Sutton sign Stevenage's Knight on loan

Joe Knight came through Brighton’s academy before joining Stevenage

Sutton United have signed midfielder Joe Knight on a three-month loan deal from League One club Stevenage.

The 20-year-old joined Boro in January from Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not make his debut until last month’s Carabao Cup defeat by Reading.

“A big, tall and athletic midfielder who has real quality on the ball, Joe also has a real edge,” Sutton boss Chris Agutter told the club’s website.

“He’s a proper competitor which will fit perfectly into our group.”

Edu leaves Nottingham Forest after turbulent spell

The appointment of former Brazil midfielder Edu last season was seen as a coup for Nottingham Forest

Global head of football Edu has left Nottingham Forest after just over a year at the City Ground.

The former Arsenal midfielder has not attended a game since February and his exit, with his contract believed to have been terminated, has been expected.

His position came under the spotlight after a falling-out with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked last September, the first of four managers at Forest last season.

Nuno hinted at internal tensions and said at the time his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had changed.

Edu is not expected to be replaced, with Forest’s chief football officer George Syrianos assuming his responsibilities.

Appointed in July 2025, Edu’s remit included Greek side Olympiacos and Portuguese club Rio Ave, who are also owned by Marinakis.

He arrived after six years at Arsenal, where he became the club’s first sporting director in 2022, having won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups as a player with the Gunners.

He brought Mikel Arteta to Emirates Stadium, who delivered the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years last season.

Edu’s departure comes after former Olympiacos vice-president Theodore Giannikos was appointed chief executive last week.

He replaced Lina Souloukou, who stepped down from the role at the City Ground at the end of last season.

This could be year I win Ballon d'Or, says Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe has scored four goals in four games for Real Madrid this season

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe says this could be a good year for him to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time.

The 27-year-old scored 42 goals in 44 games for his club last season but they did not win any trophies.

He won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, taking his career tally at World Cups to a record 22 - although France finished fourth.

“I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award,” he said.

“There are many people that speak about me and the Ballon d’Or. Of course I’ve made history in the most important competition. Maybe it’s a good year for this but people can vote according to what they think.”

He added: “I always think I’m the best [player in the world] but everyone has their own opinion.

“Maybe people think different ways. I don’t think it’s a discussion we need to have.

“Of course this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or. But journalists vote.”

The highest Mbappe has finished in the Ballon d’Or rankings is third in 2023, when he was a Paris St-Germain player.

Three players are given shorter odds with the bookmakers to win the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on 26 October.

England captain Harry Kane is odds-on to win, after a club-record 61 goals in 51 games for German double winners Bayern Munich last season. He also scored six times at the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, is second favourite - followed by his club and international team-mate Rodri, formerly of Manchester City.

Mbappe, who started his career at Monaco, is the all-time top scorer for both PSG, with 256 goals in 308 games, and France, with 66 in 106.

He has netted 90 goals in 107 matches for Real Madrid but is yet to win a major trophy in two years at the Bernabeu.

On a personal basis, he has won eight consecutive league golden boots - six in Ligue 1 and two in La Liga - plus two in World Cups and another two in the Champions League.

He won the 2018 World Cup with France, but on a club level he has yet to win the Champions League.

PSG, who had never lifted the trophy before, have won it both seasons since Mbappe departed.

“I can’t change it,” he said of his former club’s success without him.

“The truth is that I really don’t care. I know how to analyse football, I know why.

“I don’t know everything about football but I know more than most.”

Speaking about Real’s lack of recent trophies, he added: “My experience with Real Madrid says I shouldn’t think too long-term because a lot can change.

“I want to think how I can be ready, to help my team to win the game and to start the Champions League in a good way.”

Goalkeeper Koeman Jr scores twice in Eredivisie match

Ronald Koeman Jr now has three career goals

Goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr - the son of former Netherlands defender Ronald - scored twice for Dutch side Telstar to rescue a point in their league match against Cambuur.

Koeman Jr scored two penalties in the 2-2 Eredivisie draw, with the second spot-kick coming in the 11th minute of added time.

The 31-year-old had scored a penalty before, converting the winner in May against FC Volendam to confirm Telstar’s safety from relegation.

His father - the former Barcelona, Everton and Southampton manager - scored 115 goals during his career despite playing mainly in defence.

Of those 115 goals, 60 were free-kicks - including the winner for Barcelona against Sampdoria in the 1992 European Cup final and the first in the Netherlands’ decisive 2-0 win against England in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup.

Koeman also converted in the shootout as PSV Eindhoven beat Benfica on penalties in the 1988 final.

His son’s moment to shine from the penalty spot came after Telstar had a man sent off in the 22nd minute and conceded two second-half goals to trail visitors Cambuur with less than half an hour to play.

Koeman Jr converted his first penalty on 63 minutes before his dramatic equaliser in the 101st minute, and he is the first goalkeeper to score twice in an Eredivisie game.

His father resigned as Netherlands coach in June after their last-32 exit to Morocco at the World Cup.

Stevenage sign forward Turhan on loan

Stevenage have signed forward Tugra Turhan on a season-long loan from Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir.

The 19-year-old arrived at Basaksehir from Swiss top flight club Grasshopper last year.

Turhan was born in Switzerland, but has represented both the Swiss and Turkish national teams at youth level.

He has made eight senior career appearances, featuring for Grasshopper in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring one goal.