West Ham have signed Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for £27m. The 31-year-old, who joined Dortmund from Werder Bremen last summer, scored 15 goals in 46 games in 2023-24 and finished as a Champions League runner-up. He also netted twice during hosts Germany’s run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, despite not starting a match.
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Everton have signed Republic of Ireland defender Jake O’Brien from Lyon for £17m. The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a four-year deal and returns to the Premier League, having only joined the Ligue 1 club from Crystal Palace last year. He went on to play 27 times in the French top flight, scoring four goals.
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Thiago Alcantara has retired from football after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The former Spain midfielder, 33, was restricted to just one appearance during the 2023-24 season because of injury. Thiago had hip surgery towards the end of the 2022-23 season but was unable to return until February 2024, when he came on as a late substitute in a defeat at Arsenal and suffered another injury.
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Veteran striker Jamie Vardy has signed a new one-year contract at Leicester. The 37-year-old will extend his stay at the King Power to 12 years after agreeing a deal for the 2024-25 season. The former England international scored 20 goals in 37 appearances as the Foxes won promotion to the Premier League in the 23-24 campaign.
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Chelsea have appointed Leicester manager Enzo Maresca as their new boss on a five-year contract with the option of an extra year. The Italian replaces Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent on 21 May after just one season at Stamford Bridge. Maresca, 44, took charge of the Foxes in June 2023 and led them to the Championship title last term.
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