Howe ends Newcastle spell as Premier League braces for reshuffle

Red Star Belgrade's 5-0 demolition of Larne in the Champions League second qualifying round second leg on July 29 laid bare the distance between Serbia's champions and a side outclassed at every turn. Aleksandar Katai's third-minute opener set the tone at the Rajko Mitić Stadium as Marko Arnautović added two before the hour and substitute Osman Bukari sealed the rout, sending Red Star into the third qualifying round while Larne dropped into the Europa League (via ESPN).

Ghana crushes Cape Verde. Ghana stormed into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations knockout reckoning with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde on July 30, keeping their Group D campaign unbeaten as the tournament entered its middle stages (via Olympics.com).

Cameroon doubles down. The two-time runners-up beat Mali 2-1 on July 30 in their own Group D fixture, matching Ghana's early promise and staking a claim as potential champions (via VAVEL).

Arsenal reached agreement with Newcastle to sign Bruno Guimaraes on July 31, capping the Brazilian midfielder's drawn-out saga by agreeing a €90 million deal, about 105 million dollars, over five years. The 28-year-old had been Guimaraes' prime target throughout the window, and the completed framework signals the Gunners have landed their statement midfielder as they prepare to defend their Premier League title (via Caught Offside).

Stones finds calm at Inter. England defender John Stones signed a two-year deal with Serie A champions Inter Milan on July 30 as a free agent after a decade at Manchester City. The 32-year-old, departing the Etihad after six league titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League, said he remained "hungry to win again" as he became Inter's marquee centre-back signing (via ESPN).

Chelsea seal Dragoni deal. Chelsea confirmed the signing of Italy midfielder Giulia Dragoni from Barcelona on July 31, adding the 19-year-old to their reshaped Women's Super League squad. Dragoni, who spent the previous season on loan at Roma scoring eight goals, joins five other marquee summer arrivals at Stamford Bridge (via Yahoo Sports).

Newcastle bolster attack. Newcastle acquired forward Thomas from Tottenham on July 29, the 30-year-old Scotland international joining the Magpies after three years at Spurs and bringing international experience to the Women's Super League (via WSL Full-Time).

Eddie Howe departed Newcastle on July 31, ending nearly five years at St James Park and stepping away from a squad that finished 12th in the Premier League last season. In a statement, the 48-year-old said: "After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break." Howe's tenure brought the club its first major trophy in 70 years when they won the League Cup in 2025 and led them into European competition, but mounting transfer frustration and internal pressure prompted the exit. Matthias Jaissle, currently at Al-Ahli, is expected to replace him (via BBC Sport).

Mykhailo Mudryk received clearance to play for Chelsea with immediate effect on July 31 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport resolved his doping ban appeal. The Ukraine winger had been suspended for four years in November 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, but CAS ruled he could return after accepting anti-doping rule violations and time served. The ruling marks a major turning point for Mudryk, who has not represented Chelsea since a Conference League match on November 28, 2024 (via Sky Sports).

Chelsea fined £10m but dodges points axe. The FA fined Chelsea £10 million on July 31 for 74 breaches of agent regulations dating to the Roman Abramovich era, when the club made £47 million in undisclosed payments to unregistered intermediaries. The punishment includes a suspended two-window transfer ban running through June 30, 2027, but the club avoided the original six-point deduction after a successful appeal, leaving their Premier League standing intact (via ESPN).