Chicaog Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg died on Monday. He was 65.

The Hall of Fame second baseman played 16 seasons in the majors, 15 of them in Chicago. Throughout the course of his career, Sandberg won nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger awards, and was named NL MVP of the 1984 season.

Tributes poured in for Sandberg from across the baseball world. MLB Network put together a video package celebrating the life and playing career of Sandberg, highlighting some of the brightest moments of his career. You can watch that below.

The Cubs will wear a patch in honor of Sandberg on their uniforms for the remainder of the season.

RIP to a Cubs legend.

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to pay £70m to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, as they believe he would be perfect for Thomas Frank.

It is little wonder Tottenham are looking to bring in a new forward, given that some of their current attacking options have been far from impressive so far this season, with Jamie O’Hara left fuming by Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani after the Chelsea defeat.

Mathys Tel has also found it difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League, with the 20-year-old being dropped to the bench in recent weeks, having now scored just one goal in his opening 10 matches in all competitions.

Spurs’ attacking woes were particularly apparent in the 1-0 defeat against their London rivals on Saturday, failing to craft a single big chance, while also having just three shots in the entire match.

Tottenham willing to make offer for Antoine Semenyo

Having struggled in front of goal, Tottenham are now willing to make their club-record signing in one of the stars of the Premier League this season, with a report from Spain revealing they are prepared to make a bid of around €80m (£70m) for Semenyo.

There is a belief the Bournemouth forward would be ideal for Frank, given that he is fast, powerful and clinical, but there could be competition for the Ghanaian’s signature, as several unnamed European clubs are also keen.

The Cherries value the 25-year-old highly, but they may be willing to cash-in for the right price this winter, with a £80m fee being touted.

The Bournemouth star has shown signs of year-on-year development since first emerging as a regular starter in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season, and he is already over half-way to matching his goal and assist tally from the previous campaign.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

33

11

2024-25

37

17

2025-26

10

9

Scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Ghana international in the past, urging Arsenal to sign him back in February.

Semenyo has earned a move to a top club, with his performances this season indicating he is ready to make the step-up, and it would be a real statement of intent from ENIC if they were able to get a deal done.

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Spurs have set out to sign a new striker.

ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has laughed off questions regarding his 1,000th goal being scored in the 2026 World Cup final, suggesting that anybody expecting that to happen has “been watching too many movies”. CR7 admits that such a scenario would be “perfect”, but prefers to keep his focus locked on the present – with the all-time great also reluctant to speculate on his potential involvement at Euro 2028.

• Individual targets: Prolific Ronaldo sets personal goals

  Having achieved just about everything – a World Cup triumph aside – Ronaldo has to set more individual targets during the latter stages of his record-shattering career. One of those sees him chasing down four figures on the goal front, with that milestone very much in sight.

  Given how prolific he has been for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team – with 143 efforts recorded for his country – it may be that Ronaldo further cements his legacy before gracing another international tournament.

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  Dream ending: Could Ronaldo reach 1,000 goals in World Cup final?

  He will be heading to a sixth World Cup regardless of what he has achieved on the personal front, with the evergreen 40-year-old as hungry as ever to savour tangible success. He has written plenty of Hollywood scripts down the years, allowing the history books to be rewritten, but is not giving too much thought to delivering a fairytale ending on American soil.

  Quizzed on whether his 1,000th goal could come in the game that lands him a World Cup winners’ medal, Ronaldo said: “You've been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect. Getting back to reality, all this data makes me happy. A national team never depends on one player, but I like being able to make a difference with goals. It's always good to score goals, that's my position. I want to play in this next World Cup, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but let's take it step by step. If that happened, it would be a good sign, I'd end my career on a high note.”

• Evergreen at 40: How Ronaldo moves with the times

  Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down on the goal front, with the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward priding himself on being able to move with the times. He added on being prolific at an age that few reach as a professional: “Scoring goals is the hardest thing in football. I think I was smart to adapt to modern football, physically and mentally, to different club contexts, the national team, different leagues. I think a truly intelligent player adapts to the circumstances of football, and that's how it should be. I'll think like that until I retire from football. You have to adapt; football isn't the same as it was five years ago. What makes the difference between great players is their brains, their heads.”

  While retirement does not dominate his thoughts at present, Ronaldo has admitted that a day in which his boots are hung up for the final time may come “soon”. He has conceded that the 2026 World Cup will be his last.

  He has, however, signed a contract with Al-Nassr until 2027 and stated that: “Let's be honest, when I mean soon I mean probably one, two years. I'm enjoying the moment. But when I mean soon, it's not really soon, because I give everything for football. I'm in the game for the last 25 years, I did everything. I have many records. I'm really proud. So let's enjoy the moment, live the moment.”

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  Will Ronaldo play at Euro 2028? Portuguese GOAT responds

  With Ronaldo’s fire still burning, and many tipping him to play on beyond the age of 42, could he grace another European Championship – having previously captured that crown with Portugal in 2016? Ronaldo said when that question was put to him: “The important thing is to focus on this game. The national team is here to play in a final stage. It's another very important competition for the country, for the players, for me too, and everything else isn't relevant right now. Now it's about enjoying the moment.”

  Euro 2028 will be heading to the UK and Ireland. Ronaldo has some happy memories in England from his two spells at Old Trafford and is preparing to line up against Irish opposition on Thursday as Portugal seek to wrap up automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup.

Left-arm spinner, who returned to the England fold earlier this year, gave it “one more shot”, and earned a World Cup ticket for the UAE

Valkerie Baynes04-Oct-2024When Linsey Smith received the call to say she would be heading to another World Cup six years after her last appearance at the tournament, the emotion washed over her. After wondering whether, at the age of 29, the opportunity had passed her by, she had her second chance.”I was just over the moon to be honest – a little bit emotional,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo from England’s pre-tournament training camp in Loughborough last month. “Six years ago was when I got the first call, so it’s been a tough road. But I’m just so happy that I get the chance to represent England at a World Cup again.”Smith fell out of England’s reckoning during the summer of 2019. During her five years in the wilderness, self-doubt abounded, along with thoughts of giving up the sport, and financial struggles, as she came to terms with losing her rookie contract with England, and tried to juggle coaching and playing domestic cricket.Related

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Wise beyond her years, Alice Capsey is forever learning

“It was pretty tough,” Smith said. “You obviously doubt yourself, and I guess when I was in it, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a certain way and play a certain way, and it just ate me up, really. I felt like I almost didn’t deserve to be in an England shirt with how I was playing. So coming out of it was tough.”You never want to give something away that you’ve wanted to do since you were a kid, really, but I was in a pretty dark place and I wasn’t enjoying my cricket. There were mornings of games where I’d wake up, check the weather and see, ‘Oh, it’s not raining today, damn it, I’ve got to go and force myself to get out on that pitch’, which is awful to say now.”What kept Smith going was her pure love of the game, so that’s where she went.”I sat down and thought, ‘Is this what I want to be doing anymore?’ The kid in me – all I ever wanted to do was play cricket for England – was finding it really tough,” she said. “So I thought I either give it up now or just try and go back to what made me start cricket in the first place, which was playing with my mates, and having fun and being competitive. So I just came out of that thought.”I’ll just try again here, start from fresh, not put too much pressure on myself and see how it goes. I’ve always loved playing cricket, and I was terrible in school. So I couldn’t go and find an office job. So I thought I’ll just give it one more shot and just try and enjoy myself, [and] not take it too serious. And that’s worked for me quite nicely.”So when Smith was called up to England’s squad for their tour of New Zealand at the start of this year, it marked a fresh start.”I feel in such a better place than what I was when I played for England before,” she said. “So I guess that burning desire was always there, but I’d think: ‘Are they going to go for someone who’s 29 now? Who are they going to look at – someone younger?’ So you always dream that it would happen, but you [are] never quite sure if it really will.”My mindset has completely flipped in terms of what it was six years ago to now. It’s just about having fun, being really clear on what my role is, and doing what I do well, [and] not trying to play like someone else or be someone else. Just getting those competitive juices flowing and backing myself that what I’ve done for the last five years is good enough.”During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 domestic competition, Linsey Smith took 13 wickets at 14.76•Getty ImagesSmith joins part of a four-pronged spin attack that also includes fellow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone, legspinner Sarah Glenn, and offspinner Charlie Dean. It’s a formidable trio, but Smith brings something different again. Her strength is her relentlessness in the powerplay, along with a low, skiddy trajectory delivered from her diminutive five-feet-two-inch frame which batters find difficult to get under.”I’m not your traditional spinner that’s going to get dip and turn and nice flight, but that’s not something I’m trying to be,” Smith said. “Just being at peace with what I do and how I bowl. Actually, 29 is really not that old. I feel like I’m in my prime. I feel like I’ve grown a lot mentally more than anything. Being really clear on what my role is and how to take on those challenges of playing for England, I feel in a much better head space to do that.”Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, has been impressed by what he has seen of the new version of his old spinner, who he is backing to thrive in conditions in the UAE, despite initially viewing her as a key option for Bangladesh, where the World Cup was originally going to be staged.In Sharjah, where England play their first match of this World Cup on Saturday against Bangladesh, the pitch has revealed itself to be low and slow with good turn on offer. In the first two matches of the tournament there on Thursday, both low-scoring affairs, Bangladesh beat Scotland, and Pakistan’s spinners defended 116 in a 31-run victory over Sri Lanka.”I think the opportunity has reinvigorated her ambition, and she has really loved it,” Lewis said. “When you get someone in an environment they really love and they think, ‘Okay, I really like this, this is good fun, and I feel valued and I feel important’, then funnily enough, they improve.”So Linsey was a selection back in January, [or] February, definitely, with the World Cup in mind in Bangladesh. Her style in those conditions, I think, can be incredibly effective, and similarly in the UAE, I think she could be a really effective bowling force.”

“We’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up… We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler”England head coach Jon Lewis on Linsey Smith

During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, a T20 domestic competition, Smith took 13 wickets at an average of 14.76, and an economy rate of 4.92, with best figures of 3 for 9. Fitting her into the England attack isn’t necessarily easy, given the quality of their spin stocks, but having been unafraid to play three spinners during the home summer, Lewis sees a place for Smith, particularly in the powerplay.”Linsey has shown in the course of probably quite a long period of time now how effective she is in the powerplay,” he said. “If we look at her numbers in the powerplay in particular, they are outstanding – up there with the best in the world.”So we’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up. We’re more than likely going to play three [spinners] – we’ve shown our hand a little bit over the summer. We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler.”

The ICC is set to approve a continental qualification system to decide the six participating teams in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That means that Full Members such as Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka among others, could miss out on cricket’s much-anticipated return to the Olympics after over a century.ESPNcricinfo understands that the board discussed a proposal at the recent AGM which allows for one team from each continent. Though some details still need to be finalised, in essence, the majority approval for a regional qualification system is in place, with a minority of members expressing dissent.Six teams each in the men’s and women’s categories will contest for Olympic medals between July 14 and 29 in 2028 after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed cricket to be added to the roster for the first time since the Paris 1900 Olympics. While the ICC’s initial thinking was that it would shortlist the top six-ranked teams at a pre-determined cut-off date, several Full Member countries believed such an approach wouldn’t allow for a wider representation of countries from across the globe.Related

• Boards set to discuss India-Pakistan fallout during ICC quarterly meeting

• Fairgrounds in Pomona to host cricket at LA28 Olympics

• Cricket at LA28: both men's and women's events to be six-team contests

• Cricket at LA Olympics 2028 to start on July 12

That has now changed to a one-country-per-continent qualification system, which is thought to be more in line with the Olympic participation ethos.Which countries are shortlisted will be based on the rankings on a set date. But if the ICC plan goes through, it could mean the Olympics may not have one of the most widely watched contests in global sport: India vs Pakistan. Based on the current ICC T20 rankings, in both men’s and women’s competitions, India will qualify from Asia, Australia from Oceania, England from Europe, with one between USA or one of the islands from the Caribbean from the Americas, while South Africa qualify from Africa. ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC is still discussing the participation of USA, who potentially get direct entry as hosts.But questions remain around the make-up of the USA men’s team, the majority of whom are US residents but not naturalised US citizens. The ICC is also concerned that the USA women’s team are not in the top 20-ranked teams at the moment. A final decision is likely to be taken at the ICC’s next quarterly meeting in October.The ECB, along with Cricket Scotland and Cricket Ireland, have formed Great Britain Cricket as an entity, which will help facilitate players from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to represent Great Britain at the Games.An artist impression of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park for Brisbane 2032 Olympics•Queensland Government

As for West Indies, CWI wrote to ICC in May, pitching two ideas that could allow one of the regional countries to represent the Caribbean in the Olympics. One suggestion was an internal qualifying tournament conducted among the Caribbean countries with the winner heading to the Olympics. The other involved conducting a global qualifying pathway that would pit countries in the five ICC development regions alongside regions in the West Indies.For the sixth team, the ICC is considering the option of a global qualifier, the structure for which is still being fine-tuned.Speaking on Thursday to BBC’s , ECB chairman Richard Thompson said that the IOC was keen on having a team from each continent which satisfies the Olympics charter. “The preference from the IOC is to work to the ‘five ring’ principle, which is teams from each of the continents represent their continent,” Thompson said.The ICC is also optimistic about increasing the number of participating teams in the next two Olympics – in 2032 in Brisbane and in 2036, the venue for which is yet to be finalised by IOC. Thompson said that with India expected to bid hard to host the 2036 Summer Games, cricket could receive a massive boost.”The hope is, when we get to Brisbane, we might be up to eight or ten teams, and in 2036, there’s a three-way shoot-out between Qatar, Saudi and India, and clearly the real hope is that India get in it 2036, in which case, cricket will be front and centre. Who knows? It could be ten or 12 teams by that stage.”At this stage, we are there by the invitation of the IOC and on that basis, you abide by their rules, and that is to play the geography of your game as opposed to necessarily the top six playing nations.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras se incomodou com o acordo feito entre São Paulo e o Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva da Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) sobre as polêmicas no Choque-Rei. As partes definiram o pagamento de multas para dirigentes e jogadores do Tricolor envolvidos na confusão, evitando punições aos são-paulinos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoTorcedores do São Paulo registram filha com nome de Calleri, que reage nas redes sociaisFora de Campo13/03/2024São PauloSão Paulo define estratégia para substituir CalleriSão Paulo13/03/2024PalmeirasAllianz Parque deve ser liberado ao Palmeiras já na próxima semana; leia nota da Real ArenasPalmeiras13/03/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Anderson Barros, diretor de futebol do Palmeiras, entende que o acordo abre um precedente no futebol brasileiro, e questionou a ausência de punição aos envolvidos no lado do São Paulo.

➡️Com R$100, você pode levar R$300 na Lance! Betting se RB Bragantino e Botafogo empatarem

– Se comete um ato grave e para não ser punido levanta o dedo e pede desculpas? E mais, vaza-se um vídeo antes da transação (disciplinar esportiva) ser assinada. Acho que estamos perdendo por completo a noção do que é racional em uma situação como essa – disse o dirigente palmeirense ao ge.

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Em vídeo vazado na terça-feira (12), Belmonte pediu desculpas a Abel Ferreira por chamá-lo de “português de me…”. O diretor do São Paulo explicou que buscava identificar o treinador do Palmeiras ao árbitro do jogo, Matheus Candançan.

– Nunca foi enviado ao Palmeiras (o vídeo) e não cabe enviar ao Palmeiras. Um vídeo transacional eu não consigo entender que ele tem valor que tem que ter. Quando você quer pedir desculpas a alguém, vai falar com a pessoa – esbravejou Anderson Barros.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

A única chance de Palmeiras e São Paulo se enfrentarem na semifinal do Paulistão seria se o Verdão avancasse, o Tricolor passasse pelo Novorizontino nos pênaltis, o Red Bull Bragantino vencesse a Inter de Limeira e o Santos eliminasse a Portuguesa (no tempo normal ou pênaltis).

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PalmeirasSão Paulo

“I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with MCA to help us win more trophies,” Ajinkya Rahane says

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2025Ajinkya Rahane has given up the captaincy of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season, saying he believes “it’s the right time to groom a new leader”. In a communication to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Rahane, now 37, said he wants to continue as a player for the team.”Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour,” Rahane wrote in a social media post. “With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader. And hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with MCA to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season.”Rahane helped Mumbai break a nine-year drought by leading them to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in 2023-24. While his red-ball form over the past two years has been patchy (467 runs in 27 innings with just one century), he was more fluent in the shorter formats. At the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December last year, when he played under Shreyas Iyer, Rahane was the Player of the Tournament for his chart-topping 469 runs in a title-winning season.Related

• The 91st season of the Ranji Trophy is unmissable – here's why

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• BCCI introduces 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule

Rahane was most recently in charge of Kolkata Knight Riders at IPL 2025, for whom he was the highest scorer with 390 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 147.27. The team had a mediocre season, though, finishing eighth with just five wins.In July, Rahane said he still possessed the “hunger and passion” for the game and for red-ball cricket, stating he even carried his trainers and cricket gear while on holiday in London to begin preparations for the upcoming domestic season.”I still want to play Test cricket,” Rahane had told Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton in an interview with . “I’m really passionate about playing Test cricket. I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment. For me, it’s all about focusing on the controllable things. Frankly, I tried to have conversations with the selectors, but [there are] things as a player I cannot control. I got no response.”As a player, all I can do is keep playing cricket, keep enjoying the game, and give my best each and every time. I love playing Test cricket, love playing red-ball [cricket], it’s a passion. The love for the game keeps me going.”Mumbai are currently preparing for the upcoming season by playing the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai, with a young squad led by 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre. Mumbai allrounder Shardul Thakur, a key member of their 2024-25 Ranji campaign, was named captain of West Zone for the season-opening Duleep Trophy.

Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the conclusion of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2025Michael Bracewell has been named replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.Bracewell, initially unavailable for the series due to his commitments with The Hundred, was already in Zimbabwe as part of New Zealand’s T20I squad for the tri-series. With his schedule allowing him to feature in the opening Test, head coach Rob Walter said the decision to include him was a straightforward one.Phillips had been ruled out of the Tests due to a groin injury. He had suffered the injury while playing for Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket (MLC) final on July 13.”Glenn’s injury provided a gap in the Test squad and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement,” Walter said. “His experience and skillset will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team.”Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the first Test. A decision on a replacement for the second Test will be made in due course, according to an NZC release.The two-match series begins in Bulawayo later this week, marking New Zealand’s first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016.

Sparkling innings from replacement keeper turns close game for home side

ECB Media16-Aug-2025

Trent Rockets 145 for 6 (Moores 55, Banton 49) beat Southern Brave 140 for 4 (du Plooy 55, Stoinis 2-18) by four wicketsA brilliant innings on his home county ground by Tom Moores saw Trent Rockets to a four-wicket win over Southern Brave in the Hundred men’s competition.Moores, making his first appearance in this year’s competition having only just arrived as an emergency wicketkeeper replacement, hit 55 in a partnership of 76 with Tom Banton as Rockets got home with four balls to spare.Rockets chose to bowl first on a slow surface and struck early when James Vince was bowled by one that ran across him from David Willey.Jason Roy and Leus du Plooy began to get to terms with the surface, Roy scooping Marcus Stoinis’s first ball for four. Left-hander du Plooy then slog swept Callum Parkinson for six and smashed Lockie Ferguson for a maximum over long-off.Stoinis returned to bowl Roy for 23, but du Plooy kept his own momentum going, switch-hitting Calvin Harrison into the stands and bringing up his half-century with another six off Parkinson.The game then was forced to pause for a while, the players leaving the field as Adam Hose received medical treatment after a nasty slip on the leg-side boundary. Trent Rockets later confirmed Hose had dislocated his ankle and been taken to hospital for further assessment.When play resumed, Brave looked to accelerate through Michael Bracewell and James Coles. Coles struck Ferguson for two boundaries in the final set to see the Brave reach 140 for 4, a competitive total on this Trent Bridge surface.Trent Rockets came flying out of the blocks – Banton hit the first two balls of the chase for four and then reverse-swept Coles for six from the fourth.Jordan Thompson picked up Joe Root for 6, before Jofra Archer was pulled for fours by both Banton and Rehan Ahmed as Rockets closed the powerplay on 41 for 1.Rehan then went well caught by Roy off Tymal Mills and Max Holden followed, caught by Archer off Danny Briggs. Bracewell removed Willey with his first ball but was later deposited over midwicket for the first of Moores’ five sixes, the left-hander’s arrival shifting the momentum of the match.Mills picked up his 50th wicket in the Hundred, but it came too late as Rockets reached their target.Moores, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “It was a little bit slow at times but ultimately I felt it was a pretty good wicket. It was a nice win.”It’s great to bat with Tom [Banton], he was keeping me nice and calm and we just tried to bat together really and bounce off each other. We score in different areas so we complemented each other well.”The way I play, I’m always trying to take it to the bowler if I can. It’s always nice to do it in front of a home crowd and I thought the boys stuck at it really well after a tough thing in the field that happened to Adam [Hose] and we hope he’s all right.”

Levante striker Etta Eyong has taken La Liga by storm, scoring freely and drawing attention from Europe’s biggest clubs. But even a €30 million bid from CSKA Moscow couldn’t lure him away. With Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid circling, Levante are holding firm and are determined to keep the Cameroonian forward as coach Julian Cavero aims for La Liga survival this season.

Etta Eyong becomes Europe's new obsession

At just 22, Eyong has become one of the most sought-after young forwards in Europe. His explosive pace, power, and finishing have made him a sensation in Spain’s top flight, where he’s already scored six goals and registered three assists in 12 matches, placing him among the division’s top scorers behind Kylian Mbappe, Julian Alvarez and Robert Lewandowski.

His performances have triggered a flurry of interest from elite clubs. CSKA Moscow tested the waters first, reportedly offering €30 million, but both Levante and the player turned it down. According to , the striker had no interest in moving to Russia despite a lucrative salary proposal.

Meanwhile, Barcelona and Chelsea have entered the conversation, impressed by his rise in form since joining Levante this year. Madrid, Arsenal, and Manchester United are also keeping tabs, making Eyong one of the most monitored forwards in Europe this season.

However, Levante have clarified their stance: Eyong is untouchable this season. Club owner Jose Danvila reaffirmed this stance, saying: “We receive offers for him every day. But the player isn’t going to be sold. Our priority is staying up, not cashing out.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEtta Eyong's contract puzzle with Villarreal

Behind Eyong’s transfer saga lies a complex web of clauses stemming from his 2024 move to Villarreal. The Cameroonian initially signed a three-year deal with Villarreal, earning around €520,000 per season. But after struggling for game time, he switched to Levante in September 2025 on a four-year contract worth €1 million annually and a €30m release clause.

Villarreal, however, made sure they would benefit from any future sale. Their contract includes a multi-tiered sell-on clause: For transfers under €7.5m- Villarreal receive 80% of the fee, between €7.5m-€15m the profits are split 50/50, and anything above €15m gives Levante 80% of proceeds, with Villarreal taking 20%.

If Levante reject any offer above €15m, they must still compensate Villarreal for the profit they would’ve earned, a clause designed to ensure Villarreal profits even from failed sales. They also retain a right of first refusal, allowing them to match future bids.

This intricate structure means that Villarreal remain financially invested in Eyong’s future, while Levante must weigh sporting priorities against contractual obligations.

From Cadiz to Levante: the making of a La Liga sensation

Eyong has spoken openly about the hardships he has faced on his journey to success. With six goals this season, Eyong said it's all because of his hard work and the mentality to keep striving.

"I came here to play regularly and to help keep Levante in La Liga. The key to my scoring streak this season is simply hard work," Eyong said in a post-match interview.  

Eyong’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He began his professional journey in Spain’s lower divisions with Cadiz B, making sporadic first-team appearances before moving to Villarreal in August 2024.

He debuted in La Liga in April 2025 and scored his first top-flight goal just weeks later, showcasing the instinctive finishing that would soon define his game. When Levante signed him for €3m, few expected such an immediate impact, but Eyong quickly became a starter, netting six goals in matches so far this season. Eyong’s blend of athletic power and technical maturity has drawn comparisons to Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o, two strikers he idolised growing up.

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Getty Images SportLevante hold firm amid survival battle

Despite mounting pressure, Levante have no intention of selling Eyong, especially mid-season. The club sit 19th in La Liga with just nine points from 12 games, making survival their top priority. CEO Danvila confirmed that “it doesn’t make sense to sell your best player while fighting to stay in the top flight.”

Head coach Julian Calero shares that conviction. He’s been vocal about Eyong’s importance, calling him “a vital part of our offensive structure and the kind of player who can change the course of a match.” Calero believes that if Eyong maintains his form, Levante can secure a mid-table finish, turning a survival campaign into a success story.

The manager has also praised Eyong’s attitude and adaptability. “He’s still adjusting, but his impact is undeniable. He gives us belief,” Calero noted. Even as Eyong prepares to join Cameroon for World Cup qualifiers, his role at Levante remains central to the team’s ambitions.