Bournemouth agree £25.7m deal for Elche striker Rodriguez

Rodriguez scored seven goals and made five assists in 34 La Liga matches last season for Elche

Bournemouth have agreed an initial fee of £21.4m rising to £25.7m with add-ons for Elche striker Alvaro Rodriguez.

The 21-year-old is set to complete his medical and sign a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium on Monday.

Real Madrid will receive 50% of any transfer fee for the Uruguay youth international, who is also eligible to represent Spain, after selling him to their La Liga rivals last summer.

Bournemouth are looking to strengthen their squad after qualifying for the Europa League with a record Premier League finish under Andoni Iraola, who left to become Liverpool manager.

Former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose has succeeded Iraola, with the Cherries targeting a striker and a left-sided centre-back this summer.

Any striker signing would provide competition and support for Evanilson, while the club are also open to selling Turkey forward Enes Unal for the right price.

Bournemouth are hoping for a more stable summer than last year, when three of the club’s first-choice back four and their starting goalkeeper departed.

Several clubs have expressed an interest in midfielder Alex Scott, who is reported to be valued at about £80m.

However, club sources insist he is not for sale despite enquiries from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Bournemouth hope Scott will sign a new contract on improved terms, potentially including an agreement that would allow him to leave in the future for a predetermined fee, similar to the arrangement that preceded Antoine Semenyo’s move to Manchester City for a fee in the region of £65m in January.

They have also finalised their pre-season tour in the last 24 hours, announcing games against St Pauli and Augsburg in Austria, along with Real Betis and Mainz away in an effort to get used to European trips, with Genoa also facing the Cherries at their training ground this summer.

Spurs sign Fernandes for club record £85m

Mateus Fernandes has made 72 Premier League starts over the past two seasons

Tottenham have completed the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a club-record fee of £85m.

Spurs have not confirmed the length of contract for the 21-year-old, who has played once for Portugal but is not part of their World Cup squad.

Fernandes has spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham, although each club were relegated to the Championship.

“I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” said Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi.

“Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level.

“Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.

“I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development.”

Tottenham saw off competition from Manchester United, who were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs - which is a guaranteed £85m without add-ons.

Fernandes was viewed as a primary target for the north London club after they had a bid for Sandro Tonali rejected by Newcastle.

However, Spurs have now agreed a £100m fee for the Italy midfielder.

They have made a fast start to the summer transfer window, with Fernandes their fifth signing already.

His arrival follows that of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka plus defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke.

“I’m very excited for this next step,” Fernandes said. “Spurs is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join.

“When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way - going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game.”

Uefa will not use red cards for players who cover mouth

Players who cover their mouths in confrontations with opponents will not be shown red cards in Uefa competitions, it was confirmed on Thursday.

European football’s governing body will not take up the option to use the law in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game.

The Argentina international was accused of racist abuse and provisionally banned for one match. Following a Uefa investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct and banned for six matches - three of which were suspended.

The law change for a red card was the brainchild of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who wanted something which would have “a deterrent effect” at the World Cup.

It was approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in April.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron was the first player to be sent off in his side’s World Cup group game against Turkey. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie then saw red in Ecuador’s last-16 exit to co-hosts Mexico.

Both players were dismissed following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Despite the Prestianni incident happening in its own flagship competition, Uefa has decided against using Infantino’s opt-in.

Uefa said referees should asses situations individually and consider whether a yellow card should be shown if it is “an attempt to conceal communication as an act of unsporting behaviour”.

It added: “This is obviously without prejudice to any disciplinary investigation or proceedings that may follow as a consequence of, or in connection with, such behaviour.”

The law change has been controversial as it presents the presumption of guilt rather than innocence.

There have been concerns it could be used to get an opponent sent off when nothing abusive has been said.

It has also caused confusion, with England’s Jude Bellingham not sent off when covering his mouth in conversation with Ghana’s Jordan Ayew in their group game.

Uefa, though, will exercise the option of the VAR checking incorrect corners, with 22 reversed to a goal-kick so far at the World Cup.

But it will not issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest at a referee’s decision - another law brought in at the discretion of a competition organiser.

All done deals in July 2026

The transfer window for Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League clubs - and their counterparts in Germany, France, Spain and Italy - re-opened on 15 June.

Take a look at all the confirmed deals for July, and read the latest rumours in Football Gossip.

Dan Neil [Sunderland - Rangers] Free

Women’s Super League

Amalie Vangsgaard [Juventus - Aston Villa] Undisclosed

English Football League

Akin Famewo [Hull - Bolton] Undisclosed

This page covers signings by Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League clubs, along with selected deals from overseas.

Cambridge United sign Ahadme as Lavery agrees new deal

Cambridge United have re-signed forward Gassan Ahadme on a season-long loan deal from Charlton Athletic while striker Shayne Lavery has returned to the club on a 12-month contract.

Ahadme, 25, spent last season on loan with Cambridge’s League One rivals Stevenage, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions before a hip injury curtailed his campaign in December.

While an Ipswich Town player, he was on loan at Cambridge in the 2023/24 season where he scored 11 goals in 29 League One games.

“I am really happy to be back. I have good memories of the season I had here, but I am trying to hit new levels and I am expecting a lot of myself,” he told the club website.

Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery has signed a new one year deal at The Abbey Stadium having spent the past two seasons at the club, helping them to promotion from League Two last season.

The 27-year-old featured in 30 games, scoring seven goals as the U’s secured promotion on the final day of the season with a 0-0 draw at Crewe.

Lavery had become a free agent at the end of the season but is pleased to commit himself to the club for at least a further year.

“It [a return] was always a possibility. There was just a bit of waiting time, but I am buzzing to still be here and can’t wait to get going,” he said.

“The gaffer and the staff found a good way of managing my minutes and I am looking forward to staying fit, scoring goals and helping the team.”