US-owned Leeds signs Slovenia defender Jaka Bijol for return to Premier League
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — Newly promoted Premier League club Leeds added Slovenia standout Jaka Bijol to its defense ahead of the second-tier champion's return to the top level.
Leeds said the 26-year-old center back signed a five-year deal. The transfer fee paid to Udinese was reportedly around 15 million pounds ($20 million).
Bijol has played 63 times for Slovenia, including all four games at the 2024 European Championship.
He helped shut out the England attack led by Harry Kane and Portugal's attack led by Cristiano Ronaldo in 0-0 draws. Slovenia was eliminated by Portugal in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout.
Slovenia starts a 2026 World Cup qualifying group in September in a competitive group with Switzerland, Sweden and Kosovo.
Leeds, whose United States ownership group is led by 49ers Enterprises, starts its Premier League season hosting Everton on Aug. 18.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Angers midfielder's contract mutually terminated
Angers SCO have mutually terminated the contract of 31-year-old midfielder Jean-Eudes Aholou. Aholou arrived at the Stade Raymond Kopa in July 2024. Despite having another year remaining on his contract, both parties agreed to terminate the deal after just a single season. In an official post, Angers thanked Aholou for his 'professionalism.' Advertisement Aholou began his career at Lille OSC but was unable to make a first-team appearance before moving to Orléans. After two seasons, he joined RC Strasbourg Alsace – the first of two separate spells at the club. He arrived at Angers from the Alsace-based side, having failed to make an appearance in the 2023-24 campaign. Aholou has also represented the Ivory Coast at both youth and senior levels. He earned his first senior cap in March 2018 and has made a total of seven appearances. He was called up to the squad for their most recent round of World Cup qualification matches. GFFN | Ed Marsh
New York Times
40 minutes ago
- New York Times
Daniel James close to signing new Leeds contract
Leeds United are close to finalising a new contract with Daniel James. The 27-year-old's exisiting deal expires in June 2026 and, after arguably the best season of his career, securing his future was among the priorities at Elland Road this summer. James is currently on holiday and yet to sign the paperwork but all parties involved in the negotiations are confident this will be resolved over the coming weeks. Advertisement Incoming transfers are dominating United executives' schedules, but the winger will be invited in to sign when the right moment emerges. The Wales international joined Leeds in August 2021 for £25million ($33.9m), two-and-a-half years after a transfer from Swansea City fell through with James already inside Elland Road. He struggled to make an impression in his first season in West Yorkshire and was then sent on loan to Fulham in 2022-23. James was with the west London side as Leeds slipped out of the Premier League in May 2023, but he returned to play a major part in the run to 190 points across two Championship campaigns under Daniel Farke. Forty-one goal involvements across 79 league appearances followed over the past two seasons. In 2024-25, James was named Leeds United's Player of the Year, shortlisted for EFL Championship Player of the Season and PFA Championship Players' Player of the Year, as well as making the EFL Championship Team of the Season. This contract would mark a remarkable turnaround in James's fortunes and reputation at Elland Road. As his loan to Fulham in 2022 underlined, things were not going his way at all in Leeds. James was used plenty by Marcelo Bielsa, but it was often as a striker when the team's other options were injured. It's not a position which has ever looked like suiting the winger and he never found any meaningful form, though the same could be said for his time with Fulham too. It was not a loan which put James in the shop window and there were never any murmurings about him moving on when Leeds were relegated. The drop has proved to be everything James needed. Yes, he was now facing inferior opposition, but the Championship gave James the platform to rebuild himself and his momentum. Injuries have cruelly stopped him in his tracks on a few occasions under Farke, but the German has got the best from the winger. Advertisement James has found a killer instinct in the final third and was rightly in the conversation for player of the year awards last month. Of those Leeds players with contracts expiring in 2026, James was the standout name that needed to be tied down. The big question now is whether James can keep those goals and assists flowing in the top flight.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
French Open semifinalist Loïs Boisson out of Wimbledon qualifying event in first round
Winner Coco Gauff of the U.S., right, and France's Lois Boisson shake hands after their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) France's Lois Boisson reacts as she plays against Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) France's Lois Boisson reacts as she plays against Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Winner Coco Gauff of the U.S., right, and France's Lois Boisson shake hands after their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) France's Lois Boisson reacts as she plays against Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) LONDON (AP) — French Open surprise semifinalist Loïs Boisson has lost in the first round of qualifying for Wimbledon. The 22-year-old Boisson was beaten 6-2, 6-7 (1), 6-4 on Tuesday against No. 197-ranked Carson Branstine of Canada in a rare match for the French player on grass at the Roehampton qualifying venue. Advertisement Boisson soared from No. 361 to No. 65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in France of tournament organizers in London. Boisson beat top-10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva at the French Open before losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff. The Wimbledon main draw starts Monday. ___ AP tennis:
