Chelsea sign Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi

Chelsea FC have signed Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille on a five-year contract.


The 22-year-old is new manager Antonio Conte's first signing at Stamford Bridge.

The fee was not disclosed by Chelsea but is believed to be £33m (40m euros).

The forward, who scored 23 goals for Marseille last season, scored in Belgium's last-16 win over Hungary at Euro 2016 and also came on in their quarter-final exit to Wales.

"I am delighted to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe," said Batshuayi.

"[My Belgium team-mates] Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois have told me many good things about the club, and with Antonio Conte coming in, it's an exciting time to become a Chelsea player."

Batshuayi signed for Marseille from Standard Liege in 2014 and made his international debut in March 2015 in a 5-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Cyprus.

Against Hungary, he scored with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, converting a cross from his new club team-mate Eden Hazard.

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That's all.

Euro 2016: Would Iceland be a bigger shock than Leicester

What do you think? Would Iceland winning UEFA EURO 2016 be an even bigger shock than Leicester City winning the Premier League?

This is Iceland's first ever international tournament. In fact, they did not even enter qualifying for three of the first four editions. Leicester, on the other hand, are no strangers to the English top flight – they have been there ten of the 24 seasons since the Premier League era began.


There is estimated to be only 21,500 registered footballers in Iceland. Furthermore, every man in the country aged between 20 and 40 had a theoretical 2000-1 chance of being named in the 23-man squad! And yet, despite such limited resources, they managed to beat an England team with an estimated 1.5 million registered players – nearly five times the entire population of Iceland!


Leicester won the Premier League in a season when the traditional powerhouses did not perform. If – and my it is a big if – Iceland win EURO, they would have done so despite coming up against Portugal (maybe twice), England, hosts France and Germany.

Comment below..

Germany 1-1 Italy (6-5 on penalties)

Germany [1] - Italy [1]

Özil (65')

Bonucci (78' pen)


Germany reached the Euro 2016 semi-final after winning a thrilling penalty shootout against Italy in Bordeaux.

Joachim Low's World Cup holders looked on course for victory in normal time - against a country they had never beaten at a major tournament - when Mesut Ozil rounded off a slick build-up with Mario Gomez and Jonas Hector to score at the near post in the 65th minute.

Italy did not flinch but were grateful for a moment of madness from Germany defender Jerome Boateng when he needlessly handled, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score the first penalty of his career with 12 minutes left.

Germany missed more penalties in one shootout than in their history - three - but were once again the winners on penalties.

They have still never lost a shootout since the 1976 final of this competition when they lost to Czechoslovakia - some 40 years and 13 days ago.

It was settled when Hector drove low under Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after Manchester United's Matteo Darmian saw his side's ninth penalty saved by Manuel Neuer.

Germany will now play either hosts France or England's conquerors Iceland in the last four.

Man of the match - Manuel Neuer

Legend!! Giggs leaving Manchester United after 29 years

Ryan Giggs has ended his 29-year stay at Manchester United by agreeing a settlement with the Old Trafford club.


United are expected to release an official statement in the coming days.

Giggs, 42, had a year remaining on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho intends to fill that role with long-time friend Rui Faria.

Unable to reach agreement over another role at the Premier League club, Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for United, has decided to move on.

Cardiff-born Giggs has his Uefa Pro Licence, a mandatory qualification for managing in the Premier League, and has never made any secret of his desire to move into management.

Linked with Swansea last season, he felt he was ready to manage United, having served his apprenticeship under David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal.

But he was known to be less than impressed with how Van Gaal's exit was handled by United, when news of the Dutchman's sacking emerged moments after the club's FA Cup final success.

Giggs was also disappointed to be overlooked in favour of former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Mourinho, whose appointment was confirmed in May.

Giggs joined the United academy on his 14th birthday, turning professional aged 17 in November 1990 and making his first-team debut against Everton on 2 March, 1991.

He won a record 13 league titles, two European Cups, four FA Cups and four League Cups to become the most decorated British player of all time.

He became a player-coach following the arrival of Moyes as manager in 2013, taking control of the first team for the final four games of the season after the Scot's dismissal.

Giggs was then appointed as assistant-manager by Van Gaal in 2014.

Giggs represented one of the final links to the Ferguson era - and given his service and achievements at United, the club risk a potential PR disaster in letting him leave.

The Welshman was largely responsible for promoting exciting 18-year-old England striker Marcus Rashford to the first team last season and is the embodiment of the United traditions of a commitment to youth and attacking football.

However, he was part of a static management team criticised by fans, pundits and former players for a dull style of play which ultimately cost Dutchman Van Gaal his job.

Manchester City have signed Spain International Nolito on a four-year deal

English Premier League club, Manchester City, have completed the signing of Spanish forward, Manuel Agudo Duran, popularly known has Nolito from Spanish Club, Celta Vigo.


According to a statement by the club on Friday, “Nolito has become City’s second signing of the summer after agreeing a four-year deal. Nolito will wear the No.9 shirt this season”.

The player in a statement said he would bring his best to his new club.

“I’ll try to bring as much as I possibly can.

“I’ll do everything that the manager asks of me, try my absolute best and do everything I can to try to repeat the form I’ve shown throughout my career at various clubs.

“It’s just about trying to play my normal game and let’s hope that I can help Manchester City to win games.

“I think that Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world. He knows a lot about the game and he’s going to help me progress as a player and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me.”

Nolito, 29, joined Celta Vigo in 2013, scoring 39 goals in 103 appearances.

Mali solicits Nigerian Armed Forces Cooperation

Nigeria, DHQ: The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Didier Dacko has eulogised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their exceptional role in peace keeping and high professional conduct in all military operations in the sub-region, Africa and around the globe

Brigadier General Dacko made the commendation when he visited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. While praising the Nigerian Armed Forces for its leadership role in the West African sub-region, he stated that he was in DHQ to understudy the Nigerian Armed Forces winning strategy against the dreaded Boko Haram Terrorists so that his country can replicate same in tackling the security challenges in Mali.

In his remarks, the CDS restated the Nigerian Armed Forces readiness to partner with any country in the sub-region to curb the menace of terrorists and reactionary forces. He urged the regional security forces to develop new strategies in intelligence gathering and sharing to unmask and defeat terrorist elements working against the progress of the continent.

General Olonisakin noted that the regional security forces must synergize to tackle the common enemy who are hell bent to destabilise the region. The CDS also expressed willingness to support the actualisation of an operational African Standby Force. He therefore called the regional forces to close ranks and bridge the gap to achieve the vision of having a terrorist free region.

July: Happy New Month

Happy new month!

Poland 1-1 Portugal (3-5 penalties)

Poland [1] - Portugal [1]

Lewandoski (2')

Renato Sanches (33')

Portugal win 5-3 on penalties


Portugal reached the semi-finals of the European Championship for the fourth time in five tournaments with a penalty shootout victory over Poland.


Ricardo Quaresma scored the winning spot-kick after Jakub Blaszczykowski's effort was saved by Rui Patricio.

Robert Lewandowski had fired Poland ahead in the second minute with teenager Renato Sanches equalising via a deflected strike.

Portugal's semi-final opponent will be either Wales or Belgium.

Remarkably, Portugal have reached the last four without winning a game in normal time following three draws in a group in which they finished third and an extra-time win over Croatia in the last 16.

No side has ever got this far in a European Championship without winning a match inside 90 minutes
.
Portugal have also only led a match for 22 minutes during the whole tournament, while Poland have not trailed for a single minute.

However, for a second dour and conservative knockout game running, Fernando Santos' side did what was required when it mattered.

How the penalty shootout was won

Neither goalkeeper came close to saving the first three penalties from either side.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Sanches and Joao Moutinho all scored excellent penalties for Portugal, with Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik and Kamil Glik following suit for Poland.

However, after Nani had put Portugal 4-3 ahead, Patricio dived full length to his left to palm away Blaszczykowski's effort with one hand.

Lukasz Fabianski got his fingertips to Quaresma's decisive effort but could not prevent it finding the roof of the net.

Man of the match - Renato Sanches (Portugal)