SPORTS

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal significantly bolstered their defence in the final hours of the Premier League transfer window by completing the signings of Kieran Tierney and David Luiz on Thursday. Scotland international Tierney had been a target all summer for the Gunners and agreement of the payment structure of his £25 million …

  Inter Milan announce signing of Lukaku from Man United Rome, Italy | AFP |  Romelu Lukaku has signed for Inter Milan from Manchester United on a five-year deal, the Serie A club announced on Thursday. “The Belgian footballer, arriving from Manchester United on a permanent basis, has signed a …

Miami, United States | AFP |  Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde claimed on Wednesday that Philippe Coutinho is set to stay at Camp Nou despite strong interest in the unsettled Brazilian from the Premier League. The latest status update came after Croatian Ivan Rakitic score a 79th-minute winner to see off Napoli …

Toronto, Canada | AFP |  Serena Williams looked solid in her first match since losing the Wimbledon final, defeating 20th-ranked Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday at the WTA Toronto tournament. The 37-year-old American, one crown shy of a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, advanced in 75 minutes …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Tunisia’s Esperance were declared winners of the African Champions League by CAF on Wednesday following a long legal battle after Wydad Casablanca stormed off in protest during the second leg of the final in May. Wydad “is considered to have lost the game”, African football’s governing …

 London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City have Premier League immortality in their sights as they start their title defence this weekend, but Liverpool’s burning desire to get their hands on the trophy will fuel a heavyweight battle for supremacy. In the blue corner, treble winners City are at the …

Chongqing, China | AFP |  Children run around a small indoor pitch in southwest China, laughing, zigzagging between cones and tossing around a rugby ball — then one kid tears up when another fails to pass to him. “Pass it on, get up and stop crying,” coach Zhang Shuangyi instructs, with …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Former England captain Wayne Rooney is to leave Washington-based DC United after agreeing a deal to become player-coach of  Championship side Derby County, the clubs announced on Tuesday. The 33-year-old — the record goalscorer for both his country and Manchester United — signed an initial …

Bordeaux, France | AFP | Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny completed a return to France on Tuesday after agreeing a deal with Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on a reported three-year deal. The French defender, 33, made clear his desire for a move last month when he refused to travel on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African Dale Steyn, one of the great fast bowlers of the modern era, on Monday announced his retirement from Test cricket in a bid to extend his longevity in the shorter forms of the game. Steyn, who made his international debut against England in …