Bayern Munich are reportedly scouting and keeping FC Twente center-back Ruud Nijstad on their shortlist. Christian Falk reports that Bayern are interested in the Dutch defender and the club has demanded around 10 million euros to let go of their young talent. Bayern is reportedly just one of several top clubs that have him on their radar.
In a week where young Irish players were in the headlines, from Shamrock Rovers' Michael Noonan to former Galway United man Alex Murphy, here are the teenage talents who have been capturing attention and will hope to follow in the footsteps of Mason Melia (€1.7m move to Spurs) and Victor Ozhianvuna (initial €2m pre-contract deal with Arsenal) in the future.
With Red Bull's back line currently in flux, Bradley used Justin Che as a center back in the season opener against Orlando City and was forced to start 17-year-old Matthew Dos Santos at left back. Bungi is a more polished option out on the left and provides more depth at the position should Che have to stay at that center-back position.
United are 'aggressively' chasing Kinteh, with the talent considered a long-term investment. United are alongside Chelsea, PSV, and Ajax in wanting the sign the 19-year-old who has an estimated value of just £4.3m. The outlet claims that United currently have the advantage in the race for Kinteh, although there has been no official offer submitted just yet.
Delighted for Christopher that this has finally went through. Thanks to all the people at the FAI for their help and support during this process. With Atherton used as the 'poster boy' for the Euro 2028 campaign, this announcement could be considered a big blow for Northern Ireland.
In tonight's 9-0 win, FC Cincinnati have set a new club record for goals scored and margin of victory. Of the nine goals: Four were scored by FC Cincinnati Academy graduates (Valenzuela, Chávez, Jimenez, S. Chirila) with Chávez, Jimenez and Stefan Chirila scoring their first goals.
Physically robust and quick across the ground, Ahanor excels in defensive duels while also contributing offensively. His ability to overlap, deliver accurate crosses and recover quickly in transition makes him the prototype of the modern attacking full-back or even a hybrid centre-back in systems requiring tactical flexibility.
In 1986, when Norwegian delegate Ellen Wille stood on stage at Fifa's annual congress in Mexico and demanded the creation of a World Cup for women, it sparked support from one of the room's unlikeliest allies. Delegates from North Korea, so the story goes, were inspired by Wille's speech and returned to Pyongyang with a plan: to use women's football as a tool to reassert their collapsing power on the world stage.
The Milan Futuro project is all about developing players for the future, and the one turning heads at the moment is Lorenzo Ossola. As Calciomercato.com point out, 13 points separate Milan Futuro from the team that are top of their group in Serie D. The aim is to return to the third tier as soon as possible, but the real mission is to lay the foundations for developing the youth academy.
The idea is simple but strict, as every young arrival will be assessed over time, with their performances, mentality, and tactical growth closely monitored. Only those who prove they are ready at the required level will be given a pathway towards the senior squad. The objective is to avoid rushed promotions and ensure that each step in the development ladder is earned.
AC Milan is pleased to announce the signing of Yahya Idrissi, who will be part of the Milan Futuro Project, dedicated to the growth and development of youth talents. The 2007-born midfielder joins the Rossoneri from Chelsea FC. It emerged over the weekend that Milan have swooped for the teenager, who shone for Chelsea's U16s before earning a promotion to the U18 team.
According to SPORT, FC Barcelona are fully aware that the club cannot afford for Barça Atlètic to spend another season in the fourth tier of Spanish football (Segunda RFEF). As such, the club consider it a priority for the team coached by Juliano Belletti to gain promotion, thereby reducing the gap to the elite. Beyond sporting considerations, there are also practical advantages, such as avoiding poor-quality pitches that carry a risk of injury.
Barcelona are continuing to push forward with their long-term recruitment strategy, and another young name has now emerged as a priority. According to SPORT, the Catalan club is moving closer to finalising a deal for highly rated Dutch defender Ruud Nijstad. The pursuit of Nijstad, who currently plays for FC Twente, fits perfectly into Barcelona's recent approach in the market. Rather than focusing solely on immediate first-team reinforcements, the club has prioritised strengthening their youth structure with players who can grow into senior roles over time.
You would not expect to find coaches from the Celtic FC Foundation in Brixton. But even the torrential rain in south London has not stopped them and four local teams from turning out to help launch a programme that will provide girls and young women from underprivileged backgrounds in the local area with a chance to play football. It is one of several initiatives established since the foundation began working in London to mark Celtic's 125th anniversary in 2013.
