Manchester City closed in on a fourth consecutive Premier League title by thrashing Fulham 4-0 on Saturday, while Burnley were relegated from the top flight after a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.
Luton are also virtually down. A 3-1 defeat at West Ham left them three points adrift of safety and with a goal difference 12 worse than Nottingham Forest with just one game remaining.
There was no twist in the title race at Craven Cottage as defender Josko Gvardiol continued his hot streak in front of goal.
The Croatian settled any City nerves by firing in on his weaker right foot after just 13 minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s men were dominant but had to wait until the hour to make the points safe when Phil Foden swept in his 25th goal of the season.
Gvardiol then turned in Bernardo Silva’s cross at the back post for his fifth City goal, all of which have come in his past seven games.
Alvarez finished the scoring for City.Source: Getty Images
A £77 million signing from RB Leipzig last summer, Gvardiol could have become the first defender in Premier League history to score a hat-trick when City were awarded a penalty in stoppage time.
However, he turned down the chance to take it, allowing Julian Alvarez to round off the scoring.
Victory takes City two points clear at the top of the table and ramps up the pressure on second-placed Arsenal, ahead of their visit to Manchester United on Sunday.
Should the Gunners fail to win, City can wrap up the title when they travel to Tottenham on Tuesday.
“My players like to play with pressure, they are used to it. The players enjoy this feeling,” Guardiola said.
“The destiny (of the title) is in our hands.”
Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City celebrates scoring.Source: Getty Images
SPURS FIGHT BACK TO FINALLY END LOSING RUN
Spurs kept their chance of Champions League football next season alive by coming from behind to send Burnley to the Championship.
Jacob Bruun Larsen had fired the Clarets into a shock lead after Sander Berge’s pass cut the Tottenham defence wide open.
Spurs had lost their last four matches, but they turned the game around to move within four points of fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Pedro Porro blasted an equaliser high past Arijanet Muric.
Micky Van de Ven then curled in the winner to at least guarantee Spurs will be in Europe next season.
“Today the Premier League is over but tomorrow we start day one of doing everything we can to get back to the Premier League,” said Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Dutch defender #37 Micky van de Ven (C) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur’s Spanish defender #23 Pedro Porro (L).Source: AFPAnge Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, applauds the fans after the game.Source: Getty Images
MANAGER’S TEARS AFTER MINNOWS’ PL DREAM ENDS
Luton will also be back in the Championship next season after blowing a 1-0 lead and losing to West Ham in David Moyes’ final home game in charge of the Hammers.
Albert Sambi Lokonga’s early header gave the visitors hope of a great escape. But second-half strikes from James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and George Earthy all but ended Luton’s Premier League stay after a remarkable rise back through the leagues to get back to the top flight for the first time in 32 years.
“These players and supporters have given me the best 18 months of my life,” said Luton manager Rob Edwards, who broke down in tears after full-time.
“It’s a huge sorry, but a huge thank you.”
With Luton set to join Burnley and Sheffield United in going down, all three promoted clubs will be relegated to expose to growing gulf between the top two divisions.
It was a sad day for the minnows.Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA FIGHT BACK LATE
Forest missed the chance to mathematically confirm Luton’s relegation by blowing a late lead to lose 3-2 to Chelsea.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s opener for Chelsea was quickly cancelled out by Willy Boly’s header.
Callum Hudson-Odoi then seemed to have sealed Forest’s survival against his former club when his fierce curling finish found the far corner 16 minutes from time.
But two goals in two minutes from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson boosted in-form Chelsea’s charge towards Europe next season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men move level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle, who were held 1-1 at home by Brighton.
Crystal Palace’s stunning form since the arrival of Oliver Glasner as manager continued with a 3-1 win at Wolves.
Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze were on target for the Eagles, who climb up to 12th.
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the only goal as Everton beat Sheffield United 1-0. Yoane Wissa scored a 95th-minute winner for Brentford to snatch a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.
Arsenal shrugged off the disappointment of their Champions League exit to move back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Wolves on Sunday (AEST).
Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard struck at the end of each half to take the Gunners one point clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Arsenal’s season was in danger of coming completely off the rails after a three-game winless run.
Mikel Arteta’s men lost in the Premier League for the first time in 2024 last weekend, 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, in between a Champions League quarter-final elimination by Bayern Munich.
However, they bounced back to keep the pressure on champions City, who beat Chelsea 1-0 to reach the FA Cup final earlier on Saturday.
Arteta made just three changes from the side that lost 1-0 in Munich on Wednesday and it took some time for the sluggish visitors to find their stride.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil claimed his side have been struck by the worst injury crisis he has encountered in his professional career.
Yet, the undermanned hosts were nearly in front when David Raya was forced to turn Joao Gomes’ powerful effort onto the crossbar.
Arsenal had only fleetingly threatened before the break despite their dominance of possession.
But they got the slice of fortune they needed to kickstart their challenge for a first title in 20 years on 44 minutes when Trossard’s mis-hit shot clipped in off the far post.
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to a victory over Wolves. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)Source: AFP
There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the second period as fatigue took hold of Arsenal in their fourth game in 11 days.
However, shorn of the threat of the injured Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto, Wolves lacked the attacking inspiration to further dent their title aspirations.
Odegaard made the points safe five minutes into stoppage time by catching Jose Sa out at his near post.
Third-placed Liverpool can move level on points with Arsenal when they visit Fulham on Sunday.
At the bottom of the table, Luton’s hopes of survival were hammered by Brentford’s 5-1 rout at Kenilworth Road.
Luton’s heaviest home league defeat of the season leaves the Hatters still one point adrift of Nottingham Forest, who visit Everton on Sunday in a huge clash at the bottom of the table.
“Today was a bad day for us as a club but the teams directly above us play each other and we will not be out of it this weekend. It’s important we all remember that,” said Luton boss Rob Edwards.
Luton shipped five goals in the defeat to Brentford. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Brentford realistically secured their top-flight status with a dominant display despite missing England striker Ivan Toney through injury.
Yoane Wissa struck twice before halftime, while Ethan Pinnock, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Schade were also on target for the Bees.
Burnley are now within two points of Luton and three of survival after cruising to a 4-1 victory at rock bottom Sheffield United.
Two of the Clarets’ five league wins this season have come against the Blades. Burnley scored twice in two minutes just before halftime through Jacob Bruun Larsen and Lorenz Assignon.
Gustavo Hamer pulled a goal back for the home side early in the second period. But United are destined to head straight back down to the Championship due to their woeful defending.
Lyle Foster and Johann Gudmundsson rounded off the scoring to leave Chris Wilder’s men 10 points adrift of safety with just five games remaining.
“I won’t name names, but I think there were a few players out there who wanted to get out of there pretty quickly after the fourth went in,” said Wilder.
Tottenham’s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League suffered a blow as West Ham’s Kurt Zouma rescued a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s London derby.
Ange Postecoglou’s side took an early lead through Brennan Johnson at the rain-lashed London Stadium.
But Zouma quickly hit back to leave Tottenham with just one win in their last three league games.
Tottenham remain in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, who face title-chasing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Tottenham Hotspur’s coach Ange Postecoglou.Source: AFP
If Villa beat City for the second time this season, they would move five points clear of Tottenham in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
A Villa defeat would allow Tottenham to move above them into fourth place if they win their game in hand.
“It’s what you expect when you come here. They are a strong team and they sit compact, so you have to be patient,” Spurs’ Australian manager Ange Postecoglou said.
“Disappointed not to get a better outcome but I thought we handled it okay. “I will be very surprised if all games aren’t tight. Everyone is fighting for something. We have to maintain our levels.”
The Aussie bemoaned a lack of ‘clarity’ in their decision making in the final third, but cheekily added: “They are human beings, it is just football.
“I would love to have a joystick and put them where I want them, but it does not work like that. “
West Ham are now without a win in their last four league games, but boss David Moyes could take heart from the way his side bounced back with a spirited display after last weekend’s meltdown.
The Hammers blew a 3-1 lead against Newcastle last weekend as three late goals condemned them to a 4-3 defeat.
Tottenham, without a win at West Ham since 2019, came from behind to beat Luton 2-1 on Saturday thanks to Son Heung-min’s late winner.
The momentum from that gritty success was still fuelling Tottenham as they snatched the lead in the fifth minute in East London.
Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen scuffed wide from close range in the opening seconds and the visitors immediately made him pay.
Timo Werner was the catalyst for Tottenham’s opener with an astute cutback that Johnson converted with a clinical finish from five yards for his fifth goal this season.
Tottenham needed to win by at least two goals to climb above Villa and Pedro Porro nearly doubled their advantage with a long-range strike that fizzed just wide.
Confusion between West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski and Vladimir Coufal ended with the ball running to Son, but Tottenham’s captain couldn’t apply the finishing touch to punish that slack defending.
West Ham made the most of those escapes to equalise against the run of play in the 19th minute as Zouma rose highest to meet Bowen’s corner.
The French defender misjudged his attempted header but still managed to deflect the ball into the far corner off his back.
Bowen weaved through the suddenly anxious Tottenham defence for a deflected shot that Guglielmo Vicario saved at full stretch.
Vicario made an even better stop to push James Ward-Prowse’s dipping free-kick over the bar.
West Ham were on top again after the interval and Michail Antonio’s close-range effort was repelled by Vicario before Lucas Paqueta curled narrowly wide from 25 yards.
As the pressure mounted on Tottenham, Antonio held off Micky van de Ven but hit his shot straight at Vicario with just the keeper to beat.
After labouring for much of the half, Postecoglou’s men almost snatched the points in stoppage time, but Destiny Udogie’s shot was too close to Fabianski.
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‘Didn’t show the minimum to compete!’ | 01:44
STRUGGLING TOFFEES HIT HORROR LOW
Meanwhile, injury-hit Newcastle’s hopes of European football next season were dented by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late equaliser for Everton from the penalty spot.
Alexander Isak scored for the fifth consecutive game at St James’ Park to open the scoring.
The Swede took his tally for the season to 19 as he cut inside Jarrad Branthwaite and slotted into the far corner on 15 minutes.
How Sean Dyche longs for a striker of Isak’s quality. But Calvert-Lewin ended a near six-month goal drought from the spot after Ashley Young was hauled down inside the box by Paul Dummett.
Everton set a new club record winless run of 13 Premier League games to leave their 70-year stay in the top flight still at risk.
The Toffees edge four points above the relegation zone but have the threat of a second points deduction for breaches of financial rules hanging over them.
FOREST’S INSANE FIRST-HALF BLITZ
Nottingham Forest pulled three points clear of the relegation zone with a first-half blitz of Fulham to win 3-1.
The home side sped out of the blocks at the City Ground as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood smashed home inside the first 19 minutes.
Fulham boss Marco Silva showed his disgust by making a triple substitution after just half an hour.
However, even that did not halt Forest’s momentum as Morgan Gibbs-White made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.
Fulham pulled one back through Tosin Adarabioyo in the second half but it was too little, too late for the Cottagers.
BURNLEY SLIP FURTHER AWAY
Second-bottom Burnley are now unbeaten in four but slip six points adrift of safety after a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves.
Jacob Bruun Larsen put the Clarets in front, but Rayan Ait-Nouri’s header secured Wolves a point.
Bournemouth climbed above Chelsea into 11th thanks to Justin Kluivert’s winner as they beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
UNITED’S BIG INJURY BLOW
Manchester United defenders Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof have been ruled out of action for at least a month due to muscle injuries.
Argentine World Cup winner Martinez’s season has been decimated by a series of injuries.
The former Ajax man picked up a calf problem when making his return from a long-term knee issue as a substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Martinez had replaced Lindelof after the Swede picked up a hamstring injury. A difficult second season for United boss Erik ten Hag has been blighted by the consistent loss of key players to injury.
The Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League, 11 points off the top four with nine games remaining.
Martinez and Lindelof are also set to miss the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry later this month
Tottenham wasted a chance to move into the Premier League’s top four as they slumped to a shock 3-0 defeat at Fulham, while Luton salvaged a crucial 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday (AEDT).
Ange Postecoglou’s side would have climbed above Aston Villa into fourth place with a win, but instead they handed the initiative back to their top-four rivals.
Fifth-placed Tottenham were punished for a sloppy performance as the in-form Rodrigo Muniz netted twice either side of Sasa Lukic’s first goal for Fulham.
A 4-0 win at Villa last weekend was expected to act as Tottenham’s springboard to finish above Unai Emery’s team in the battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Instead, the north Londoners crashed to a first league defeat at Craven Cottage since 2008 and failed to score for the first time in 40 games.
They sit two points behind Villa, who can extend that lead to five if they win at West Ham on Sunday.
With Micky van de Ven sidelined by a hamstring injury, Radu Dragusin made his first Tottenham start.
Worryingly for Postecoglou, Romania centre-back Dragusin, signed from Genoa in January, was often exposed in a rocky display.
Fulham took the lead in the 42nd minute when Muniz cleverly drifted away from Dragusin as the Brazilian forward found space to meet Antonee Robinson’s low cross with a clinical finish from 10 yards.
Postecoglou had plenty to ponder as Tottenham slipped to defeat against Fulham. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)Source: AFP
Tottenham’s defensive deficiencies were exposed again four minutes after half-time.
Iwobi was allowed to advance unchecked and he slipped a pass to Timothy Castagne, whose cross hit Lukic and deflected into the net.
Tottenham were in tatters and Muniz struck again in the 61st minute. Joao Palhinha’s header reached Calvin Bassey and when his shot was saved by Guglielmo Vicario, Muniz reacted quicker than Dragusin to stab home.
As the fight to avoid relegation comes to a head, Luton and Forest met in a vital showdown at Kenilworth Road.
Forest, beaten in their previous three games, took the lead through Chris Wood’s 34th minute strike.
But Luke Berry came off the bench to equalise from close-range in the 89th minute.
Third-bottom Luton, who blew a three-goal lead in Wednesday’s disastrous 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth, are without a win in their last nine games in all competitions.
They lie three points behind fourth-bottom Forest and boss Rob Edwards said: “You get knocked down on Wednesday and it was very tough for us all. We performed really well today in difficult circumstances.
“This group just keep going. We’ve got to fight. We’ve had to do that for a long time.”
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo added: “We did enough to win it with the chances we had and the way we played.”
Luke Berry scored a late equaliser for Luton against Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
At Turf Moor, second-bottom Burnley kept alive their faint survival hopes with a 2-1 victory against Brentford.
Vincent Kompany’s side took the lead in the 10th minute when Vitinho sprinted onto Josh Cullen’s pass and was about to shoot when he was pulled down by Sergio Reguilon.
The Spanish defender was shown the earliest red card in the Premier League this season, after a VAR check, and Jacob Bruun Larsen stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
David Datro Fofana, on loan from Chelsea, struck in the 62nd minute with a composed finish into the far corner.
Kristoffer Ajer got one back in the 83rd minute with a diving header from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross, but the Clarets held on for their first league win in 11 games.
They are now eight points from safety with nine games left.
“It had been coming. On another day we could have scored more,” Kompany said. Brentford have won only three of their past 18 league games and sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Burnley put five goals past Sheffield United in a mauling at Turf Moor, with Jay Rodriguez entering the Premier League record books.
Rodriguez fired the home side ahead with just 15 seconds on the clock – the fastest goal of the season so far.
The English striker also became the first player in PL history to score in the opening 15 seconds of two separate matches – doing so for Southampton in a 2013 game against Chelsea.
The English striker also became the first player in PL history to score in the opening 15 seconds of two separate matches – doing so for Southampton in a 2013 game against Chelsea.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 02: Jay Rodriguez of Burnley celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Sheffield United at Turf Moor on December 02, 2023 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Jacob Bruun Larsen extended their lead and Sheffield United’s task was made almost impossible when Oli McBurnie received a second yellow card shortly before the break.
Zeki Amdouni made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute, with Luca Koleosho and Josh Brownhill also finding the net as the floodgates opened.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men are now bottom – stuck on just a single win and they have now conceded five goals or more on three occasions this season.
But Burnley are just two points from safety after only their second win of the season _ and Kompany said he hoped the three points would be a launch pad.
“I think the guys have deserved it,” he told the BBC. “They have performed well for a while. This league is brutal.
“I haven’t felt the nerves (from the team). I could barely contain them, they were raring to go. The frustration of last week (conceding two late goals against West Ham) didn’t turn into negativity. It turned into ‘we’ll show people’.”
ARSENAL SURVIVES LATE SCARE TO EXTEND PL LEAD
Arsenal survived a late scare against Wolves on Sunday (all times AEDT) to extend its lead at the top of the Premier League as Burnley lifted themselves off the bottom with a 5-0 trouncing of 10-man Sheffield United.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, brimming with confidence after their 6-0 hammering of Lens in the Champions League in midweek, raced into a 2-0 lead at the Emirates within 13 minutes.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring and Arsenal doubled their lead when Oleksandr Zinchenko cut the ball back for Martin Odegaard, who picked out the bottom corner.
The home side came agonisingly close to a third goal when Gabriel Martinelli cannoned a shot off the post towards the end of the first half.
But they failed to put the game to bed and were made to sweat when Wolves forward Matheus Cunha found the top corner in the 86th minute to set up a tense finale.
Despite the scare, Arsenal, last year’s runners-up, held on for their 10th win in 14 league games, which moves them four points clear of champions Manchester City, who host Tottenham on Monday.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 02: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal hits the post during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on December 02, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
EPL Wrap: Arsenal survive late scare | 02:10
Luton, just outside the drop zone, sank to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, with Neal Maupay, Ben Mee and Shandon Baptiste on target for the Bees.
Everton, hit last month with a swingeing 10-point deduction for breaking Premier League financial rules, against which they have appealed, are above Burnley on goal difference.
Dwight McNeil broke the deadlock midway through the second half, smashing the ball into the top corner, as Everton secured a third consecutive away win.
But, following Saturday’s narrow Premier League victory at Burnley, they secured a second successive win to ease the pressure at least a little.
Alejandro Garnacho put them ahead in the first half and Casemiro doubled the lead before the interval, with Anthony Martial sealing the victory after the break.
When United lifted the League Cup in February to end a six-year trophy drought, it was seen as the start of a new era of success at Old Trafford.
Instead, United have been engulfed by a series of problems on and off the pitch. Having lost three of their first five league games to severely damage their title hopes, Ten Hag was under mounting scrutiny until the last four days offered a ray of hope.
Ten Hag made a point of applauding the crowd and waving to all corners of Old Trafford before kick-off, setting the tone for an uplifting evening as his decision to make seven changes paid off.
Dean Henderson was making his Palace debut after leaving United a month ago, but the keeper’s return lasted just 19 minutes before he limped off injured.
Manchester United cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Henderson’s replacement Sam Johnstone had to pick the ball out of the net moments after coming on as United took a 21st minute lead.
Diogo Dalot’s cross arrowed towards Garnacho and the Argentine winger swivelled to fire a low strike past Johnstone from 10 yards.
Casemiro increased United’s advantage six minutes later, climbing highest to meet Mason Mount’s corner with a glancing header that gave Johnstone no chance.
United’s third arrived in the 55th minute when Martial rifled home from Casemiro’s cross.
Giving further encouragement to Ten Hag, Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat impressed on his first start since his deadline-day loan switch from Fiorentina.
Amrabat lined up a stand-in left-back role before switching to his preferred central midfield position after halftime.
United will look to extend their winning run when Palace return to Old Trafford in the league on Saturday.
Luton’s difficult start to the season hit a new low with a shock 1-0 defeat at third tier Exeter.
Luton enjoyed a fairytale promotion to the Premier League last season, but they are winless after five games in the top-flight.
Luton were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League One side Exeter City. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rob Edwards’ side claimed their first point of the season against Wolves on Saturday.
However, Edwards’ decision to make 10 changes backfired as Demetri Mitchell bagged Exeter’s 83rd-minute winner with a close-range finish before he was sent off in the final moments.
Wolves were the other Premier League side to suffer an embarrassing exit as they blew a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Gary O’Neill made 10 changes against the Championship high-flyers and his understudies raced ahead thanks to goals from Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes in the first 15 minutes.
But Omari Hutchinson, on loan from Chelsea, got one back in the 28th minute and Freddie Ladapo levelled seven minutes before halftime.
Ipswich completed their comeback in the 58th minute when Jack Taylor blasted in from 25 yards.
Middlesbrough secured a much-needed victory with a 2-0 win over Bradford City.
Socceroos trio Riley McGree, Sammy Silvera and Tom Glover all had a part to play in helping Michael Carrick’s side progress into the fourth round.
Salford — the fourth tier club owned by former Manchester United stars including David Beckham and Gary Neville — were thrashed 4-0 by Burnley.
Salford had stunned Championship teams Preston and Leeds in the first two rounds, but their giant-killing exploits were ended by a Burnley team off to a winless start in the Premier League.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany made 11 changes, with Sander Berge heading home in the 12th minute before Jacob Bruun Larsen scored for the first time since joining from Hoffenheim.
Dara O’Shea netted in the 27th minute and Wilson Odobert’s late goal capped the rout.
FULL CARABAO CUP RESULTS (THIRD ROUND)
Manchester United 3-0 Crystal Palace
Port Vale 2-1 Sutton United
Bradford City 0-2 Middlesbrough
Mansfield Town 2-2 Peterborough United (Mansfield won 3-1 on penalties)
Al Hilal are reported to have negotiated a £50 million ($AUD99 million deal for the 28-year-old.
“The club can confirm that Aleksandar Mitrovic has this evening left to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for a club record transfer fee,” Fulham said in a statement.
“The club had reluctantly accepted a revised offer as the player had consistently made his desire to leave known.”
Mitrovic pushed for a move in order to join the growing list of players swapping Europe for a lucrative switch to the Gulf state.
He will be Al Hilal’s latest high-profile signing after their swoops for Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcom.
Mitrovic has gone to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol on a five-year deal from RB Leipzig, the Premier League champions announced Saturday.
No financial details were revealed but Pep Guardiola’s side are understood to have agreed a fee of €90 million ($AUD150 million) for the Croatia international.
Gvardiol, 21, has impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig which he joined from Dynamo Zagreb in July 2021.
“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” said Gvardiol of joining a team which won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last year.
“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.” Gvardiol becomes Man City’s second signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.
Gvardiol has signed for Manchester City. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family,” continued Gvardiol.
“To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me. “I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.
“To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.” Capped 21 times for Croatia, Gvardiol made 87 appearances across two seasons for Leipzig winning back-to-back German Cups.
He won two league titles with Zagreb before moving to the Bundesliga.
PL DONE DEALS
ARSENAL
In
Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m
Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m
Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m
Out
Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m
Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m
Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed
Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed
Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed
Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan
Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed
Tom Smith [Colchester] Free
Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Released]
Matt Smith [Released]
Joel Ideho [Released]
George Lewis [Released]
Tom Smith [Released]
Zach Awe [Released]
Kaleel Green [Released]
Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]
Tino Quamina [Released]
Mathaeus Roberts [Released]
Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for a British record fee. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA
In
Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m
Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free
Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed
Out
Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed
Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed
Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan
Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan
Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan
Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan
Ashley Young [Everton] Free
Declan Frith [Released]
Hayden Lindley [Released]
Arjan Raikhy [Released]
Ruben Shakpoke [Released]
Myles Sohna [Released]
Jed Steer [Released]
Brad Young [Released]
Aston Villa broke their transfer fee record to snap up Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BOURNEMOUTH
In
Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed
Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)
Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m
Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed
Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan
Out
Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed
Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free
Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free
Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed
Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan
Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan
Junior Stanislas [Released]
Josh Popoola [Released]
Tarik Gidaree [Released]
Matthew Burgess [Released]
Christopher Francis [Released]
Brooklyn Genesini [Released]
BRENTFORD
In
Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m
Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m
Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m
Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed
Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed
Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed
Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed
Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free
Out
Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free
Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan
Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan
Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan
Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan
Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan
Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan
Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free
Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan
Saman Ghoddos [Released]
Tariqe Fosu [Released]
Joel Valencia [Released]
J’Neil Bennett [Released]
Lachlan Brook [Released]
Nico Jones [Released]
Roco Rees [Released]
Roy Syla [Released]
Lucias Vine [Released]
Collins moved from Wolves to Brentford. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON
In
Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m
Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m
Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m
Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed
Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free
James Milner [Liverpool] Free
Out
Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m
Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m
Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed
Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed
Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed
Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan
Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan
James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan
Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan
Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan
Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan
Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan
Toby Bull [Released]
Billie Clark [Released]
Matthew Everitt [Released]
Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free
Todd Miller [Released]
Sam Packham [Released]
Haydon Roberts [Released]
Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]
Jack Spong [Released]
Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free
Lorent Tolaj [Released]
Antef Tsoungui [Released]
Ben Wilson [Released]
BURNLEY
In
James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m
Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m
Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m
Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed
Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed
Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed
Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed
Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free
Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan
Out
Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free
Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free
Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan
Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan
Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free
Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free
Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan
CHELSEA
In
Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m
Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m
Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m
Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m
Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m
Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed
Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed
Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed
Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed
Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed
Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed
Out
Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m
Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m
Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m
Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m
Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m
Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed
Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed
N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free
Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free
Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m
David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan
Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free
Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free
Derrick Abu [Released]
Prince Adegoke [Released]
Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]
Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free
Juan Castillo [Released]
Bryan Fiabema [Released]
Joe Haigh [Released]
Henry Lawrence [Released]
Sam McClelland [Released]
Silko Thomas [Released]
Ethan Wady [Released]
Jayden Wareham [Released]
Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan
Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan
Nkunku is Chelsea’s big-money signing this summer. (Photo by Mike Stobe / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
CRYSTAL PALACE
In
Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free
Out
Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free
Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free
Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan
James McArthur [Released]
Luka Milivojevic [Released]
Jack Butland [Rangers] Free
Joshua Addae [Released]
David Boateng [Released]
Ryan Bartley [Released]
Maliq Cadogan [Released]
Reece Hannam [Released]
David Omilabu [Released]
Daniel Quick [Released]
EVERTON
In
Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free
Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan
Out
Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m
Yerry Mina [Released]
Andros Townsend [Released]
Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed
Einar Iversen [Released]
Isaac Price [Released]
Tom Davies [Released]
Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan
Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan
Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan
FULHAM
In
Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m
Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed
Willian
Out
Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free
Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan
Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan
Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free
Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]
Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free
Sonny Hilton [Released]
Sylvester Jasper [Released]
Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free
Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free
Jonathon Page [Released]
Steven Sessegnon [Released]
Jean-Pierre Tiéhi [Released]
LIVERPOOL
In
Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m
Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m
Out
Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed
Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m
Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan
Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan
Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan
Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan
Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free
James Milner [Brighton] Free
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Released]
Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free
Jack Bearne [Released]
Liam Hughes [Released]
Oscar Kelly [Released]
Fidel O’Rourke [Released]
Oludare Olufunwa [Released]
Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed
Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan
Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan
Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan
Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan
Dominik Szoboszlai adds plenty of quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LUTON TOWN
In
Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m
Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed
Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed
Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed
Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free
Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free
Thomas Kaminski [Luton Town] Undisclosed
Out
Harry Isted [Charlton] Free
Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free
Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free
Henri Lansbury [Released]
Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]
Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan
Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan
MANCHESTER CITY
In
Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m
Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m
Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed
Out
Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m
James Trafford [Burnley] £19m
Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m
lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free
Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m
Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free
Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan
Rowan McDonald [Released]
Benjamin Mendy [Released]
Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed
Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan
Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan
Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan
MANCHESTER UNITED
In
Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m
Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m
Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free
Out
Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m
Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed
David de Gea [Released]
Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000
Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed
Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free
Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free
Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free
Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed
Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan
Phil Jones [Released]
Axel Tuanzebe [Released]
Di’Shon Bernard [Released]
Eric Hanbury [Released]
Charlie Wellens [Released]
Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free
Mason Mount moved from Chelsea to Manchester United. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEWCASTLE UNITED
In
Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m
Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m
Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed
Out
Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m
Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed
Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed
Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan
Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan
Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan
Niall Brookwell [Released]
Ciaran Clark [Released]
Dan Langley [Released]
Matty Longstaff [Released]
Josh Stewart [Released]
Isaac Westendorf [Released]
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
In
Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m
Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m
Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free
Ola Aina [Torino] Free
Out
Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed
Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed
Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free
Jack Colback [QPR] Free
Cafu [Rotherham] Free
Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan
Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan
Andre Ayew [Released]
Jesse Lingard [Released]
Jordan Smith [Released]
Lyle Taylor [Released]
Billy Fewster [Released]
Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]
Ryan Hammon [Released]
SHEFFIELD UNITED
In
Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed
Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed
Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan
Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed
Out
Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed
George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed
Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed
Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan
Jack O’Connell [Released]
Billy Sharp [Released]
Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free
Kyron Gordon [Released]
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
In
James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m
Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free
Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed
Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed
Out
Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m
Lucas Moura [Released]
Jamie Bowden [Released]
Kallum Cesay [Released]
Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]
Marqes Muir [Released]
England international James Maddison moved to Tottenham. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
WEST HAM UNITED
In
Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed – joining U21 squad
