No member of Manchester City’s current squad was signed during the period in which an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. Those offences all came between 2009 and 2018. City have denied any wrongdoing and have appealed against all of the charges against them. Longest-serving signings The club’s longest-serving first-team player who was purchased from another club is Portuguese centre-back and club captain Ruben Dias, who joined from Benfica in 2020 and has made more than 250 club appearances since. Norway striker Erling Haaland is the next longest-serving…

Bruno Fernandes is producing far fewer numbers this season than in the campaign that earned him the PFA Player of the Year award, and his form is a major reason Manchester United have collected just six points from their opening six league games. It is their worst league start in 40 years. It is only seven weeks since Fernandes stood in the Manchester Opera House and spoke of his pride at being named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26. The Manchester United captain had already won the Premier League and Football Writers’ versions, in recognition of his phenomenal contribution…

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will release details of his meetings with senior figures at Manchester City, after criticism of his comments following the club’s conviction on all charges related to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. An independent commission found that City had broken rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018 by creating “sham” contracts with commercial partners to secretly funnel more than £830m into their football operations. Sanctions have yet to be announced, and City have lodged an appeal against the verdict. Burnham’s previous role as mayor of Greater Manchester has led to…

Manchester City extended their perfect start with a commanding 3-0 win at Anfield, handing Liverpool their first defeat under Andoni Iraola. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki were on target as City cruised past a Liverpool side that was reduced to ten men. Haaland gave City the lead with an emphatic finish after a quiet first half and a missed chance early in the second. Doku doubled the advantage with a superb strike, with Elliot Anderson providing the assist, before Cherki capped the afternoon with a lovely goal of his own. The turning point Ryan Gravenberch was Liverpool’s best…

Bryan Mbeumo gave Manchester United the lead against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, but Dominic Solanke headed an equaliser in the 92nd minute to earn Spurs a 1-1 draw. Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for head-butting Luke Shaw. United fans arrived hoping to enjoy themselves at Manchester City’s expense, given the scandal engulfing their neighbours. Their chants of “You cheating bastards, you know what you are” rang out before kickoff. After Mbeumo’s goal midway through the second half, the home supporters turned on Spurs with “You’re going down with the City”. By…

Cole Palmer has signed a new Chelsea contract on improved terms until 2034. The England international, 24, was already under contract until 2033, but the club is rewarding him for his performances as one of its key attacking players. He is also increasingly viewed as a dressing-room leader behind the scenes. The deal leaves Palmer on one of the longest contracts in the Premier League. Only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Chelsea team-mates Joao Pedro and Geovany Quenda are also contracted until 2034. Palmer on his future “Chelsea means a lot to me and I think the club is…