Sports
Players to watch as EPL kicks off
Even in this condensed summer between seasons, the impacts of new signings are going to be the main talking points of the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
The vast majority of the top-flight sides in England take to the field once again on September 12 – just seven weeks after the 2019-20 season came to a close.
Several Premier League sides have been busy in the transfer market, which closes on on October 5. These are some of the new buys likely to light up the first weekend of the top-flight.
Rodrigo – Leeds United
Position: Forward
Price: £27million
First match: Liverpool (A), September 12
Leeds United’s tie away at Liverpool today will be a momentous day for the supporters as they will watch their team in the top-flight for the first time in 16 years.
Nobody knows what to expect from Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season, their opening game at Anfield will give a strong indication whether Leeds are here to challenge the big boys or provoke modest expectations amongst their fans.
Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace
Position: Attacking midfielder
Price: £17million
First match: Southampton (H), September 12
He may only be 22-years-old, but there is a lot of expectation on the shoulders of Eberechi Eze at Selhurst Park this season.
The former QPR man lit up the Championship with some impressive displays last season, which earned him a £17million to Roy Hodgson’s side.
Palace will be hoping that Eze will be a regular on the Eagles’ scoresheet whilst also helping to provide key passes to other attacking talents such as Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew – starting in his first home match against Southampton today.
Timo Werner – Chelsea
Position: Striker
Price: £47.5million
First match: Brighton (A), September 14
The 24-year-old scored 34 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for RB Leipzig last season and the pacy, clinical forward will be looking to get off to the perfect Premier League start against Brighton on Monday night.
Werner found the net just minutes into Chelsea’s pre-season tie against Brighton in August and could do the same at the Amex on the opening weekend.
Matheus Pereira – West Bromwich Albion
Position: Attacking midfielder
Price: £9million
First match: Leicester City (H), September 13
West Bromwich Albion supporters all know about what Matheus Pereira can bring to the team, but Premier League fans have yet to seen him play.
The silky midfielder was a bright light in the Baggies side that won promotion to the top-flight last term through the automatic promotion spots.
Willian – Arsenal
Position: Winger/Attacking Midfielder
Price: Free
First match: Fulham (A), September 12
Brazilian winger Willian made the shock switch across London to Arsenal after turning down a lucrative new contract at Chelsea.
While the 32-year-old was regularly used as a winger at Stamford Bridge, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that Willian could be used in a more attacking midfield role in north London.
The Brazilian will return to west London for his first Premier League match in the red and white of Arsenal against Fulham and will be looking to get off to a positive start.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Tottenham Hotspur
Position: Midfielder
Price: £25million
First match: Everton (H), September 13
Spurs have been needing a reshuffle in midfield for some time and ex-Southampton captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is hoping to be the breath of fresh air Jose Mourinho needs in the middle of the park.
The Danish midfielder is expected to be the ball-winning option out of the midfield three in order to compliment the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli going forward. Hojbjerg can break up play while also play simple yet effective passes going ahead.
Thiago Silva – Chelsea
Position: Centre-back
Price: Free
First match: Brighton (A), September 14
The 35-year-old may be hitting the twilight of his career but he will provide the leadership and defensive astuteness that Lampard’s side desperately lacked last season.
Fresh off the back of an impressive Champions League final performance, Silva’s prospective debut against Brighton should not be too difficult a test.
Mohammed Salisu – Southampton
Position: Centre-back
Price: £11million
First match: Crystal Palace (A), September 12
Young defender Mohammed Salisu had an impressive season at Real Valladolid last term, now he’s getting a try at some top-flight action in England.
The 21-year-old is expected to be the reliable defensive option in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s relentless attacking team and his displays will be crucial in determining his how far the Saints improve from last term.
Jeff Hendrick – Newcastle United
Position: Midfielder
Price: Free
First match: West Ham (A), September 12
The 28-year-old is an excellent ball carrier and could be the all-important link which connects the Magpies’ midfield to their forward line.
With Newcastle facing a West Ham side who are yet to make any transfers this summer, this is an opportunity for Hendrick and Newcastle to start the season on the front foot.
Players to watch as EPL kicks off
Ashantigold SC has terminated the contracts of three members of its technical team with immediate effect.
The affected officials are head coach and technical director Abdul Karim Zito, assistant coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer Robert Dabo.
The decision was announced in a statement signed by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Edward Kwasi Akuoko.
According to the statement, the decision was taken following a consultative meeting by the Interim Management Committee on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The club says a caretaker coach has been appointed to steer the affairs of the team until a substantive coach/technical director is appointed.
Management expressed gratitude to the affected officials for their contribution and service to the team and wished them well in their future endeavours.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
England captain Harry Kane says it was extra special to be presented with the Ballon d’Or by one of his childhood idols.
Kane made the comment after receiving the prestigious award from former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario.
“Ronaldo was one of my idols growing up,” Kane said.
The Bayern Munich striker described the moment as surreal, being honoured by a player he looked up to as a young footballer.
Kane was announced as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, marking the 70th anniversary of the award and the first time the ceremony was held outside France.
The 33-year-old beat stiff competition from second-placed Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal to win his first ever Ballon d’Or.
He becomes the first Englishman to win the coveted individual award in 25 years since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth Englishman ever after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
He is also the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Kane won the award after a remarkable season in which he scored 61 goals in 51 club matches, the most a Bayern player has ever scored in one campaign.
Including England matches, it was 73 goals plus eight assists in 65 matches. His 73 goals is the second-highest single-season total ever behind Lionel Messi’s 82 in 2011-12.
Despite the goal haul, Kane did not win the Champions League or World Cup, with Bayern losing 6-5 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals and England losing 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final before finishing third.
The award was presented by Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner himself, adding what was described as a special dimension to Kane’s historic achievement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
