Bayer Leverkusen — German football club whose CEO Fernando Carro commented on structural issues in German football, and who sold defender Piero Hincapie to Arsenal for £34.5m in June 2026.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss, 44, will be unveiled in pre-season, with his contract beginning on 1 July. …
No trophy in turbulent season but Alonso arrival offers Chelsea hopeJoy Online
… He previously spent three years in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, leading the German club to its first Bundesliga title in 2024, as well as the German Cup. …
‘We share same ambition’ – Alonso named Chelsea’s third boss in yearJoy Online
… But the Blues have moved to secure a manager that won the Champions League twice as a player as well as leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga-winning season in his first campaign as a coach in 2023/24. …
Xabi Alonso agrees 4-year contract to become Chelsea head coachJoy Online
… Last year Tuchel said Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarrell Quansah, whose natural position is centre-back, was ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the race for a right-back berth. …
Tuchel submits 55-man provisional World Cup squadChelsea winger Jamie Gittens says he will feature in Xabi Alonso's squad next season, describing the new manager as "one of the best to do it." Gittens joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for £52m last summer and struggled in his first season, but has scored in Alonso's first two pre-season friendlies.
26 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens says he will feature in Xabi Alonso's squad next season, describing the new manager as "one of the best to do it." Gittens joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for £52m last summer and struggled in his first season, but has scored in Alonso's first two pre-season friendlies.
26 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Newcastle United and Liverpool are discussing a tribute to Kevin Keegan, who died at age 75, before their Premier League opener on 23 August 2026. Newcastle will coordinate with Liverpool, supporter groups, and the Premier League to mark his memory, with the club's teams wearing black armbands during pre-season and his photo displayed at St James' Park in the seventh minute of upcoming friendlies.
23 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa on a six-year contract. The transfer sets a new record fee for an English player, surpassing Manchester City's £116m deal for Elliot Anderson, and is Chelsea's most expensive signing ever.
19 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro attributes Germany's recent World Cup eliminations to structural, political, and cultural problems, citing insufficient youth investment, infrastructure delays from bureaucracy, and a lack of the ambition and collective strength shown by successful nations like Spain, France, and England.
16 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
United States striker Folarin Balogun says he expected FIFA's decision to suspend his one-game World Cup ban would generate "a lot of controversy," particularly after US President Donald Trump and White House officials lobbied football's governing body about the sanction. Balogun was dismissed for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina and should have received an automatic suspension, but FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the ban for a year instead.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee declined to answer BBC questions about why US striker Folarin Balogun avoided a ban after being sent off for serious foul play, following reports that US President Donald Trump and White House officials lobbied Fifa on the matter. England's Jarell Quansah was handed a two-match ban for a similar red card offence in the same competition.
12 July 2026 · Joy Online →
England defender Jarell Quansah received a two-match ban from Fifa's disciplinary committee for his red card in the 54th minute of a 3-2 win against Mexico, classified as serious foul play. He will miss Saturday's quarter-final against Norway and a potential semi-final, but will be available if England reaches the final on 19 July.
9 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Football Association is considering whether to appeal England defender Jarell Quansah's red card from Sunday's 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico after the United States successfully had striker Folarin Balogun's suspension overturned through Fifa's article 27 clause, which allows the governing body to make decisions without meeting other criteria.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Nottingham Forest has parted ways with manager Vitor Pereira and is poised to appoint former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as his successor, with a deal virtually complete. Glasner, who led Palace to the Europa Conference League title last season, will become Forest's fifth manager in fewer than 12 months.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Former Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is nearing a move to Paris FC with a two-year contract offer plus an optional extra season, returning to management after four months at Stamford Bridge. Paris FC delayed pre-season as they finalize the appointment to replace Antoine Kombouare.
30 June 2026 · Joy Online →
England midfielder Declan Rice is expected to return to the starting lineup for the last-32 match against DR Congo on Wednesday after being rested against Panama due to a calf injury sustained in the draw with Ghana. England manager Thomas Tuchel faces significant uncertainty at right-back, with Reece James unlikely to return this tournament and Jarell Quansah doubtful for the DR Congo game due to an ankle injury.
28 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Sunderland have rejected an £8m offer from Chelsea for midfielder Granit Xhaka, saying the 33-year-old is not for sale. The Switzerland international, under contract until 2028, played a key role in Sunderland's Europa League qualification last season.
28 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Defender Piero Hincapie has made his loan move from Bayer Leverkusen to Arsenal permanent after the club paid around £34.5m. The Ecuador international, 24, has signed a contract until 2031.
25 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Liverpool have signed Spain winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for €40m (£34.5m) and offered RB Leipzig a package worth approximately 100m euros (£86m) for Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, though Leipzig want more and prefer not to sell the 19-year-old during the transfer window.
19 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Algeria arrives at World Cup 2026 with an impressive qualifying record under Vladimir Petkovic but uncertain true level; they impressed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but collapsed against Nigeria in the quarterfinals, leaving unclear whether that loss signals weakness against top opposition.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2026 World Cup under new coach Sergej Barbarez, who took over in 2024 and rebuilt the squad with 16 debut players, eliminating Wales and Italy in playoffs to reach only the second World Cup in the country's history.
7 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola as head coach on a two-year contract following Arne Slot's departure. The former Bournemouth manager, 43, takes over after the Reds finished the Premier League season with 60 points and qualified for next season's Champions League.
5 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Dani Carvajal, 34, will depart Real Madrid at the end of the season when his contract expires in June, ending a 23-year association with the club spanning two spells. The Madrid-born right-back, who has made 450 appearances and won 27 titles including six Champions League titles, is departing after recent serious knee injuries.
19 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Dani Carvajal, 34, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season when his contract expires in June after two spells at the club covering 23 years. The right-back made 450 appearances, won 27 titles including six Champions League titles, and is among only five players to win the Champions League six times.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Xabi Alonso has been appointed Chelsea manager on a four-year contract, beginning July 1 after the season ends. The 44-year-old Spanish coach, recently fired by Real Madrid, said he shares Chelsea's ambition to compete at the highest level and win trophies.
18 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior's replacement, Xabi Alonso, was announced following the club's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City. The 44-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss will begin his contract on 1 July and be unveiled in pre-season.
17 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has been appointed Chelsea manager on a four-year contract starting in July. The 44-year-old Spaniard previously led Bayer Leverkusen to its first Bundesliga title in 2024 and replaces Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, who were the club's two permanent managers this season.
17 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Xabi Alonso has agreed to become Chelsea's next permanent head coach on a four-year contract, after the club sacked Liam Rosenior in April. The former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager will be involved in Chelsea's summer transfer plans.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Thomas Tuchel has submitted England's 55-player provisional squad for the World Cup, which begins on 11 June in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Luke Shaw, Danny Welbeck, Alex Scott and Trent Alexander-Arnold are believed to be included, though the final squad of 26 players will be announced on 22 May.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →