Latest news with #Cameroon-born
Metro
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal eyeing Sevilla midfielder as Thomas Partey future hangs in balance
Arsenal are preparing to replace Thomas Partey, with Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume on their list of candidates. Partey's contract at the Emirates expires at the end of June and despite talks over a new deal, no agreement has been reached. Martin Zubimendi is expected to arrive from Real Sociedad in the near future, but the Gunners were seemingly keen to keep hold of Partey as well, at least on a short-term deal. However, as the end of his contract gets ever closer the likelihood that the Ghanaian will leave increases, with the likes of Fenerbache, Barcelona and AC Milan linked with a move for him on a free transfer. Reports in Spain suggest that Arsenal are eyeing up another midfield signing if Partey does depart, with Agoume a player of interest to them. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The interest in the 23-year-old is not new, with the Gunners linked with him in the January transfer window last season. Nothing came of the situation in the winter, but Arsenal are said to be monitoring the midfielder's situation and see the France Under-21 international as a candidate to add competition in central midfield. The Cameroon-born star made his professional debut with Sochaux at just 16 years old before moving to Inter Milan in 2018. He played just four times for the Italian giants and spent loan spells at Spezia, Brest, Troyes and then Sevilla, who he joined in January 2024. Sevilla were suitably impressed to make the deal permanent last summer, managing to do so for less than €10m to sign Agoume, although Inter inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause. Agoume made 37 appearances for Sevilla last season in all competitions, scoring just one goal in La Liga. Partey spoke out about his own future last week and it is fair to say he did not entirely clear up the situation. Asked if Zubimendi's imminent arrival was playing on his mind, he told 3 Sports: 'I think the first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home. At the end of the day you've been in football, you've been in different teams. 'Then it's about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind. 'We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you go out nobody is going to destroy your family, these are things you have to look at. When you are young you just anywhere. More Trending 'I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to may agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football.' Zubimendi has attracted interest from Real Madrid this summer but Arsenal are still expected to get their man, agreeing to pay more than his release clause to sign him for around £55m. However, manager Mikel Arteta would be disappointed to see Partey leave. Clear on whether he wanted the midfielder to sign a new contract when asked in May: 'Yes. I think consistency-wise it's been his best season. The way he's played, performed, his availability, has been exceptional and he's a really important player for us.' MORE: Newcastle United transfer odds: Keeping Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes the priority but Liverpool and Brighton stars could be on their way MORE: Rio Ferdinand claims £64m striker is 'waiting' for Man Utd transfer offer MORE: Jadon Sancho reaches agreement with new club as Manchester United set transfer fee
Leader Live
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Mike Fondop played for Wrexham during non-league era
In the build-up to The Latics' thrilling 3-2 win over Southend United that secured the Lancashire club promotion back to the Football League, what was Fondop listening to? "I love Andrea Bocelli, Time to Say Goodbye is one of my favourites," former Wrexham striker Fondop told BBC Radio Manchester "On game-days I listen to gospel and that is what calms me. I love jazz music as well, I don't have one specific type of song, I love a bit of everything. "Usually in my downtime I can listen to opera and jazz. I don't like listening to things that give me headaches." Fondop, who played for Wrexham in the Sam Ricketts era in the 2018/19 season, scored 18 league goals as Oldham made it through to the National League play-offs where they beat Yorkshire duo Halifax and York before coming from behind in extra-time to beat Southend last Sunday. He's been at Boundary Park since 2022 when The Latics became the first former Premier League team to be relegated to non-league. Fondop could have been tempted away with Football League clubs looking to sign him but the 31-year-old Cameroon-born frontman stayed loyal to The Latics. "The manager at the time, John Sheridan, called me after the end of the season and said 'I need you to come back," added Fondop. "You owe me because I signed you and you only played two games, 'I want you to get this club back where it belongs.' "So that has always been an objective because I came and I didn't have a chance to help them stay in League Two. Oldham now have new owners in place with businessman Frank Rothwell taking over from Abdallah Lemsagam. "The club is absolutely different now," said Fondop. "The ownership now is more family orientated. The owners are approachable and want everyone to feel part of a family," he added. "In the past it felt toxic. As a player I was focused on what I was signed to do but the environment at the time felt toxic. Now it is so different. "If a club doesn't treat its players well you might think in the long run you can get away with it, you might for a period of time, but eventually it is going to affect results. Now the treatment is completely different." MORE WREXHAM AFC NEWS Fondop, who lists Halifax, Chesterfield, Burton Albion and Hartlepool as his former clubs, can now look forward to life back in League Two. "It has been 34 years since we experienced promotion. I'm 31 so last time they won promotion I wasn't even born," Fondop added in the build-up to their tremendous win at Wembley. "After the gaffer said that I went home and wrote down 34 years in bold on a piece of paper with my goals for the season and I put it on my kitchen wall. It's always in my mind. "It's in my head every day because I want to be part of history and I want the fans to get back into the feeling of what Oldham deserves."
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jokic makes history with 5th consecutive top-2 finish in MVP voting
There was Bill Russell. There was Larry Bird. And now, there's Nikola Jokic. By finishing second in this year's MVP balloting behind only Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic — the Denver Nuggets star — became just the third player in NBA history with a top-two finish in five or more consecutive seasons. He won the award in 2021, 2023 and 2024, plus was second in 2022 and again this year. Russell won in 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1963, while finishing second in 1959 and 1960. Bird was second in 1981, 1982 and 1983 before winning in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-74) and Tim Duncan (2001-04) are the other players with four straight top-two finishes. Michael Jordan and LeBron James each had two different streaks of three consecutive top-two finishes in the voting — but never got past that. Jokic had the sixth instance of a player finishing a season averaging a triple-double — at least 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds per game. Only one of those seasons has led to an MVP win. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double in 1961-62; he didn't win MVP that year. Russell Westbrook did it four times and won the MVP award only once in that span. And now, Jokic finished second after a season statistically like none other. International players sweep No. 1 votes again For the fourth consecutive year, no player born in the U.S. got a single first-place vote in the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) got 71 votes this year, and Jokic (Serbia) got the other 29. The last time a U.S.-born player got a first-place vote was 2021, when Stephen Curry got five votes, Chris Paul got two and Derrick Rose got one. Last year, Jokic got 79 first-place votes, while Gilgeous-Alexander got 15, Luka Doncic (then of Dallas, now of the Los Angeles Lakers) got four and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo — born in Greece and someone also of Nigerian descent — got one. In 2023, Cameroon-born Joel Embiid (73), Jokic (15) and Antetokounmpo (12) got all the first-place nods, while in 2022 it was Jokic (65), Embiid (26) and Antetokounmpo (nine) atop all the ballots. For LeBron, 22 years, 20 mentions LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers made it back onto the ballots this season, marking the 20th time in his 22 years in the NBA that he got at least one MVP vote. He was sixth in this year's voting. James didn't get a vote in either of the last two seasons. He's the first player in NBA history to get at least one MVP vote in 20 different seasons. 0 for 12 for No. 1 picks The No. 1 pick drought in the MVP race continues. It's now 12 consecutive years since a No. 1 draft pick won the MVP award, going back to LeBron James – then of Miami – in 2013. The MVPs, and their draft slot, since then: — Kevin Durant, MVP in 2014, No. 2 pick in 2007 — Stephen Curry, MVP in 2015 and 2016, No. 7 pick in 2009 — Russell Westbrook, MVP in 2017, No. 4 pick in 2008 — James Harden, MVP in 2018, No. 3 pick in 2009 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP in 2019 and 2020, No. 15 pick in 2013 — Nikola Jokic, MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, No. 41 pick in 2014 — Joel Embiid, MVP in 2023, No. 3 pick in 2014 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP in 2025, No. 11 pick in 2018 Giannis' streak ends For the first time in seven years, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo did not get a first-place MVP vote. That ended the longest active streak. Nikola Jokic now has that streak, with five consecutive years of at least one first-place vote. Antetokounmpo's run was the longest in the NBA since LeBron James got a first-place vote in eight consecutive years from 2008 through 2015. That run ended when Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first — and still only — unanimous MVP in 2016. ___
Fox Sports
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Jokic makes history with 5th consecutive top-2 finish in MVP voting
Associated Press There was Bill Russell. There was Larry Bird. And now, there's Nikola Jokic. By finishing second in this year's MVP balloting behind only Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic — the Denver Nuggets star — became just the third player in NBA history with a top-two finish in five or more consecutive seasons. He won the award in 2021, 2023 and 2024, plus was second in 2022 and again this year. Russell and Bird, a pair of Boston Celtics greats, each were first or second in the balloting in six consecutive seasons. Russell won in 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1963, while finishing second in 1959 and 1960. Bird was second in 1981, 1982 and 1983 before winning in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-74) and Tim Duncan (2001-04) are the other players with four straight top-two finishes. Michael Jordan and LeBron James each had two different streaks of three consecutive top-two finishes in the voting — but never got past that. More on Jokic Jokic had the sixth instance of a player finishing a season averaging a triple-double — at least 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds per game. Only one of those seasons has led to an MVP win. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double in 1961-62; he didn't win MVP that year. Russell Westbrook did it four times and won the MVP award only once in that span. And now, Jokic finished second after a season statistically like none other. International players sweep No. 1 votes again For the fourth consecutive year, no player born in the U.S. got a single first-place vote in the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) got 71 votes this year, and Jokic (Serbia) got the other 29. The last time a U.S.-born player got a first-place vote was 2021, when Stephen Curry got five votes, Chris Paul got two and Derrick Rose got one. Last year, Jokic got 79 first-place votes, while Gilgeous-Alexander got 15, Luka Doncic (then of Dallas, now of the Los Angeles Lakers) got four and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo — born in Greece and someone also of Nigerian descent — got one. In 2023, Cameroon-born Joel Embiid (73), Jokic (15) and Antetokounmpo (12) got all the first-place nods, while in 2022 it was Jokic (65), Embiid (26) and Antetokounmpo (nine) atop all the ballots. For LeBron, 22 years, 20 mentions LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers made it back onto the ballots this season, marking the 20th time in his 22 years in the NBA that he got at least one MVP vote. He was sixth in this year's voting. James didn't get a vote in either of the last two seasons. He's the first player in NBA history to get at least one MVP vote in 20 different seasons. 0 for 12 for No. 1 picks The No. 1 pick drought in the MVP race continues. It's now 12 consecutive years since a No. 1 draft pick won the MVP award, going back to LeBron James – then of Miami – in 2013. The MVPs, and their draft slot, since then: — Kevin Durant, MVP in 2014, No. 2 pick in 2007 — Stephen Curry, MVP in 2015 and 2016, No. 7 pick in 2009 — Russell Westbrook, MVP in 2017, No. 4 pick in 2008 — James Harden, MVP in 2018, No. 3 pick in 2009 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP in 2019 and 2020, No. 15 pick in 2013 — Nikola Jokic, MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, No. 41 pick in 2014 — Joel Embiid, MVP in 2023, No. 3 pick in 2014 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP in 2025, No. 11 pick in 2018 Giannis' streak ends For the first time in seven years, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo did not get a first-place MVP vote. That ended the longest active streak. Nikola Jokic now has that streak, with five consecutive years of at least one first-place vote. Antetokounmpo's run was the longest in the NBA since LeBron James got a first-place vote in eight consecutive years from 2008 through 2015. That run ended when Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first — and still only — unanimous MVP in 2016. ___ AP NBA: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Jokic makes history with 5th consecutive top-2 finish in MVP voting
There was Bill Russell. There was Larry Bird. And now, there's Nikola Jokic. By finishing second in this year's MVP balloting behind only Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic — the Denver Nuggets star — became just the third player in NBA history with a top-two finish in five or more consecutive seasons. He won the award in 2021, 2023 and 2024, plus was second in 2022 and again this year. Russell and Bird, a pair of Boston Celtics greats, each were first or second in the balloting in six consecutive seasons. Russell won in 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1963, while finishing second in 1959 and 1960. Bird was second in 1981, 1982 and 1983 before winning in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971-74) and Tim Duncan (2001-04) are the other players with four straight top-two finishes. Michael Jordan and LeBron James each had two different streaks of three consecutive top-two finishes in the voting — but never got past that. More on Jokic Jokic had the sixth instance of a player finishing a season averaging a triple-double — at least 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds per game. Only one of those seasons has led to an MVP win. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double in 1961-62; he didn't win MVP that year. Russell Westbrook did it four times and won the MVP award only once in that span. And now, Jokic finished second after a season statistically like none other. International players sweep No. 1 votes again For the fourth consecutive year, no player born in the U.S. got a single first-place vote in the MVP race. Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) got 71 votes this year, and Jokic (Serbia) got the other 29. The last time a U.S.-born player got a first-place vote was 2021, when Stephen Curry got five votes, Chris Paul got two and Derrick Rose got one. Last year, Jokic got 79 first-place votes, while Gilgeous-Alexander got 15, Luka Doncic (then of Dallas, now of the Los Angeles Lakers) got four and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo — born in Greece and someone also of Nigerian descent — got one. In 2023, Cameroon-born Joel Embiid (73), Jokic (15) and Antetokounmpo (12) got all the first-place nods, while in 2022 it was Jokic (65), Embiid (26) and Antetokounmpo (nine) atop all the ballots. For LeBron, 22 years, 20 mentions LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers made it back onto the ballots this season, marking the 20th time in his 22 years in the NBA that he got at least one MVP vote. He was sixth in this year's voting. James didn't get a vote in either of the last two seasons. He's the first player in NBA history to get at least one MVP vote in 20 different seasons. 0 for 12 for No. 1 picks The No. 1 pick drought in the MVP race continues. It's now 12 consecutive years since a No. 1 draft pick won the MVP award, going back to LeBron James – then of Miami – in 2013. The MVPs, and their draft slot, since then: — Kevin Durant, MVP in 2014, No. 2 pick in 2007 — Stephen Curry, MVP in 2015 and 2016, No. 7 pick in 2009 — Russell Westbrook, MVP in 2017, No. 4 pick in 2008 — James Harden, MVP in 2018, No. 3 pick in 2009 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP in 2019 and 2020, No. 15 pick in 2013 — Nikola Jokic, MVP in 2021, 2022 and 2024, No. 41 pick in 2014 — Joel Embiid, MVP in 2023, No. 3 pick in 2014 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP in 2025, No. 11 pick in 2018 Giannis' streak ends For the first time in seven years, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo did not get a first-place MVP vote. That ended the longest active streak. Nikola Jokic now has that streak, with five consecutive years of at least one first-place vote. Antetokounmpo's run was the longest in the NBA since LeBron James got a first-place vote in eight consecutive years from 2008 through 2015. That run ended when Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first — and still only — unanimous MVP in 2016. ___ AP NBA:
