Crawley add ex-Walsall defender Farquharson

Crawley Town have signed centre-back Priestley Farquharson on a two-year deal after his release from fellow League Two club Walsall.

The 29-year-old made 59 appearances for the Saddlers in all competitions over the past three years, 35 of them coming last season.

“I am so happy the deal was done so early, as I can now get ready to lock in for the season,” Farquharson told the club’s official website.

“My conversations with the manager [Colin Kazim-Richards] were really positive. We have the same morals, and he knows what he can get out of me, so I can’t wait to get started.”

Farquharson has also played in League Two with Newport County and had a two-year spell with Cymru Premier side Connah’s Quay Nomads.

He began his career playing in English non-league football with Hitchin Town, Billericay Town, Hayes & Yeading United, and Bishop’s Stortford.

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West Ham goalkeeper Hegyi joins Sparta Prague

West Ham United goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi has joined Sparta Prague on a permanent transfer.

The 23-year-old Hungarian spent seven years with the Hammers, but failed to make a first-team appearance.

He played more than 90 times for the club’s academy sides and was named in the matchday squad seven times as West Ham won the Uefa Conference League in 2023.

Hegyi was also an unused substitute in the Premier League three times and had loan spells at Stevenage, Motherwell, Dutch side Den Bosch and Hungarian clubs Debrecen and MTK Budapest.

Konate to join Real Madrid on four-year deal

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate on a four-year contract when the France centre-back leaves Liverpool.

The 27-year-old is leaving the Reds on a free transfer at the end of June after the two parties failed to agree a new deal because of a gap between the defender and club over his value and wages.

Real Madrid say they have reached an agreement with Konate “for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next four seasons, until 30 June, 2030”.

Konate, who is part of his country’s squad at the 2026 World Cup, joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m on a five-year contract.

He made 183 appearances for the Anfield club in all competitions and won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Konate recently said he had been “deeply saddened that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye” to the Liverpool fans when the Reds played their final Premier League game of the season against Brentford on 24 May.

He added: “At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you.”

Konate joins Real Madrid following the Spanish club appointing Jose Mourinho as their manager for his second spell in charge.

Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella are also joining the Bernabeu side this summer.

Portugal midfielder Silva, 31, is another free transfer for Real Madrid, who did not win a trophy last season, following his departure from Manchester City.

Spain defender Cucurella has been signed from Chelsea in a deal worth £52m.

Brest boss & ex-Sunderland midfielder Roy dies aged 58

Eric Roy managed Nice from 2010 to 2011 before returning to management with Brest more than a decade later

Brest manager Eric Roy has died at the age of 58, the French Ligue 1 club have announced.

A statement by Roy’s family said the former Sunderland midfielder had been fighting pancreatic cancer for three and a half years.

The Frenchman, who was sporting director at Watford in 2019 when the club were in the Premier League, joined Brest in January 2023 and guided them to Champions League qualification for the 2024-25 season - their first ever campaign in Europe.

“It is difficult to find the words to express all the sadness we feel following the passing of our coach Eric Roy,” Brest wrote on X.

“The president, the management, and the entire Stade Brestois 29 share the pain of his family, his wife, his two children, as well as all his loved ones.”

His family wrote: “Dad was deeply kind, tender, upright, and honest. He knew how to encourage, to pass on knowledge, to push others to surpass themselves, to become the best version of themselves.”

“He had that demanding nature, that fairness, and that humanity.”

Roy, who also played for and managed French side Nice, scored one goal during 27 appearances for Sunderland during the 1999-2000 season.