Alana King hit the last ball of the match for six as Lancashire Thunder and Somerset signed off their Vitality Blast campaign with a thrilling tie at Blackpool CC.Mahika Gaur produced a T20 career-best of 3 for 15 to spearhead a destructive start by the Thunder that reduced Somerset to 43 for 5 in a 17-overs-per-side game that started an hour late after some Thunder players became caught up in severe traffic congestion on the north-west motorways. Sophie Luff and Alex Griffiths mounted a rescue act with a 56-run partnership that took the visitors to a more prosperous 114 for 7 with Somerset skipper Luff making 36 and Griffiths finishing 29 not out.Lancashire looked to be in good shape at 57 for 1 in the tenth over of their reply but Griffiths snared Seren Smale for 25 before two wickets in two balls by Amanda-Jade Wellington in the 13th over pegged back the Thunder to 78 for 4. Wellington struck a third time to remove Ailsa Lister for 17 at the start of the 16th over and with 13 needed off the last and seven from the final ball Somerset looked set to win a second Blast game of the season. King swung the final ball from Mollie Robbins over the backward square leg ropes to produce a most unlikely tie.Eve Jones and Smale had made a positive start to the Lancashire Thunder run chase taking 34 from 28 balls, Jones twice driving Robbins for four but then skying a catch off Ellie Anderson to wicketkeeper Bex Odgers for 18.Smale reverse pulled and then swept Wellington for four in the ninth over to break the shackles exerted by some tight bowling, but hit the third ball from Griffiths to Wellington at mid-off for 25 in the next to have Lancashire 57 for 2 needing 58 more from 43 balls.Wellington built on that breakthrough with two wickets in two balls having Tilly Kesteven, who earlier had driven the first two balls she faced for four, stumped for 19 and Fi Morris bowled by a ball that spun and kept low. That left Lancashire needing 37 off 28 balls with 20 runs chipped away by Ellie Threlkeld and Lister before the latter edged Wellington to Olivia Barnes at short third for 17.With 13 runs needed off the last over, Robbins bowled Threlkeld for 11 with the first ball and had Tara Norris caught by Luff from the second. Two dropped catches followed with King and Darcey Carter scampering six runs to leave seven required from the last ball before King’s astonishing six squared up the game.After the delayed start to the match, Thunder captain Threlkeld opted to bowl first and the first over proved eventful with Odgers hitting Tara Norris for six over square leg, then dropped at gully off the next ball, but caught by Carter at extra cover two balls later.Gaur then struck twice in three balls immediately after the 5.1 over powerplay ended, bowling Niamh Holland for 8 with an inswinger while Fran Wilson was caught in spectacular fashion by Eve Jones at cover. When Ruby Davis chipped King to a diving Lister at short extra cover for 12, Somerset were in early difficulties and their situation worsened when Wellington, having driven her first ball for four, tamely chipped the next one from Gaur to Grace Potts at mid-on to leave Somerset 43 for 5 after 8 overs.Luff and Griffiths stemmed the clatter of wickets with a vital 56-run partnership, although Griffiths was fortunate to escape when dropped on 4 off Carter.Luff was the chief instigator, easing Carter for four over extra cover and bringing up the fifty partnership from 39 balls with a fierce drive for four off Potts before she was well caught next ball by Norris diving forward at mid-off having made 36 off 30 balls.Griffiths struck some late runs to finish unbeaten on a run-a-ball 29 with 11 runs coming from the final over to give Somerset a total of 114-6 that had looked unlikely earlier in the afternoon. The tied result was an even more unlikely outcome in a thrilling finale.

Juan Soto is set to become a free agent this offseason after his one-year deal with the New York Yankees is up.

The Yankees are still expected to try to bring Soto back, and his teammates definitely want that to happen, but a few other MLB teams have popped up as potential landing spots for the outfielder. Including, now, the Los Angeles Dodgers according to the 's Jon Heyman. The Yankees and Dodgers are currently playing against each other in the World Series.

The Dodgers would be able to afford Soto thanks to Shohei Ohtani's contract he signed this past offseason. The 10-year, $680 million deal is mostly deferred until the 10 years are up. The Dodgers will be charged around $46.06 million annually and have around $24 million to use each year to help add more talent to the roster.

Soto averaged .288/.419/.569 during the 2024 season. He had 166 hits, 128 runs, 109 RBIs and 41 home runs, which was the fourth most in the league. He will join the Yankees in attempting to stave off elimination starting with Game 3 on Monday night in the Bronx.

During a Monday meeting with New York Yankees higher-ups, Juan Soto made one thing very clear.

Soto, the top free agent on the market, told Yankees chairman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser Omar Minaya how he believes the club could improve, according to Bob Klapisch of .

The 26-year-old Soto is expected to command a lucrative deal that spans over the course of the next decade. As such, he sought confirmation from Steinbrenner that the Yankees would be committed to improvement year after year. Steinbrenner reportedly told Soto the club plans to upgrade the roster this offseason on the heels of an American League pennant victory and World Series berth.

According to Klapisch, Yankees brass made no contractual offers to Soto, but left the meeting encouraged that such discussions could take place over the course of the next few weeks.

Soto has met with the crosstown rival New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. He is expected to meet with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers this week, and the Philadelphia Phillies also have designs on meeting with the free-agent slugger.

Soto enjoyed a career year in the Bronx, posting a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs, 109 RBI, 128 runs scored and 129 walks in 157 games played. Represented by hard-driving agent Scott Boras, Soto is expected to land a deal in the ballpark of $600 million, and perhaps more.

While the Yankees are considered the favorites to sign Soto, the Mets, led by billionaire owner Steve Cohen, are major players to lure the Dominican slugger away.

It is believed that Soto will agree to a deal during the Winter Meetings, which will take place from December 8-11 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Tx.

It’s not even November yet, and Nottingham Forest have already gone through two managers in quick succession.

The ever enigmatic and controversial Evangelos Marinakis must have thought that results would instantly turn when ditching Nuno Espirito Santo for Ange Postecoglou, but after his disastrous 39 days at the helm pushed the Tricky Trees further into the relegation spaces in the Premier League, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss ended up being brutally dismissed.

Now, it’s Sean Dyche’s turn to come in and – hopefully – be a safe pair of hands at the City Ground, with a 2-0 victory over Porto on his managerial debut last time out in the Europa League instantly calming any jitters.

It’s the bread and butter of the Premier League that next awaits the ex-Burnley boss as a tough away trip to AFC Bournemouth beckons, with Oleksandr Zinchenko potentially being out injured for this journey to the South Coast, after hobbling off mid-week.

Even if he wasn’t in the treatment room, his starting spot might well have been at risk…

Why Zinchenko is likely to be dropped

It does sound as if the four-time Premier League title winner will be touch-and-go surrounding his availability right up until the teams are announced later today.

If there are any lingering doubts, Dyche won’t feel too uncomfortable in throwing Nicolo Savona into the first-team mix in his place, with the 22-year-old summer recruit from Juventus sticking out as a positive influence against Porto on Thursday night, when replacing the injury-stricken Ukrainian.

Ultimately, the number 37 would ensure a 2-0 win was secured against Porto, when a rare foray forward from the Italian would result in a penalty kick being given, which was then coolly dispatched to hand Dyche a debut win in the dug-out.

The former Juventus youngster will surely fancy his chances of retaining a first-team spot, therefore, with all 100% of his duels being successfully won, too, further showing off a defender that’s content at doing the dirty work, which Dyche, who is known to be an attritional manager in style, will love.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

To make matters worse for his ex-Manchester City counterpart, Zinchenko has already picked up three defeats donning Garibaldi Red from just six appearances, with his new manager also potentially preparing to axe this other Forest figure, even though the attacker in question impressed in the Europa League.

Dyche could ruthlessly drop "incredible" star

Although their Premier League form has fallen off a cliff, Forest have looked far more at home in European competitions this season, with a win and a draw collected from their opening three clashes in the Europa League.

They have Igor Jesus to also thank for that confidence-boosting win being secured against Porto, with the Brazilian now up to three goals exclusively in this competition for his new employers, on top of also collecting a brace in the EFL Cup when Postecoglou was still around.

However, despite Jesus living up to his billing as an “incredible” finisher of chances – that was once handed to him by journalist Zach Lowy – up against the likes of the Portuguese giants, he remains without a goal in the Premier League, with Dyche perhaps wary that the number 19 could fold in front of goal again if he’s retained for the away day at the Cherries.

In Jesus’ defence, he is yet to be handed a start in the daunting division, but after hitting the woodwork against Chelsea from a 45-minute cameo, which also saw him win just one duel, Dyche might well opt to start Taiwo Awoniyi in his place instead, who at least has 17 Premier League goals next to his name, away from being frozen out of the side under previous regimes.

In an even more ideal reality, the 54-year-old could have Chris Wood back available for this tie on the South Coast – having sat out the clash versus Porto through injury – with the New Zealand workhorse already amassing 53 goals under Dyche’s watchful eye when the pair were together at Burnley, per Transfermarkt.

It does look like a bold call from the outside looking in, considering Jesus ensured Dyche’s start at Forest was a victorious one. But, with his ropey Premier League record to date, and other options at the Forest boss’ disposal who could cause Bournemouth more issues, the South American might well drop out of the XI alongside Zinchenko.

Dyche plotting shock January Nottingham Forest raid for "magic" £20m forward

The Forest boss is looking to strengthen his forward line.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 23, 2025

Lionel Messi has admitted being taken by surprise by Jordi Alba's decision to retire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, with the left-back hanging up his boots alongside Sergio Busquets. The trio previously enjoyed much success over many years as Barcelona team-mates, but Messi will very soon plough on alone in Florida.

• Messi didn't expect Alba to retire

  The news that Busquets, at the age of 37, plans to hang up his boots whenever Inter Miami's MLS Cup playoff run comes to an end was not a surprise to Messi. The pair had already discussed the subject between them before the announcement came. But Alba, himself 36, hadn't spoken about it before revealing his decision to also end his playing career this year.

  During a trip back to Barcelona, Messi told that it will be "very strange" to be playing without either of them in his team after literal decades together.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Busquets & Alba retirements 'a shame'

  "The truth is, it was very strange, especially Jordi's situation, because we weren't expecting it. With Busi, we'd been talking about it more, and he'd already been analysing it and talking about it. But with Jordi, it was from one day to the next; we weren't expecting it," Messi explained. "He caught us one day in the locker room and told us he was going to announce it, that he was retiring without having spoken about it or discussed it beforehand. It was from one day to the next for us, and it was more surprising."

  The trio all joined Inter Miami in 2023 and played a significant role in building the fledgling club into one of Major League Soccer's biggest hitters. A Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters' Shield would be topped if they can go all the way in the playoffs and win the 2025 MLS Cup next month.

  "It's a shame because beyond what we enjoyed on the pitch, we're also friends," Messi continued. "We started this challenge of coming to Miami together from the beginning. Well, you also see that there's less and less time left, and the moment is getting closer to everything, also because we're from the same generation, we did our whole careers together, and being able to share the last few years together was also very nice."

• Messi, Busquets & Alba's shared history

  Messi grew up with both Busquets and Alba at Barcelona. Just two years separates the trio, with locally-born Alba the first to join when he entered La Masia in 1998. Messi arrived from Argentina in 2000, and although Alba was released in 2005 before eventually making his way into the professional game with Valencia, Busquets arrived that same year and stayed for the next 18. Alba, of course, then returned in 2012 once he had established him as a La Liga star and Spain international. All leaving Barcelona as club legends at the end of the 2022-23 season, it has now been two and a half years more together in MLS.

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• AFP
  

  Messi has no plans to retire

  Unlike his friends, Messi has no plans to call it a day just yet, only recently signing a new three-year contract until 2028 that wakes the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner beyond his 41st birthday. For now, he is satisfied with how things are and has no reason to walk away.

  "I'm happy with how these years have gone, and on the field, as long as I can and feel good physically, I'm going to keep doing it the same way, trying to compete, to win, and to always give my all," he further told . "The moment I see that I'm not physically up to it, that I'm struggling on the field, or that I'm not enjoying it, that will be the moment to call it quits, but right now I'm enjoying it, I feel good, and that's where we are."

  Messi retiring from international football in the wake of the 2026 World Cup is much more plausible, unlikely to still be playing in 2030 and having already won everything there is to win with Argentina.

MatériaMais Notícias

O RB Bragantino recebe o Botafogo neste domingo (12), pela 34ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola vai rolar a partir das 16 horas (de Brasília), no estádio Nabi Abi Chedid, em Bragança Paulista (SP), com transmissão da Globo e do Premiere.

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
BRAGANTINO x BOTAFOGO
34ª RODADA – CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

Data e horário: domingo, 12 de novembro de 2023, às 16 horas (de Brasília)
Local: Nabi Abi Chedid, em Bragança Paulista (SP)
Onde assistir: Premiere e Globo
Arbitragem: Anderson Daronco (árbitro); Rafael da Silva Alves e Luanderson Lima dos Santos (auxiliares); Douglas Marques das Flores (quarto árbitro); Wagner Reway (VAR)

➡️ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
BRAGANTINO (Técnico: Pedro Caixinha)
Cleiton; Aderlan, Léo Ortiz, Léo Realpe Realpe e Juninho Capixaba; Jadsom, Matheus Fernandes, Lucas Evangelista; Helinho, Vitinho e Eduardo Sasha

Desfalques: Luan Patrick (lesão muscular na coxa), Cipriano (lesão na coxa), Eduardo Santos (lesão no joelho), Eric Ramires (lesão na coxa), Lucas Rafael (lesão no joelho) e Nathan Camargo (lesão no joelho); Helinho (suspensão).

BOTAFOGO
Lucas Perri; Di Placido, Adryelson, Víctor Cuesta e Marçal; Danilo, Tchê Tchê e Carlos Eduardo; Júnior Santos, Victor Sá e Tiquinho Soares.

Desfalques: Patrick de Paula (lesões ligamentares no joelho esquerdo) e Rafael (lesão no tendão patelar do joelho esquerdo).

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Imam-Ul-Haq century impresses but Liam Dawson emerges on top with List A career highlight of 142

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Aug-2025

Hampshire are through to next month’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final after a rain-affected semi-final win over Yorkshire at Scarborough, the visitors defending a revised 41-over target of 254 following Liam Dawson’s stunning List A best 142 off 116 balls.Hampshire, winners of this competition in 2018, will face Worcestershire at Trent Bridge on September 20 after the Rapids beat Somerset at home and the visitors won here by 18 runs on Duckworth Lewis Stern.In reply to Hampshire’s 304 for 6, which saw England Test all-rounder Dawson brilliantly recover his side from 78 for 4 inside 20 overs, Pakistani opener Imam-Ul-Haq impressed for 105.And Yorkshire were well placed at 171 for 3 in the 31st over chasing a revised 254-target in 41 overs following rain.But they lost two wickets in a Scott Currie over, including Imam run out, and Hampshire squeezed impressively, with the hosts 235 for 8.Currie, who struck twice with his seam, had earlier contributed his own List A best 61 not out off 40 balls. Dawson’s left-arm spin also accounted for two wickets, and Yorkshire have now lost 19 of their last 22 List A finals.Yorkshire started well, Matt Milnes dominating as Hampshire slipped having been inserted.Seamer Milnes, having claimed a career-best 7 for 38 in last Sunday’s group-stage win over Sussex at Hove, claimed the first three here, including forcing visiting captain Nick Gubbins to play on with his third ball in the day’s second over.He then removed Fletcha Middleton and Ali Orr before George Hill’s seam also forced Ben Brown to play on.Dawson came in at 53 for 3 in the 12th over and offered a sharp return catch to Ben Cliff on six, clearly a key moment.The 35-year-old was the glue which held the innings together before exploding late on.He shared 89 for the fifth wicket with 17-year-old Ben Mayes, whose 37 helped to turn the tide, before sixth-wicket partner Currie pressed the accelerator.Shortly after Dawson reached his fourth List A century off 103 balls, Currie’s maiden List A fifty came in 35 as Hampshire pushed on from 180 for 5 after 40 overs.Dawson finished with seven sixes and hit strongly down the ground and over cover and long-on, while both he and Currie improvised as they shared 136 inside the last 13 overs of the innings – 75 runs coming off the last five overs.Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal then bowled very tidily with the new ball, restricting Adam Lyth and Imam to 43 for 0 in the 13th over when the rain arrived.A half-hour delay through to 4.25pm was followed by Lyth edging the second ball back behind off Eddie Jack.Imam, leaving for national commitments after this game, then calmly advanced the hosts to 98 for 1 after 20 overs with a 52-ball fifty.Strong off his legs, the left-hander then united with Will Luxton to share 99.Luxton pulled a couple of sixes, including one the first ball back after the second half-hour rain break. But he chopped on to Jack with the second, falling for 30.James Wharton holed out to Currie shortly afterwards before Imam reached his fourth ton of this season’s campaign off 96 balls.But Wharton and Imam fell, alongside Fin Bean, as Yorkshire lost a defining three wickets for 10 inside two overs to slip to 171 for 5 in the 32nd, still needing 83.Imam was run out by a combination of Jack from midwicket and bowler Currie after Bean pulled and non-striker Imam slipped.Yorkshire then lost Hill and Harry Duke in successive balls to Wheal and Dawson and, seven wickets down, needed 47 off 4.5 overs.From there, they subsided, with Dawson striking again.

Arsenal have now joined Real Madrid in the race to sign a “powerful” midfielder from a Champions League club, it has been revealed.

Gunners join race for another new midfielder

Mikel Arteta strengthened his squad considerably in the summer transfer window, with Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard arriving to bolster the midfield options, and the Spain international has made a flying start to life in the Premier League.

There have been suggestions that Zubimendi has already established himself as one of the best midfielders in the top flight, having formed a partnership with Declan Rice, with the duo creating three big chances between them in the 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

With the likes of Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard also on the books, Arteta appears to be well-stocked in both defensive and attacking midfield areas, but the north Londoners have now joined the race to sign a Serie A star.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now monitoring Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram, who has an asking price of €70m (£61m), amid interest from a number of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid and Liverpool are also in the race for Thuram, who has established himself as an important player since arriving at the Serie A club in the summer of 2024, and it could be difficult to get a deal done.

Arsenal now battling to sign 17 y/o sensation who just smashed UCL record

He’s a rising star.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 26, 2025

Indeed, considering the midfielder has emerged as an important player and remains under contract until 2029, it could be tricky to tempt Juventus into a sale, but there is certainly interest on the Gunners’ behalf.

"Powerful" Thuram impressing in the Serie A

The France international, who Arteta is a huge fan of, has impressed considerably since returning to the country of his birth, catching the eye with his dribbling skills and ability to score goals and create chances for his teammates over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.15 (83rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.34 (95th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.60 (94th percentile)

Assists

0.15 (79th percentile)

Scout Ben Mattinson has also suggested the 24-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, describing him as “balanced”, while praising the maestro for his “powerful carrying”, “physicality” and “quick feet.”

The Italy-born maestro, who has 13 Champions League appearances to his name, clearly has the talent to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, but there is no pressing need for Arteta to bring in a new midfielder anytime soon.

With Zubimendi showing his class ever since his arrival, Norgaard on the books as a back-up option, and Rice continuing to impress, chipping in with four goal contributions in the Premier League so far this season, the Arsenal boss already has plenty of top-quality options to choose from.

رد البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي، المدير الفني السابق لـ منتخب مصر الأولمبي والشباب، على تصريحات حسام حسن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول، بشأن راتب المدرب البرازيلي خلال قيادة منتخب الشباب.

وكان حسام حسن، أدلي بتصريحات قوية بعد المباراة الودية أمام الرأس الأخضر التي أقيمت أمس في بطولة كأس العين بالإمارات، قال فيها: “لماذا تُحاربون المدربين الوطنيين؟ انظروا إلى تجربة المغرب، لو الأمر بيدي لجعلت جميع مدربي المنتخبات في مصر مدربين مصريين، نحن نتقاضى رواتب بالجنيه، وليس بالدولار مثل ميكالي الذي كان يحصل على مبلغ كبير بالدولار”.

طالع | أشخاص نفسياتهم سيئة.. حسام حسن يوجه رسالة لمنتقدي أداء منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس العين

وقال ميكالي خلال تصريحات عبر حسابه على “إنستجرام”: “من الجيد دائمًا أن يتذكرك الآخرون، حتى عندما يكون السياق غير دقيق تمامًا”.

وأضاف: “التصريحات الأخيرة التي أدلى بها زميلي حسام حسن، والتي أشار فيها إلى اسمي أثناء معالجة تحدياته الخاصة بقيادة منتخب مصر، بدت في غير محلها إلى حد ما، ومع ذلك، فقد ذكروني بمساري والعمل الذي يبرر القيمة الموضوعة لخبرتي المهنية”.

وتابع: “كان لي شرف أن أصبح أول بطل أولمبي مع المنتخب البرازيلي، حيث ساعدت في ظهور لاعبين مثل جابرييل جيسوس، رافينها، ديفيد نيريس، باكيتا، ريتشارليسون وجابرييل ماجالهايس، كما كنت أوجه نيمار أيضًا خلال واحدة من أفضل فتراته مع الفريق الوطني”.

وأكمل: “لقد دربت عمالقة مثل الهلال في المملكة العربية السعودية وأتلتيكو مينيرو في البرازيل، اثنان من أكثر الأندية الشعبية وأكثرها طلبا في آسيا وأمريكا الجنوبية”.

وواصل: “مع مصر وصلنا لنهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا، المباراة ذهبت إلى وقت إضافي ضد خصم قوي، يلعب على أرضه وبعشرة رجال فقط، في الألعاب الأولمبية فزنا على إسبانيا – التي ستفوز لاحقا بالميدالية الذهبية – وحصلت على المركز الرابع، وقمنا بتصعيد ثمانية لاعبين على الأقل إلى المنتخب الوطني الأول”.

واستمر: “صرح السيد حسام أنه قام بتصعيد محمد شحاتة ومحمود صابر وأسامة فيصل للفريق الأول، من وجهة نظري كمدرب، هؤلاء اللاعبين كسبوا أماكنهم من خلال الجدارة والجهد والأداء المتسق مع الفريق الأولمبي أثناء فترتي”.

طالع | ميكالي يُعلن عبر “بطولات” موقفه من خلافة أسامة نبيه في قيادة منتخب مصر للشباب

وأردف: “فيما يتعلق بالتعليقات حول المدربين الأجانب الذين يقودون المنتخبات الوطنية، يجب أن أختلف باحترام، الكفاءة – وليست الجنسية – هي ما يهم على أعلى مستوى، كارلو أنشيلوتي مع البرازيل وتوماس توخيل مع إنجلترا وماوريسيو بوتشيتينو مع الولايات المتحدة هي أمثلة حديثة على أن كرة القدم العالمية تعترف بالجودة فوق مكان الميلاد”.

وأتم: “أما عن راتبي، فهو يتماشى مع كفاءتي وسيرتي الذاتية، كما هو الحال في أي مهنة أو سوق عمل حول العالم، في النهاية، يمكن تفسير ذكر زميلي لاسمي على أنه شكل من أشكال الاعتراف بالعمل الذي قمت به، شكرا جزيلًا”.

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A former Manchester City starlet has revealed how intense first-team sessions under Pep Guardiola contributed to him walking away from professional football entirely, choosing instead to study law at Oxford University. Former England youth international Han Willhoft-King, once tipped for a Premier League breakthrough, says he stopped enjoying the sport and wanted a more fulfilling future beyond football.

Wilhoft-King's footballing rise and sudden end

Willhoft-King’s decision to leave football at just 19 came as a shock to those who followed his development closely. The midfielder had spent over a decade progressing through Tottenham Hotspur’s academy before joining Manchester City’s Under-21 setup in 2024, with his career path seemingly destined for first-team football. He had been coached by Premier League icon Yaya Toure, trained with Antonio Conte’s Spurs, and became part of the first-team training group at City. 

But his journey never followed a smooth trajectory. A series of injuries, including a long setback shortly after arriving at the Etihad, disrupted his momentum and left him increasingly frustrated by the stop-start nature of his development. Despite earning England youth caps and working alongside some of the best players in the world, he never found the consistent rhythm needed to flourish at the highest level.   

Alongside physical hurdles, the teenager struggled with lifestyle and motivation as a young player. The daily routine of training, recovery, and inactivity between sessions left him bored and unstimulated, even while living a dream many aspire to. Rather than becoming hungry to push on, Willhoft-King began to feel that professional football no longer offered the fulfilment he craved — ultimately triggering a life-changing decision.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuardiola's training intensity played part in Wilhoft-King's decision

Speaking to The Telegraph, Willhoft-King reflected on first-team sessions under Guardiola, he said: “Tottenham is a good team but Man City is another level. De Bruyne, Haaland … these are the best players in the world. But you also realise they are normal people. They have a bit of banter, they call each other out for making mistakes. And seeing Pep … he is just so, so animated. The energy he brings, the hand gestures, raising his voice. It’s actually pretty remarkable.” 

However, the experience quickly became mentally challenging: “Then … I don’t want to say disillusioned but you realise … well, training with the first team became a thing that no one was really looking forward to, strangely enough. Because you would just be pressing. We would be running after the ball like dogs for half an hour, 60 minutes. It’s not a very pleasant experience, especially when you are trying to press De Bruyne or Gündogan or Foden. You can’t get near them, so the feeling of not wanting to do this overcomes being starstruck.” 

Speaking about how he ultimately fell out of love with the day-to-day reality of life as a young pro, the Englishman added: “I wasn’t enjoying it. I don’t know what it was, maybe the environment. I’m bored often, as well. You’d train, you’d come home and you wouldn’t really do anything. If you contrast it to now … I’m struggling to find hours in the day.” 

He also described his career outlook beyond football: “I always felt understimulated in football. Don’t get me wrong. I still loved it. But I always felt I could be doing more. I was wasting hours of the day. I needed something different and Oxford excited me; the people, too. I guess that’s the reason.  

“Say I had a career in League One or the Championship … you make good money. But how much would I enjoy it? In my head I wasn’t sure. Also, best-case scenario – you’ll play for 10, 15 years and after that, what? I thought going to university would provide a platform for me to do something at least for longer than the next 10 to 15 years. So, it’s a bit of a long-term thing, as well.”

Wilhoft-King's decision to pivot to new career path

Willhoft-King had been regarded as a standout prospect from a young age. Tottenham scouted him from grassroots football, where he shared the pitch with future Arsenal talents Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. His technical ability, intelligence and composure in midfield made him one of the most highly regarded players in his age group.

Despite that status, he frequently questioned whether football alone would satisfy his ambition. With a family upbringing rooted in education, including a father who worked in academia, he always felt the pull of a more intellectually demanding future. Balancing A-levels with academy football, he excelled academically and achieved three A* grades. 

When Manchester City offered him a contract in 2024, he accepted to avoid a lifelong “what if?”, but injuries and squad depth limited his opportunities. After experiencing elite performance environments at Spurs and City, he recognised that football’s intensity did not align with his personal goals or happiness. That prompted him to pivot — successfully — toward a different path.

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Getty Images NewsWilhoft-King continues to play football at Oxford University

Willhoft-King is now focused on fully embracing his new chapter at Oxford University’s Brasenose College, where he is studying for a law degree. He continues to play football at the university level, representing the first team and competing in the varsity rivalry against Cambridge, but without the pressures of professional development. The transition has provided him with greater daily fulfilment and social balance.   

Meanwhile, his departure serves as a reminder of the unseen psychological challenges young players face in elite football environments. His story highlights that talent alone does not guarantee happiness or career satisfaction, even at the highest level of the sport. Whether his future leads to a legal career, sports administration, or another industry entirely, Willhoft-King insists he made the choice that keeps him motivated — and that is the ultimate goal.