Portland
2018 NWSL College Draft | Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons discusses the selections | Portland Timbers
With back-to-back picks in the first round and a trade into the third round, it was a busy day for Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons and his staff at the 2018 NWSL College Draft in Philadelphia.
Major League Soccer
Villa determined to earn place in Spain's World Cup squad | football
David Villa is determined to go to the World Cup as part of the Spain squad, having ended a three-year wait for an international cap in 2017. New York City FC striker Villa had not been selected since the 2014 World Cup when Spain coach Julen Lopetegui called him up for September's double-header of qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Italy
Juan Quintero, Fire transfer talks fall apart – The Athletic
The Fire's months long courtship of attacking midfielder Juan Quintero appears to be coming to a conclusion shortly. Sources tell The Athletic the Fire and FC Porto have agreed to terms in principle for a transfer of the 24-year old Colombian. The transfer fee amount has been the hold up for several weeks.
FC Dallas working to sign forward Maxi Urruti to a new deal | MLSsoccer.com
Urruti led Dallas with 12 goals in 32 regular season games last year, but his production fell off after the club denied a summer offer for him from Argentine club San Lorenzo. The 26-year-old striker scored just one goal after July 22, and went public with his displeasure about how he thought the team handled his transfer saga towards the end of the season.
Stejskal: Houston Dynamo, DaMarcus Beasley agree to new deal | MLSsoccer.com
The Houston Dynamo and free agent DaMarcus Beasley have agreed to a deal that will bring the veteran defender back to the club in 2018. The signing was first reported by MLSsoccer.com on Thursday afternoon and officially announced by the Dynamo later in the day.
Montreal Impact sign Canadian international Michael Petrasso | MLSsoccer.com
The Montreal Impact have boosted their fullback corps with the announced on Thursday that they have signed right back Michael Petrasso. The 22-year-old joins on a two-year deal, with an option for the 2020 season, from English Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
Whitecaps FC acquire versatile Mexican midfielder Efraín Juárez from Club de Futbol Monterrey | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Thursday that the club has acquired midfielder Efraín Juárez, who can also play right back, from Liga MX side Club de Futbol Monterrey. Juárez, 29, has agreed to an MLS contract through 2019, with a club option for 2020, and will be added to the roster with the use of Targeted Allocation Money. He will occupy an international roster spot and officially join the club's roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), work permit, visa, and medical examinations.
New York City FC signs Norwegian striker Jo Inge Berget | MLSsoccer.com
A forward capable of playing centrally or on either wing, Berget has played in the top divisions of Norway, England, Scotland, and Sweden. Starting out his career at Tippeligaen side FC Lyn Oslo in his native Norway in 2008, Berget joined Udinese shortly after his debut, although he never made an appearance for the Serie A club, instead spending the next three years on loan back at Lyn and at Stromgodset.
2018 MLS SuperDraft: LAFC select Joao Moutinho No. 1 overall | MLSsoccer.com
Portugese 20-year-old Moutinho, played for the Sporting Lisbon academy through the Under-19 level before traversing the Atlantic to play at national powerhouse Akron. Moutinho scored 3 goals and 5 assists in 24 games, earning recognition as a USC First Team All-America as well as Freshman of the Year for both TopDrawerSoccer and the Mid-American Conference.
DC United unveil new primary jersey for 2018 season | MLSsoccer.com
New season. New stadium. New jersey. D.C. United unveiled their new primary kit ahead of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft on Friday and Audi Field is prominently featured.
United States
Landon Donovan, soccer’s reluctant hero, steps back into the spotlight simply to indulge his love of the game | The Independent
The knees are not quite what they were in his prime. The hairline has drifted back another couple of inches since we last saw him, like the tide going out. But still they have come in their thousands; not even to see him play, but simply to see him. The club shop has already sold out of replica shirts. The country’s sport channels have cleared their schedules.
World
Time to bench Cristiano? The proof that Ronaldo is no longer undroppable at Madrid | Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 422 times for Real Madrid and 289 of those goals have come in La Liga. This season, however, the Portuguese has netted only four in the Primera Division and, as a result, Zinedine Zidane's side are well off the pace.
Brazil legend Pele collapses with severe exhaustion, misses London trip
Pele will be unable to attend a London tribute dinner in his honour on Sunday after he collapsed in Brazil with severe exhaustion. The Football Writers' Association said in a statement that the three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, now aged 77, would not be able to come to the event.
Arsenal Transfer News: Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan agree personal terms with Gunners | Goal.com
Arsene Wenger is looking to soften the blow of losing Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United by bringing in what he sees as two world class attacking players and talks with Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola have finally seen a breakthrough after Arsenal agreed a healthy financial package to make the Armenian one of the club’s highest paid players.