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New York Times
10 hours ago
- New York Times
Dominic Calvert-Lewin to Leeds: Everything you need to know
Leeds United have completed the signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer. The former Everton striker, who left Merseyside this summer, has signed a three-year deal with Leeds. Leeds face his former club Everton on Monday — their first game back in the Premier League following promotion. As part of this summer's transfer coverage on The Athletic, in addition to breaking news, tactical analysis and in-depth reads, our Transfers TLDR series (you can read them all here) will bring you a quick guide to each of the key deals. Calvert-Lewin was born in Sheffield and signed up in the red half of the city at the age of seven, joining Sheffield United's academy. But after learning his trade at Bramall Lane, he made just 11 senior appearances for the club before joining Everton in 2016. The rest of his career has so far been spent on Merseyside, with the bustling centre-forward becoming a regular starter for England Under-21s between 2017 and 2019 before winning 11 senior England caps, before injuries curtailed his international career. Advertisement Despite amassing lots of experience, he is still just 28. Steve Madeley When he plays, Calvert-Lewin can be a major asset. He is a physically imposing centre-forward who, at 6ft 2in (187cm) tall, punches his weight in the air but has the technical ability to hold his own when the ball is on the ground, operating with his back to goal and linking play. But the last four seasons suggest Leeds fans should not expect him to play every week. Injuries mean he has averaged just 19 Premier League starts per season in that time. Steve Madeley Calvert-Lewin has looked at his best in the final third when attacking crosses into the box from the flanks, something Leeds did exceptionally well last season. Wingers Manor Solomon and Daniel James and left-back Junior Firpo combined to provide 31 assists last season. A similar level of service cannot be expected in the Premier League — especially as two of those players have left — but Calvert-Lewin will ensure he is positioned well to get good quality shots away, as his shotmap and expected goals per shot from the last five seasons show. If Leeds opt for more pragmatism, Calvert-Lewin fits well then too. His hold-up play and aerial strength have been invaluable to Everton's direct style over the last few seasons. Being restricted to battling defenders all game can lead to a lack of sharpness in front of goal when the chances do arrive, though, which explains his xG underperformance. Injuries are a legitimate concern, too. Anantaajith Raghuraman Injuries have been the biggest barrier between Calvert-Lewin and a greater impact at Everton in recent years. The list of lay-offs, as recorded by the website Transfermarkt, is extensive. Across the last eight years, it lists a total of 714 days and 111 games missed due to injury lay-offs, with the longest being a 31-game, 126-day absence due to a toe issue in 2021-22. Steve Madeley Back in 2019, Everton Under-23s manager David Unsworth told The Athletic about the attributes that had convinced him to sign Calvert-Lewin. 'I knew as soon as I came here that I wanted him,' Unsworth said. 'Dominic was outstanding technically, in the air and as an athlete. Those three traits made him attractive to everybody. Advertisement 'He came from a brilliant background. He was humble, desperate to be a footballer and coachable. I'd give him information and he'd just apply it on the pitch. You put all that in the mix at 16; this was a kid that I thought was going to go to the very top with a bit of luck.' Cerys Jones Leeds have signed Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer after his Everton contract expired at the end of June. While no transfer fee has been paid, Leeds will naturally have to foot Calvert-Lewin's wages across the three-year contract the striker has signed at Elland Road. It's unlikely Leeds' amortisation costs on Calvert-Lewin will be zero. Any agent fees incurred on bringing him to the club will be expensed across his contract. Chris Weatherspoon Leeds' annual transfer fee amortisation costs on acquiring Calvert-Lewin's registration will, even if minimal, add to annual expenditure. So too, and likely rather more substantially, will Calvert-Lewin's wage. Leeds will foot that bill across his three-year contract, as well as employment taxes on top. For Everton, they won't book any profit on Calvert-Lewin's sale, something they would have managed had they sold him to Newcastle a year ago. That's never great, but less of an issue now. Everton's £62.7m PSR loss in 2022-23 has dropped off their rolling three-year calculation now, leaving the club with more room for manoeuvre and less need for player sales. Everton will benefit from wage savings via Calvert-Lewin's departure, too. Chris Weatherspoon Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Manchester United injury update: Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez latest news and return dates
Manchester United finished their pre-season unbeaten for the first time since 2019, but Ruben Amorim has been left sweating over the availability of four first-team stars before his side's Premier League opener against Arsenal. With the Red Devils hosting the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17, the injury status of Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui is still up in the air. Indeed, none of the foursome were involved or even named on the bench as United played their final friendly of the summer at home to Fiorentina last Saturday. Will Amorim get some positive updates on their injuries this week? Here's a look at the latest Manchester United injury news… Andre Onana Amorim's current No1 goalkeeper has been absent for the entirety of pre-season with a hamstring injury that he picked up in the first week of pre-season training at Carrington. His absence has meant Altay Bayindir has deputised during the summer, with veteran goalie Tom Heaton as back-up, though there have been a litany of rumours linking the Red Devils to a new shot-stopper throughout this transfer window, from a failed approach for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez to a potentially ongoing pursuit of the likes of Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma. No such moves have materialised yet though, and the Cameroon international was pictured back in training during the Premier League Summer Series despite not taking part in any matchday action in the United States. Earlier this month, he also revealed he was targeting a return for the start of the Premier League season. 'I feel good, I feel great,' Onana said on August 3. 'It's been a few difficult weeks, but yeah, hopefully, I will be back for the start of the season.' Taking him at his word unless we hear any different during the week, that sets Onana up to reclaim his position between the posts for the visit of Arsenal this weekend. Potential return date: Lisandro Martinez Argentine centre-back Martinez is continuing his comeback from an ACL injury that has kept him side-lined since February and saw him undergo surgery earlier this year. He travelled to the US with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour but, like Onana, has not set foot on the pitch aside from some training sessions he was pictured at towards the latter stages of that trip. An important defensive cog on the left of Amorim's ideal back three, United will hope Martinez's recovery continues to progress, but there's been no specific timeframe placed on his return yet. Potential return date: Joshua Zirkzee The Dutch forward has not featured for United this pre-season either, due to an unspecified injury - believed to be muscular in nature - sustained prior to the tour. Like the others, he also travelled to the US but is not thought to have participated in team training whilst abroad. However, Zirkzee was pictured training with the rest of the Red Devils squad at Carrington earlier this week, after suggesting he was aiming to be ready for the Arsenal match. 'I've got a small injury, but it shouldn't take too long to recover now,' Zirkzee said on July 28. 'I've got great physios working with me every day. It's pre-season, so unlike last season, where I wanted to push myself to be back for the [Europa League] final, now I just want to be there for the start of the season.' Potential return date: Noussair Mazraoui Moroccan defender Mazraoui was another absentee from the action across the pond, after being taken off at half-time of United's pre-season opener versus Leeds in Stockholm last month. He is believed to have picked up a knock in that match, though the exact nature of his injury has not been specified by the club. The 27-year-old hasn't been pictured in training as recently as the others, leaving his return date a little more vague. With positional rival Diogo Dalot available and Amad Diallo having played the majority of pre-season at right wing-back, Amorim may not feel the need to rush Mazraoui back before he's ready. Potential return date:
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Forbes
Premier League: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of 2025-26 Season
Three months after Liverpool celebrated a record-equalling 20th title, the Premier League is back. The reigning champions get the ball rolling when they host Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night, before Manchester City travel to Wolverhampton the folllowing day. A new-look Manchester United host title contenders Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, while Leeds kick off life in the Premier League when they host Everton a day later. From Liverpool's summer spending spree to a new era at Everton and from Arsenal's latest title bid to Ruben Amorim's first full campaign in charge of United, there is plenty of intrigue surrounding the new season. Here is what to keep an eye out for as the Premier League makes its return. Can anyone stop Liverpool? Champions at a canter last time out, Liverpool have embarked on the kind of spending spree the most dominant teams in the Premier League seldom indulge in. The Reds set a new club transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for $158 million (£116 million), while Hugo Ekitike was nabbed from under Newcastle's nose. The signings of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, meanwhile, revamped Liverpool's options at full-back following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, the headline exit of a host of sales which also included Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. Liverpool's summer spending already exceeds $340 million and could rise even further, should they land Alexander Isak, who has effectively gone on strike to force a move out of Newcastle. If there is an area of concern for Liverpool, aside of how they will cope with the grief following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, is their defence which remains overly-reliant on Virgil Van Djik. Second for the past three seasons, Arsenal have strengthened in all the required areas as they Mikel Arteta looks to deliver the Premier League that has been missing since 2004. Viktor Gyokeres has arrived from Sporting Club for $86m where he scored 54 goals in 52 matches in all competitions last season and Arsenal will hope he can be the elite striker they have been crying out for. Kai Havertz scored just nine goals last term, yet he was the Gunners' top scorer in the Premier League. Gyokeres should address that. Elsewhere, Martin Zubimendi is an upgrade on Thomas Partey in midfield, while Noni Madueke bolsters Arteta's attacking options. Like Arsenal, Manchester City have also been aggressive in the transfer market, spending north of $200m on Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, James Trafford and Rayan Cherki. For the first time in his nine years in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola faces a delicate rebuild after ending last season empty-handed. Arsenal and City have spent well, but it may not be enough to catch Liverpool. Will Ruben Amorim survive at Manchester United? Over the summer, Rubem Amorim indicated he sees himself being at Manchester United for the next two decades. It was a bold claim and not just because longevity is an increasingly rare luxury in football and United have churned through five permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford 12 years ago. In his first season in charge, Amorim oversaw a historically dismal campaign. United finished 15th in the Premier League with 42 points, their lowest position since they were relegated from the old First Division in 1974. Their 18 defeats were also a club record high in the Premier League era, while their 40 goals pointed an impotent attack. A limp defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final denied United a back door entry in the Champions League and the $120 million cash injection it would have generated. Amorim arrived in England in November as one of European football's most exciting managers, but has become under intense scrutiny because of the lack of results and his near-dogmatic 3-4-3 approach. There are, of course, mitigating factors. The Portuguese took over a squad that was a collection of years of poor recruitment, an issue exacerbated by a club drifting off the field. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new regime has doubled down on Amorim, insisting last season's pain was a necessary medicine to restore the patient to health. Matheus Cunha, Briam Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have arrived for a combined $270 million, a significant outlay for a club that continue to face significant financial headwinds. United remain interested in Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who would provide an immediate upgrade on the options currently at Amorim's disposal and a new goalkeeper to replace the erratic Andre Onana should also be a priority. A season of consolidation may be Amorim's best hope, but he needs to show tangible improvements if he is to survive. Can the Premier League newcomers avoid relegation? For the past two seasons, the three newly-promoted clubs in the Premier League have swiftly returned to the Championship at the first time of asking. The gap between English football's top tier and the second division is an ever-growing chasm, which is increasingly difficult to bridge. That is the challenge awaiting Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland this season. Of the trio, Sunderland have arguably done the best business this summer, while in Daniel Farke Leeds have a manager with Premier League experience - albeit a brief one, as his Norwich City side were relegated at the first time of asking. Then there is Burnley, who won promotion last season on the back of conceding just 16 goals in 46 matches in the Championship. That kind of defensive solidity should serve them well in the Premier League, but the departure of James Trafford for Manchester City is a tough blow. Trafford kept 30 clean sheets last season and while Martin Dubravka is a dependable replacement, he will face an altogether different challenge. A new era at Everton It's out with the old and in with the new at Everton as they move into their new home at Hill Dickinson Stadium after 133 years at Goodison Park. Having flirted with relegation more or less closely for the past four seasons, the Toffees will be hoping the move to their new ground can coincide with an upturn in fortunes. David Moyes, however, has not had an easy summer. Everton have missed out on top targets Francisco Conceicao and Johan Bakayoko and are no closer to signing Tyler Dibling from Southampton. Thierno Barry will serve as understudy to Beto at least initially as Everton look to address their chronic shortage of goals, while Jack Grealish has joined on an expensive loan deal from Manchester City. Grealish's arrival is intriguing. The former Aston Villa captain lost his way under Pep Guardiola and never lived up to the hype of being British football's first $135 million man. With a World Cup on the horizon, Everton should represent the perfect opportunity for Grealish to reignite his career. On the flip side, the midfielder turns 30 in September and may never recover the form he showed at Villa. What else is new in the Premier League? Quite a lot, actually. For a start, Puma has replaced Nike as the official ball supplier after 25 years, with its Orbita Ultimate ball set to make its debut on Friday in the season opener. New laws have also been introduced, chief among them one which will see goalkeepers concede a corner if they hold onto the ball with their hands for longer than eight seconds. The semi-automated offsides will return from the beginning of the season after making their debut back in April and fans in the stadiums will be able to hear referees explaining the outcome of VAR reviews. The cameras referee worn at the Club World Cup will be trialled from the opening weekend for about six weeks and managers can be interviewed at half-time from now on. Finally, for viewers in the USA all 380 matches will be shown on NBC, with almost half of them streamed exclusively on Peacock and the remainder split between an NBC channel or USA Network.
