Sports
Jude Bellingham Crowned Bundesliga Player Of The Year
Jude Bellingham, the talented teenage midfielder of Dortmund, has been named the Bundesliga player of the season.
This accolade comes just two days after the disappointment of witnessing his team lose the German title in their final match against their top rival, Bayern Munich.
Despite trailing behind, Dortmund managed to secure a point by playing a 2-2 draw against Mainz.
The 19-year-old English international received the highest number of votes in a ‘Team of the Season’ poll. However, he was unable to participate in the last match of the season due to a late knee injury.
Throughout the season, Bellingham featured in 31 out of 34 games, starting in 30 of them. He accumulated a remarkable total of 2,693 league minutes, more than any other player in the club, and showcased his skills by scoring eight goals and providing four assists.
He was quoted as saying on the Bundesliga site “Every year or half year that I’ve played at the club, my responsibility in the team has increased.
“I came to the club as a talented lad, but I have added elements to my game that have taken it to the next level.”
“I have to continue to be everywhere on the pitch and try my best to contribute going forwards and backwards and try and control games, try to dominate the midfield.
“I want my teammates to see that I’m always doing everything I can to make sure we win. If we lose a game, I’m the worst person.”
Jude Bellingham, who joined Dortmund at the age of 17 from Birmingham City in the English Championship for a transfer fee of 29 million euros ($32 million), played a prominent role in England’s midfield during the previous year’s World Cup.
There have been strong speculations linking Bellingham with a potential move to Real Madrid or Manchester City in the upcoming summer transfer window.
In October, when Bellingham led his team out onto the field in Cologne, he became the youngest captain in a match since the Bundesliga began keeping records in 1995.
His coach, Edin Terzic, affectionately referred to Bellingham as “the oldest 19-year-old in the world,” acknowledging the maturity and skill that the young midfielder possesses.
Based on Bundesliga statistics, throughout the season, Bellingham displayed exceptional work rate and determination.
He covered a total distance of 322 kilometers, surpassing all his teammates, and emerged as the league leader in winning 482 duels.
Bellingham’s outstanding performances did not go unnoticed, as he was one of the four Dortmund players to be included in the team of the season which was made through a vote that involved fans, clubs, and experts.
The Bundesliga team of the season has been announced, featuring the standout performers from the league. The selected players are:
Goalkeeper:
Gregor Kobel – Borussia Dortmund
Defenders:
Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen
Matthijs de Ligt – Bayern Munich Nico
Schlotterbeck – Borussia Dortmund Alphonso
Davies – Bayern Munich
Midfielders:
Julian Brandt – Borussia Dortmund
Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
Forwards:
Moussa Diaby – Bayer Leverkusen
Randal Kolo Muani – Eintracht Frankfurt
Niclas Fuellkrug – Werder Bremen
Portuguese football tactician Carlos Queiroz has made a surprise return as head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars.
The Ghana Football Association announced the 73-year-old’s reappointment on Thursday, weeks after he appeared to signal his departure from the team following their exit from the FIFA World Cup.
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Queiroz took charge of Ghana in April and guided the Black Stars to the last 32 of the tournament before they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Shortly after the loss, the Portuguese coach appeared to announce his departure on social media.
However, following subsequent discussions, the Ghana FA has decided to bring him back for another spell.
The duration of Queiroz’s new contract was not disclosed, but the football association said he would be tasked with preparing the Black Stars for “a successful new phase on the international stage.”
The GFA said Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars made him the right man to lead the team into its next chapter.
Queiroz has managed several national teams, including Portugal, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia and Qatar.
He also had two spells as assistant manager at Manchester United under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
His immediate priority will be Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin later this month.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia, although the dates and venues for their opening two matches are yet to be announced.
The Ghana FA said further details on Queiroz’s mandate would be released in due course.
Nigerian winger Femi Azeez has completed a remarkable rise from non-league football to the Premier League after joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Millwall on a four-year contract.
The transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was completed after Brighton and Millwall submitted a deal sheet before the initial 11pm transfer deadline, extending the window until 1am on Wednesday.
Azeez, 25, joins Brighton following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Millwall, where he played a key role in the club’s push for the Championship play-offs.
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The Nigerian made 77 appearances for Millwall, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. His impressive performances also earned him places in the PFA and EFL Championship Teams of the Season.
Brighton sporting director Mike Cave welcomed Azeez to the club, describing him as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship.
“We are delighted to add Femi to the squad. He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs,” Cave said.
“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now look forward to working with him.”
Azeez’s journey to the Premier League has been unconventional. After spending time in Watford’s youth setup, he moved into non-league football with Northwood before spells at Wealdstone and Hanwell Town.
He subsequently earned a move to Reading in 2019 before joining Millwall in 2024, steadily working his way up the English football pyramid.
The winger has also made a strong start to his international career with Nigeria. On his senior debut in June, Azeez scored both goals in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Four days later, he provided an assist as Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0.
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been convicted of drink-driving in Gran Canaria, Spain, after a court found him to have been driving with an alcohol level more than three times above the legal limit.
A court source confirmed the conviction to AFP on Wednesday, stating that the 23-year-old centre-back was fined €14,400 ($16,700) and had his driving licence suspended for eight months.
The case followed an incident on August 16 and was heard at a trial in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria.
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Asencio, who is from the Canary Islands, was not with Real Madrid’s squad at the time of the incident as he was recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of July.
The conviction comes amid another legal case involving the defender. Asencio is due to face a separate court hearing in Gran Canaria over the alleged non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023.
Spanish media reports say Asencio expects to be cleared in that case if the two women filmed in the video formally forgive him.
Three former Real Madrid reserve players are also on trial over allegations that they recorded and distributed the video. The trial is scheduled for September 3, 4 and 7.
The latest conviction adds to a difficult period for the young Real Madrid defender, who has been dealing with both injury and legal issues off the pitch.
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