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Arsenal approaches PSG defender Emmanuel Mbemba for free transfer
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Arsenal has initiated contact to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Emmanuel Mbemba on a free transfer this summer. The 18-year-old, who has been offered a new contract by PSG, is reportedly open to joining the Premier League champions. Training compensation for Mbemba is expected to be slightly over £150,000 when his current deal concludes at the end of June. Arsenal has presented a development plan to the France youth international, drawing parallels to William Saliba's progression. According to BBC Sport, Mbemba is said to favor a move to Arsenal, impressed by the club's stability and success under manager Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are reportedly considering a European loan for the defender until January 2027 to facilitate a work permit for his eventual move to England. While primarily a center-back, Arsenal sees Mbemba as a long-term prospect for the left-back position. Mbemba recently captained PSG's under-19 team to victory in the French Youth Cup and is considered a promising young defensive talent.
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Twenty years after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, a select group of ten players from the 736 participants continue to play professionally in 2026. This group includes iconic figures such as Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, and Luka Modric of Croatia, all of whom first appeared on the World Cup stage in 2006 and continue to compete at high levels. Other notable players still active are Sergio Ramos of Spain, Oscar Ustari and Guillermo Ochoa, both goalkeepers, Lukasz Fabianski of Poland, Lukas Podolski of Germany, and Roque Santa Cruz and José Montiel, both from Paraguay. These players have demonstrated remarkable longevity in their careers, with some, like Santa Cruz, still playing at 44 years old, and Ronaldo at 41. While many of their peers have transitioned into other roles within football, these ten individuals defy age by remaining active in the sport.
Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, represented by the Unite Here Local 11 union, have voted to authorize a potential strike during the upcoming World Cup. The union, which includes approximately 2,000 food and beverage workers, is seeking improved pay and assurances that federal immigration agents will not be permitted to enter the venue. A significant 96 percent of voters approved the strike call, granting them the ability to walk off the job at any time. Contract negotiations with stadium food service operator Legends Global and FIFA have reportedly not made substantial progress on economic and workplace safety issues. New talks are scheduled for Monday, ahead of the first World Cup match on US soil at SoFi Stadium on June 12. The union has also demanded that workers be allowed to leave if Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel are present at SoFi during matches and create a reasonable fear for their safety. Workers have also voiced concerns about sharing personal information with FIFA for World Cup accreditation, fearing data could be shared with ICE.
Mirra Andreeva secured her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. The 19-year-old Russian became the youngest Roland Garros women's singles champion since Monica Seles in 1992 and the first player born after 2005 to win a Grand Slam. This victory adds the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen to Andreeva's trophy collection, which already includes two WTA 1000 titles. Chwalinska, despite the loss, concluded an impressive run, having won nine matches through qualifying to become the first qualifier in the Open era to reach the final. Her performance will elevate her world ranking to 21, ensuring regular participation in major tournaments. The match saw early nerves and blustery conditions, with both players trading breaks. Andreeva ultimately demonstrated resilience, breaking Chwalinska to take the first set and maintaining her momentum in the second, despite a late break by Chwalinska. Andreeva sealed her victory with a backhand winner, surpassing her coach Conchita Martinez's 2000 Roland Garros runner-up finish.
Must ReadBishop Osorio Citora Afonso, 54, a Catholic bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV to a central region of Mozambique, was shot dead at his home in Quelimane on Saturday. Maximino Amilcar, a spokesman for the criminal investigations bureau, stated that Afonso was shot in the chest, likely with a single bullet, and described the incident as "murder by gunshot." He added that details were not readily available. Mozambique's president, Daniel Chapo, expressed deep sadness over Afonso's death, calling it an "irreparable loss for Mozambican society." The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique noted that Afonso was found "lifeless and in mysterious circumstances that need to be made clear." Afonso, born in Mozambique, had previously served in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy, and as an auxiliary bishop in Maputo before his appointment as bishop in 2024 and subsequent transfer to the diocese of Quelimane in July 2025.