Hatem Ben Arfa s contract with Newcastle United has been terminated by mutual consent, leaving the attacker free to complete a move to Nice.
Ligue 1 side Nice announced on Saturday that they had agreed a deal in principle to sign the 27-year-old, who recently had an unsuccessful stint on loan at Hull City.
Newcastle have now cleared the way for Ben Arfa to move on, coming to an agreement that ends the player s stay at St James Park.
A statement from the Premier League club on Sunday read: Newcastle United can confirm that Hatem Ben Arfa and the club have reached an agreement to terminate the contract between both parties with immediate effect by mutual consent.
Newcastle United wishes Hatem all the best for his future.
Ben Arfa joined Newcast…
Ivica Olic has confirmed he will leave Bayern Munich on a Bosman move at the end of the season in order to join Wolfsburg on a two-year deal.
The 32-year-old joined Bayern from Hamburg in 2009 and has since made over 75 official appearances for the Bavarians. Nevertheless, he has been struggling to secure regular first-team football under coach Jupp Heynckes.
Therefore, the Croatia international has opted to move on at the end of the season in an attempt to earn more game time elsewhere.
It is true that I have signed a contract with Wolfsburg. I am very pleased about it, and have informed the people at Bayern of my decision, Olic told Sport Bild.
Olic will reportedly earn an annual salary of six million euros at the Volkswagen Arena.
The attack…
Philadelphia Union thrashed a 10-man Montreal Impact 4-1 to move into second position in the Eastern Conference in MLS.
Romell Quioto had given Thierry Henry s Montreal an early lead at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, but his first-half red card proved costly.
Alejandro Bedoya levelled before Kacper Przybylko s brace either side of half-time, and Anthony Fontana sealed the win.
Quioto found the bottom corner with a 25-yard free-kick in just the fifth minute, but he was sent off 11 minutes later for elbowing Mark McKenzie.
Quioto s goal was the first time Montreal had scored from a direct free-kick shot since 2018, according to Opta.
Free Kick is good! drills the free kick to put up early!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS)
Philadelphia…
Sheffield United have broken their transfer record for the third time in a month to sign striker Lys Mousset from Bournemouth.
The Blades reportedly paid £10million to secure the Frenchman and have tied him to a three-year deal.
The fee eclipses the club s outlay on Luke Freeman and Callum Robinson, who are said to have joined for £5m and £8m respectively, earlier in the window.
Mousset, 23, becomes United s fifth new addition since winning promotion to the Premier League.
Manager Chris Wilder said: Lys is big, quick and a different type of threat at the top of the pitch to what we already have.
Welcome to the Blades, Lys
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited)
I think he will prove to be a great fit for us and the fact …
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The Premier League is underway and fans are ready to really kick things into the next gear after an electric opening weekend. We saw upsets, cracking goals and a whole lot of dramatic moments in what still holds the title of being the best top flight in the beautiful game today. On Sunday we ll see another enticing match-up take place, this time in the capital as last season s surprise package West Ham United lock horns with FA Cup winners Leicester City.
West Ham
West Ham United came out of nowhere in 2020/21 and emerged as a team more than capable of mixing it up with the top flight s finest. They ll be joining Leicester in the Europa League and under the guidance of David Moyes, there s no reason w…
As we open the New Year this weekend, we have another stacked weekend of footballing action from across Britain on the cards throughout Saturday afternoon. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a weekend acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday 2nd January
BST 15:00 Brentford vs Bristol City
Starting with Saturday s hosts, managing to mount what was a stunning turnaround on home soil in midweek, there is no doubt that the mood in Brentford s camp should be at a red-hot high. Last seen earlier in the week when facing off against fellow promotion chasers Bournemouth in West London, the Bees came from behind as they landed a late 2-1 win against the Cherries, a result that certainly impressed man…
Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick on his Al Ahli debut as the former Liverpool striker got the much-hyped Saudi Pro League season up and running with dash of star power.
A host of big-name player from Europe’s top clubs, including Premier League stalwarts and Champions League winners, have been attracted to the oil-rich Gulf state in a trolley dash worth almost half a billion US dollars leading up to the 2023/24 campaign.
Firmino arrived as a well-paid free transfer from Anfield and the Brazil forward enjoyed a memorable start as he inspired a 3-1 win for Al Ahli over Al Hazem in Jeddah.
Hat-trick hero, Roberto Firmino
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN)
The 31-year-old, who was handed the captain’s armband, netted twice in the first nine mi…
Gareth Southgate does not feel any pressure for England to produce a political statement akin to Germany s team photo at this World Cup.
England, like Germany, were planning to support the OneLove campaign – which promotes inclusion and sends a message against discrimination of any kind – by having their captain wear an armband bearing its logo.
When FIFA threatened sporting sanctions – expected to be a yellow card for the captains – the teams involved backed out.
Germany still produced a demonstration, however, as their players covered their mouths for their team photo ahead of the defeat to Japan, suggesting FIFA was denying us a voice .
Southgate was asked on Thursday if England would have a unique protest of their own, but he replied: No, I do…
BATE Borisov midfielder Aliaksandr Hleb says he does not consider former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to be the greatest coach in the world.
The Belarus international, who played all 90 minutes of his side s recent shock 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage, spent four years with the Catalan giants between 2008-2012.
I learned more from (Arsene) Wenger than Guardiola, but Pep is a good coach, the 31-year-old told Esports en Xarxa.
Guardiola is not the best coach in the world because he coached the best team in the world, with the best players, and that s why he won.
It s hard not to win with a team like that and (Tito) Vilanova will have the greatest success.
The best coaches in the world are (Jose) Mourinho, (Si…
Tottenham Hotspur can maintain the pressure on rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in Wednesday s English Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Andre Villas-Boas men are seventh on the table after snapping a three-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday.
Tottenham are equal on 20 points with north London rivals Arsenal and four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League berth.
The Liverpool fixture is Tottenham s second of three Premier League games in the space of seven days, with a London derby at Fulham to follow on Saturday.
Villas-Boas is likely to continue with Jermain Defoe up front after the England striker netted a superb brace against West Ham.
He s enjoying his football, Villas-Boas said…