea has also recently secured the services of former Arsenal left-back Katie McCabe.
In other news, Declan Rice humorously shared that his mother reprimanded him for his sunburn after England’s recent victory over Costa Rica. He commented, “I think everyone has seen those photos, I was bright red in that photo shoot. My mum was killing me! Honestly, the first day we came, it was just getting used to that heat,”
Rice elaborated on his acclimatization to the consistently warm weather, stating, “Coming from England where it’s hot-cold, all different types of weather, coming here and it’s always 30 degrees – it really does hit you in the face. After that week off, the first session was as bit cobweb-y but the next two days after that felt really good and tonight, playing 60, was all I was ever going to play but I was in a really good space, I could probably have played longer so I’[m really happy.” He felt he performed well during the match, noting, “I feel good as gold. Feel really fit, feel really strong. Had a couple of niggles throughout the season which I managed really well with the physios and the manager so I’ve come here in a really good place. I feel really confident. I think winning that Premier League for me, I have come here with a sense of confidence and a spring in my step. Now I have got over that line with Arsenal it has given me that confidence that we can come here and achieve big things as well. I’m really in a good place at the moment. Rice made a point of praising the squad’s depth. “The boys that come off the bench is frightening. The link-up play, the passing, the chances they created, Rashy, Ebs [Eze], Bee [Saka], Morgan, Ollie, the attacking options, Kobbie, all players who want to take the ball forward and create chances and at the tournament whoever the manager starts, and whoever is on the bench, he has got the key message to us that everyone has got (the chance to make) an impact and you see that off the bench.”
Despite a demanding season at Arsenal, Rice expressed his fitness and mental state positively. “football unites the world” he said. He acknowledged having minor injuries during the season but credited the physios and coaching staff for helping him manage them effectively.
He praised the depth of the squad, highlighting the talent of players coming off the bench. “The boys that come off the bench is frightening. The link-up play, the passing, the chances they created… all players who want to take the ball forward and create chances.”
As the anticipation builds for the World Cup, Jonathan Wilson reports from Mexico City, capturing the atmosphere as the tournament approaches.
Jonathan Liew critiques FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s recent comments, emphasizing a lack of accountability in his stance. He stated:
“Fifa has already articulated its worldview most eloquently. Indeed in continuing to parrot the phrase ‘football unites the world’ like a malfunctioning pull-string doll, Infantino is tacitly expressing his opinion that there are people he simply does not consider part of the world, perhaps does not even consider human at all. And so to the jailed dissidents of Russia and the nameless migrant workers of Qatar we can add the imagined enemies of the Trump White House: whether Senegalese football supporters or reporters asking questions or a referee from Somalia embarking on the greatest honour of his professional life.”
Pablo Iglesias Maurer also provided sharp commentary following Infantino’s press conference.
Meanwhile, as the tournament draws near, team guides for Ghana and Panama have been released.
In domestic news, Wolves have reportedly terminated Rob Edwards’ contract due to the team’s decline towards relegation from the Premier League.
As excitement builds, the World Cup is here, marking what some view as the most controversial and peculiar tournament to date. The Azteca Stadium, a historic venue, is prepared to host its opening match.
Mexico, a nation with a rich football culture, is facing challenges, including strikes and protests that could impact the festivities. The opening ceremony and the match between Mexico and South Africa are set to begin at 11:30 AM local time (6:30 PM BST, 1:30 PM ET), featuring performances by Shakira and Burna Boy.
Before the tournament kicks off, England’s camp is in high spirits following their convincing 3-0 win against Costa Rica. Jude Bellingham’s partnership with Harry Kane stood out, alongside Anthony Gordon’s impressive performance and Ollie Watkins’ effective contributions off the bench.
Gianni Infantino also made headlines with comments urging fans to ‘chill’ in light of the various controversies surrounding the tournament.
