United News of Bangladesh

Joao Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton on Wednesday to continue the Premier League club's lavish spending under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The Brazil forward cost a reported 60 million pounds ($82 million) and has signed a contract through to 2033. “Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Joao Pedro said. “They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now. So I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing — win.” The Brazil international has joined up with Chelsea's squad at the Club World Cup in the United States and is eligible to play in Friday's quarterfinal against Palmeiras. Joao Pedro is Chelsea’s fifth major signing this offseason after previous deals for Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr. Under Boehly and Clearlake, who bought Chelsea in 2022, the six-time English champion has spent well in excess of $1 billion on transfers, including British record fees for Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. The 23-year-old Joao Pedro hit 10 goals in 32 appearances for Brighton last season and scored 30 across two years with the club. Leverkusen signs England Under-21 defender Jarell Quansah from Liverpool He is the latest player to leave Brighton for Chelsea in a big-money move in recent years after deals for Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Caicedo. The move also represents a sizeable profit for Brighton after signing Joao Pedro from Watford for 30 million pounds ($41 million) in 2023. “This is a good move for all parties. It’s an excellent deal for the club, and a good return on a significant investment in an area of the pitch where we have a lot of competition and are already well served in terms of our attacking talent," said Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler. Joao Pedro’s arrival comes as Chelsea prepares for a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Under coach Enzo Maresca, the London club finished fourth in the Premier League last season, its highest place since Boehly and Clearlake bought out former owner Roman Abramovich, and also won the UEFA Conference League. Chelsea can add to that at the Club World Cup, but the expectation next season will be to challenge for a first Premier League title under its American owners.

The Bangladesh Women’s Football Team moved within touching distance of their first-ever final round appearance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup defeating hosts Myanmar 2-1 in a hard-fought Group C encounter at Yangon’s Thuwunna Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Ritu Porna Chakma was the star of the match, netting both goals for Bangladesh — one in each half — to secure the memorable victory over Myanmar, ranked 73 places higher. With this well-deserved win, Bangladesh not only recorded back-to-back win in the Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time in history the result also served as sweet revenge for their 0-5 defeat to Myanmar in the 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers held in Yangon. Two-time ASEAN Women’s Champions Myanmar, who have featured in the AFC Asian Cup final round five times, looked off-colour against a spirited and confident Bangladesh side. With Wednesday’s shock defeat, Myanmar—the top seed in Group C—crashed out of the tournament, having lost the head-to-head encounter against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s place in the final round could be confirmed as early as Wednesday evening if Bahrain and Turkmenistan play out a draw in the day’s second Group C fixture. The wonder girl from Rangamati, Ritu Porna Chakma, gave Bangladesh the lead in the 18th minute. Her initial free-kick attempt struck the Myanmar defence wall, but Ritu reacted quickest to fire home from the rebound and put Bangladesh 1-0 up. AFC Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh will play hosts Myanmar on Wednesday to stay in group race  She doubled Bangladesh’s advantage in the 72nd minute with a brilliant angular left-footed strike from inside the box. Myanmar managed a late consolation through substitute midfielder Win Win, who scored in the 89th minute, but Bangladesh held firm to secure the historic win. Bangladesh will face Turkmenistan in their final Group C match at 6:30 pm (BST) on July 5, also at Thuwunna Stadium. The outcome will have no bearing on Bangladesh’s position if they are confirmed as group champions by Wednesday night. The champion of Group C will earn direct qualification to the final round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia next year.

Bayer Leverkusen has signed Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah in a club-record deal for a defender, replacing former captain Jonathan Tah. The 22-year-old Quansah has agreed to a contract until June 2030 and will take over Tah’s No. 4 shirt, the Bundesliga champions announced on Wednesday. The transfer fee reportedly exceeds €30 million ($35.3 million) and could rise to €40 million ($47 million) with bonuses, roughly matching the amount Liverpool agreed to pay Leverkusen for Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong in May. Liverpool has also reportedly secured a buy-back clause for Quansah, allowing them to re-sign him for more than €60 million ($70.6 million) after two seasons at Leverkusen. Mbappé makes Club World Cup debut as Real Madrid edge Juventus This is the second major transfer between the clubs in recent weeks, as Leverkusen sold star midfielder Florian Wirtz to Liverpool last month for a Bundesliga-record fee. Jonathan Tah, who spent 10 years at Leverkusen, moved to league rivals Bayern Munich after the season ended, having declined a contract extension. Tah played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run to the Bundesliga and German Cup titles in the 2023-24 season. Quansah, who recently helped England win the Under-21 European Championship, struggled to secure a regular place in Liverpool’s starting lineup behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes described Quansah as "one of the most promising English central defenders," praising his speed, agility, technical ability, and toughness in defense. “Jarell has already made an impressive impact in a Liverpool defense filled with world-class players. His arrival brings more dynamism, pace, and physical strength to our defense. He’s another crucial piece of our puzzle,” Rolfes said. AFC Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh will play hosts Myanmar on Wednesday to stay in group race  In addition, Leverkusen recently signed 20-year-old Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye from Swedish side BK Häcken for a reported €3 million ($3.5 million), with plans to loan him out for the upcoming season.

Kylian Mbappé made his long-awaited Club World Cup debut for Real Madrid on Tuesday, coming off the bench in their 1-0 victory over Juventus to secure a quarterfinal spot. Mbappé, who missed Madrid’s first three matches due to illness, entered the match in the 68th minute to a loud ovation from the Hard Rock Stadium crowd. He interacted with fans before taking off his warm-up and showed flashes of activity on the pitch, although he didn’t score. Gonzalo García, the 21-year-old who had filled in for Mbappé during the group stage, scored the winning goal with a header before being substituted for the French star. Mbappé had been sidelined with a gastrointestinal illness, requiring hospital treatment, but Real Madrid still managed to progress unbeaten, with García contributing three goals in as many matches. AFC Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh will play hosts Myanmar on Wednesday to stay in group race  Coach Xabi Alonso did not confirm whether Mbappé will start in Saturday's quarterfinal against either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey at MetLife Stadium. "He’s improving every day. I think he’ll be even better by the quarterfinals," Alonso said. Mbappé’s return adds star power to the tournament, which saw Lionel Messi and Inter Miami exit in the round of 16 after losing to PSG. Source: Agency 

With a sweet memory of crushing higher ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals in the group opener, high flying Bangladesh will play top seed and hosts Myanmar in their 2nd Group C match of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2026 Qualifiers on Wednesday hoping to stay ahead in the race. The vital match of the four-team Group C between two teams will kick-off at 3:30  pm Bangladesh time at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. After the first round matches, both the Myanmar and Bangladesh have secured three points each, but hosts Myanmar topped Group C list by virtue of better goal difference scoring eight goals against Bangladesh's seven goals. Only the group champions are ensured a ticket to Australia 2026. In Wednesday's vital match, two times SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh have to manage atleast a draw against their 73rd ranked higher Myanmar to keep their hope alive to be group champions. In their last meeting in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2018 in Yangon, Bangladesh suffered 0-5 goals defeat against Myanmar. However, Bangladesh not worried about the ranking after their maiden victory in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with style outplaying another higher ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals at the same venue last Sunday. Women’s Asian Cup: Bangladesh team keep fit ahead of vital match against Myanmar Ahead of the crucial match against tough opponents Myanmar, Bangladesh made official training session Tuesday morning from 7 am to 9: am at the Training  Field-5 in Yangon. Bangladeshi players are focused, motivated and looking forward for continuing  their strong performances in the tournament they displayed against the Bahrain. In their first matches, Bangladesh outplayed Bahrain by 7-0 goals while hosts Myanmar crushed Turkmenistan by 8-0 goals last Sunday. In the Sunday’s opening match, experienced forward Tohura Khatun scored twice, Shamsunnahar Junior, Ritu  Porna Chakma, Kohati Kisku and Munki Akhter scored one each for the Bangladesh team, which dominated the first half by 5-0 goals, Rawan Al Ali of Bahrain scored a suicidal goal to increased Bangladesh margin further. In remaining Group C match, Bangladesh will face lowly rated Turkmenistan on July 5 at 6:30 pm (BST) also at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. The champion of the four-team Group C will earn the right to play in the finals round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia next year.

Manchester City suffered a shocking exit from the Club World Cup after a thrilling 4-3 extra-time defeat to Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal, marking one of the tournament’s most memorable upsets. The pulsating encounter in Orlando, which stretched over 120 minutes, was decided by a late goal from Marcos Leonardo in the 112th minute, securing Al Hilal’s place in the quarter-finals against Fluminense. City dominated the opening stages, with Jérémy Doku’s pace troubling the Al Hilal defence. Their persistence paid off early, as Bernardo Silva pounced on a loose ball inside the box to give the European champions the lead in the 9th minute. Despite enjoying possession for much of the first half, Guardiola’s men couldn’t extend their advantage. Al Hilal had a brief moment of hope when they thought they had won a penalty, but VAR ruled out the opportunity for offside in the build-up. City came close to snatching victory in normal time, only for Al Hilal to clear off the line amid a frantic goalmouth scramble. With the scores locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes, the game headed to extra time. The Saudi side struck first in the added period, as Kalidou Koulibaly rose highest from a corner to nod them in front. City responded swiftly, with substitute Phil Foden levelling the score after latching onto a clever pass from recent signing Rayan Cherki. However, the decisive moment came when City goalkeeper Ederson pulled off a superb save to deny Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, only for the rebound to fall kindly for Leonardo, who slotted home the winner. The result marked a bitter disappointment for Manchester City, while Al Hilal, now under the guidance of former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, celebrated a famous victory and progression to the next round. Source: Gulf News

Marcos Leonardo scored his second goal on a rebound in the 112th minute as Al Hilal stunned Premier League powerhouse Manchester City 4-3 on Monday, eliminating them from the Club World Cup in the round of 16. In a thrilling, back-and-forth contest at Camping World Stadium, the Saudi Arabian club took the lead three times, including twice in extra time. Kalidou Koulibaly put Al Hilal ahead 3-2 in the 94th minute, but Phil Foden — who entered the match just four minutes earlier — equalized in the 104th. Leonardo finally sealed the victory for Al Hilal when Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson saved a header by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from inside the penalty area. The ball deflected to Leonardo, who redirected it with his right foot as he fell near the left post. With the upset, Al Hilal advances to face Brazilian side Fluminense, who eliminated another European giant, Inter Milan, earlier on Tuesday. Neves scores twice as PSG crush Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 at Club World Cup Leonardo also scored in the 46th minute to bring the match level at 1-1 after Bernardo Silva had given Manchester City an early lead in the ninth minute. Malcom put Al Hilal ahead again in the 52nd, only for Erling Haaland to find the net three minutes later and make it 2-2. Key Moment Manchester City nearly won the match in regulation during the final seconds of added time with a counterattack that was stopped by a hard challenge in the penalty area. Referees declined to award a penalty, prompting City manager Pep Guardiola to run onto the pitch in protest after the final whistle. Next Match Al Hilal will face Fluminense on July 4 at Camping World Stadium for a place in the semifinals. Source: AP

Bangladesh Navy emerged men’s champions and Bangladesh Police became women’s champions in the National (Men’s and Women’s) Volleyball Championships’2025 beating their rivals in the respective finals at the Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium on Monday. The sailors’ team clinched the 30th men’s volleyball crown beating Power Development Board (PDB) team by 3-1 sets while Police Women’s team lifted the 25th Women’s Volleyball title beating Bangladesh Ansars & VDP team by straight 3-0 sets. Inter District Women's Volleyball: Satkhira DSA emerged champions beating Rajshahi DSA in final President of Bangladesh Volleyball Federation Faruk Hasan was the chief guest in the day’s final while AIG of Bangladesh Police Shamima Parvin was present as the special guest.   Earlier, Bangladesh Police finished 3rd in the men’s group beating Kushtia DSA by straight 3-0 sets while Rajshahi DSA became 3rd defeating Satkhira DSA also by straight 3-0 sets in place deciding match.

Bangladesh Women’s Football team made light recovery session with swimming and stretching in Yangon on Monday ahead of their vital Group C match with group leader and hosts Myanmar on Wednesday (July 2) Two times SAFF Women’s champions Bangladesh team tasted their maiden victory in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with style crushing higher-ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals in the opening Group C match at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Sunday evening. This was the first win for Bangladesh women’s team in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers after conceding five successive defeats in the last two editions, conceding 25 goals. On Monday, Bangladesh team took part in swimming session in the morning and made stretching session in the afternoon at the team hotel to gain recovery and maintain flexibility, said a BFF media release on Monday. Bangladesh taste maiden victory in Women's Asian Cup crushing Bahrain 7-0 Later in the evening, Bangladesh team took part in a tactical meeting where the coaching staff reviewed key moments of their opening match against Bahrain and talked about their preparations for upcoming match against hosts Myanmar on Wednesday (July 2) at 3:30 pm at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. Bangladesh clearly dominated the first half with a 5-0 lead. In the Sunday’s opening match, experienced forward Tohura Khatun scored twice in quick succession, Shamsunnahar Junior, Ritu  Porna Chakma, Kohati Kisku and Munki Akhter scored one each for the Bangladesh team, which dominated the first half by 5-0 goals, Rawan Al Ali of Bahrain scored a suicidal goal to increased Bangladesh margin further. In remaining Group C matches, Bangladesh will face hosts Myanmar on July 2 at 3:30 pm (BST) and Turkmenistan on July 5 at 6:30 pm (BST), both at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. The champion of the four-team Group C will earn the right to play in the final round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia next year.

João Neves struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain delivered a dominant performance to dismantle Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 in the Club World Cup round of 16 clash on Sunday. Facing his former club where he spent two seasons before joining Major League Soccer, Messi endured a frustrating night as the reigning European champions outclassed Inter Miami in front of 65,574 spectators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. PSG wasted little time asserting control. Neves opened the scoring in just the sixth minute with a header at the back post from a well-placed free kick. The Portuguese midfielder doubled his tally in the 39th minute, paving the way for a total collapse by Inter Miami before halftime. A defensive blunder led to an own goal, followed by Achraf Hakimi’s strike in stoppage time, sending PSG into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead. The emphatic victory mirrored PSG's recent 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final, which secured the club's maiden European crown and solidified their status as favorites in the expanded Club World Cup. Manchester City beats Juventus 5-2 to win Group G of Club World Cup Despite scattered chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!” from the pink-clad Inter Miami fans, the Argentine legend struggled to make an impact. PSG's relentless pressing left Messi isolated in midfield for most of the first half with limited possession. Inter Miami's clearest opportunity came early in the second half when Luis Suárez broke free down the flank but misfired, visibly frustrated as he kicked a water bottle in anger. Messi eventually registered the team's first shot on target in the 63rd minute, easily handled by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Messi's best chance came with about 10 minutes remaining, forcing a diving save from Donnarumma as PSG kept their third clean sheet of the tournament. PSG now advances to face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals next Saturday in Atlanta. The German side beat Flamengo of Brazil 4-2 in their round of 16 encounter. Key Moment:While European giants initially expressed little enthusiasm for the added tournament workload, PSG showed their intent from the opening whistle, seeking to cap their historic season with another title. Takeaways:Despite boasting veterans like Messi and Suárez, Inter Miami could not match the European champions' intensity. PSG dominated with 73% first-half possession and a 10-0 shot advantage, including six on target. They said it:“We had a very good game. We didn’t stop. We kept playing our game. It was a positive day for us,” said Neves. Inter Milan advances at Club World Cup with 2-0 win over River Plate “The first half was kind of like a bloodbath... But I am very proud of my team and what we have accomplished,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano told reporters via an interpreter. Source: Agency