Callum Wilson leaves Newcastle as a free agent
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Former England striker Callum Wilson has confirmed his departure from Newcastle after his contract expired at the end of the season.
'It's time to say goodbye after an unbelievable few years in the Toon,' the 33-year-old Wilson, who is a free agent, said in a statement.
Advertisement
The striker, who also played in the Premier League for Bournemouth, joined Newcastle in 2020 for 20 million pounds ($27 million) and scored 49 goals in 130 appearances.
'I am so proud to have worn the iconic number 9 shirt and to have added a little more history to it. Scoring at the Gallowgate End really is as special as they say," Wilson said.
Wilson had an injury-disrupted campaign last season, but still made 22 appearances, including coming on a substitute in Newcastle's English League Cup victory against Liverpool, which ended the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
'We stood strong together through the highs and some lows to help the club experience new heights,' he said.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packed weekend of 'exciting action' at Croft Circuit in store
Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire hosts the BRSCC Summer Race Meeting this weekend, featuring sprint, endurance, and tin-top racing across four club championships (Image: Todd Todd) Croft Circuit welcomes the return of clubman racing when the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) makes a visit to the North Yorkshire track for its Summer Race Meeting this weekend. The two-day meeting will see four of the club's championships in action, featuring sprint, endurance, and tin-top racing with a wide range of makes and models competing over the weekend. Advertisement The Fun Cup Endurance Championship will contest its fourth round of the season as it heads north, where drivers will battle it out for the honours over a one-hour sprint and a three-hour endurance race, both taking place on Saturday, July 12. The two-day meeting will see four of the club's championships in action (Image: Tony Todd) The PBS Brakes SuperSport Endurance Cup brings its wide-ranging format to Croft for its fifth event of the campaign, whilst the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup makes its fifth appearance of the 2025 season as part of the weekend. Completing the championship line-up is the Modified Ford Series, which hosts a grid of iconic Fords that will be on track on Saturday for qualifying before racing twice on Sunday. July 13. Advertisement On-track activity gets underway at 9.30am on Saturday with the first race at 12.40pm. (Image: Tony Todd) On Sunday, cars will be on circuit at midday with a practice session followed by racing at 1.10pm, opening with the Demon Tweeks Audi TT Cup Racing Championship. Adult admission is just £17 on both days with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free. There is free car parking and free paddock access. Meanwhile, with less than a month to go to the region's biggest motorsport event taking place when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship visits Croft Circuit on August 2/3, now is the time to secure advance tickets. Advertisement Prices in advance start at £19 for an adult ticket on Saturday and £34 for adults on Sunday. Teen tickets for ages 13 to 15 cost £7.50 and £9.50 respectively, whilst accompanied children under 12 are admitted free. There is also free parking and free paddock access. Weekend tickets offering huge savings are also available and limited VIP hospitality packages are still available starting at just £190 per person. Grandstand seating is available at extra cost until sold out and the limited-edition official programme, on sale at just £7.00, contains a wealth of features and information, and is produced once again by Northallerton-based Cartersport Motorsport Media. For further information, please contact Croft Circuit on 01325 721815 or you can book your tickets online now at
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man United introduce scarcely believable cost-cutting measure
Manchester United's part owners Ineos have hit the headlines over recent months for committing to drastic spending cuts. In an interview earlier this year, owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe argued that the club was on its knees financially and needed to cut spending. Advertisement Staff cuts Ineos have carried out numerous measures such as introducing various rounds of staff redundancies that have seen hundreds of employees laid off. The scouting department has also been slashed from around 100 employees to just 10, with much greater reliance on technology and databases. Ineos have also taken the decision to reduce portion sizes in the canteen and cut funding to ex-players, whilst eradicating Sir Alex Ferguson's ambassadorial role. Fans have been less than sympathetic to what the new owners have been trying to do and numerous recent surveys have shown that they are growing disillusioned with how Ineos are running the club. Advertisement In the context of these cuts, the owners have once again raised ticket prices, which has also understandably irked a large section of the fanbase. Newest cost-cutting scheme TalkSPORT have revealed that Ineos have implemented a new way to cut costs by abandoning 'traditional gift-giving as part of their pre-season plans.' The outlet states that 'rivals believe it's a cost-cutting measure, although United sources insist it's a move away from needless ceremony and pomp, especially when facing English opponents.' It is tradition that clubs usually exchange gifts and pennants when they play teams in pre-season but Ineos have decided this will not be necessary against Leeds United in Stockholm on 19th July. Advertisement United are also unlikely to be giving gifts to West Ham United, Everton and Bournemouth during the Premier League Summer Series in the United States in July and August. TalkSport elaborates that 'the exchange of the pennant, and usually the gifts, tends to happen before the match, and is sometimes done in front of the cameras.' Nonetheless, 'Manchester United plan to instead put some budget towards hosting rival executives, starting with a planned drinks reception with Leeds officials in Stockholm.' Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
New York Times
32 minutes ago
- New York Times
Lauren James: The player who strikes a ball like no one else in the women's game
'All opponents have to accept she has more physical power than anybody else,' said Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker of Lauren James.'The moment she gets the ball and starts to dribble, it's very difficult for women to get her off the ball, wherever she plays.' James took one touch with her left foot to control the pass from Alessia Russo, followed by another two before unleashing a fireball. Her opening goal against the Netherlands is the fastest and most powerful of the 2025 European Championship so far, clocking a spin rate of 101.93 kmph (63.3mph). 'I couldn't give her those things,' her former coach, and now United States Women's National Team manager, Emma Hayes said when asked about James' shooting technique following her hat-trick against Liverpool in November 2023. 'She's the most naturally gifted footballer in the country.' James' kicking technique is a 'textbook definition' according to Archit Navandar, assistant professor of biomechanics at Madrid's polytechnic university. 'If you see David Beckham taking a free kick, you would probably see something like this,' he tells The Athletic. James' brother, England and Chelsea defender Reece James, once tweeted his sister is 'technically better than some Premier League players'. Advertisement 'I don't even recognise the backlift people are on about!' James told the BBC women's football daily podcast in April. Well, let's break down her shooting technique. The Chelsea forward is very good at creating space for herself to shoot. In this instance, when she receives the ball from Russo, she changes direction immediately. Her first two steps are noticeably big, according to Navandar. 'Those big strides, you need a lot of power in your legs to do that,' he says. 'It's like you're watching a sprinter.' Indeed, James, who has a high knee action, used to be a 200m sprinter when she was younger. 'She's built really strong… you don't see that from many female footballers,' said team-mate and friend Lucy Bronze who speaks to James about this attribute a lot given it has been influential during her career. When James picks up the ball, her weight is forward. She uses her momentum to push the ball where she wants without the need to add extra energy. 'As soon as she controls the ball, she directs it and at the same time accelerates forward,' says Navandar. 'That allows her space. That's not easy — not a lot of players can do that. (Lionel) Messi does it fantastically. When surrounded by players, he suddenly makes a decision to push the ball forward.' 🏴 LJ introduces herself to the Women's EURO stage 💎#WEUROGOTR || @Heineken — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 9, 2025 When in position, James' support leg — her right in this case — is well placed next to the ball. 'It's very difficult to know where to put the support leg,' says Navandar. 'If it's too close or too far, it will impact the direction of the ball. It's like a golf swing. You need to be perfectly positioned to maximise the range of motion and maximum velocity is transferred from the kicking leg to the ball.' In the next phase, James' knee is at the maximum point of flexion. Her range of motion indicates good hip mobility and rotation. The motion before striking the ball is called the cocking movement. It's where the energy build-up happens. Think of compressing a spring or cracking a whip. 'With the hip mobility and power she is able to accumulate given her physique, she can transmit the maximum amount of energy,' says Navandar. He also notes minimal movement in James' pelvic tilt. She is not leaning to one side or the other which helps maintain stability. James' initial backlift and preparation is 'very unique', according to Navandar. Advertisement 'Men's players are able to break the backlift into two distinct phases: backlift and leg cocking,' he says. James is able to do this too which is rare among women players. 'Normally you would see a different technique with women. I'm not saying it's not there, but this level of coordination is difficult. You might have women players who are able to kick the ball, extend the hip as much as James but not generate the same amount of velocity. She is able to use that coordination to store up the energy she needs to transfer the momentum in the acceleration phase.' The whip-like motion in the acceleration phase means maximum velocity is applied to the ball. James uses her whole body to generate power. She hits this shot with her laces. The more surface area in contact with the ball, the greater transmission of power and velocity. 'Just like when you volley with the laces, you have better impact than side-footing,' says Navandar. James' left arm is outstretched and she is stabilised by her trunk, which helps maximise the momentum transfer. With her arm out, James can put her support leg a little further ahead to generate the backlift. She is not leaning down so she has more space to rotate. 'You would expect the shot to go to the left, but it goes to the right because of the way she rotates her body,' Navandar says. 'She's using a lot of the hip rotators and getting a lot of power from the big hip and thigh muscles: gluteus maximus, biceps femoris and quadricep. It's very clear the glutes are firing.' James then releases the shot… At full extension her kicking leg is completely straight. 'That indicates an efficient transfer of momentum from the leg to the ball, a sign of great co-ordination,' says Navandar. She also maintains her balance. James rotates 180 degrees from her starting to finishing position which highlights her hip mobility but also the impact of the accumulation of energy created. 'It's a tough goal to score because it's not just about power,' says Navandar. 'It's about rotation and precision. Any football player dreams about hitting the top corner.' 'Sometimes she doesn't realise how powerful she is,' said Hayes. '(I say) 'You don't need to put any more leather into it.' She doesn't understand that. She says: 'I'm just hitting it normally.'' Bronze's favourite part of James' game is her shooting. 'She's probably the best player in this entire tournament for something special,' she said. 'There's a lot of special players in this tournament, (Alexia) Putellas and (Aitana) Bonmati, a huge number of talented players, but LJ's got that something special.'
