Sport
Summer 2025 transfer window closes for 5 days due to FIFA Club World Cup
The first phase of the Summer 2025 Premier League transfer window closed at 7pm on Tuesday, June 10, marking a temporary pause in player movement ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The window will reopen on Monday, June 16, before closing again on September 1 at 7pm.
This year’s unusual two-part window is due to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday, June 15.
To allow participating clubs to register players in time for the tournament, FIFA permitted an early opening of the transfer window on June 1. However, FIFA rules cap the total duration of transfer windows in a calendar year to 16 weeks, necessitating a break in this summer’s schedule.
The early window—from 1 to 10 June—was designated for the 20 national associations with clubs competing in the Club World Cup, including England. Manchester City and Chelsea are England’s representatives in the tournament, but all Premier League clubs were eligible to sign players during this initial period.
Key Transfers So Far
Several high-profile moves were completed in the early phase of the window:
Manchester United secured the services of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool signed right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Chelsea added striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and defender Mamadou Sarr.
Manchester City bolstered their squad by signing left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, part of Pep Guardiola’s ongoing squad evolution.
Additionally, Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and centre-back Dean Huijsen from AFC Bournemouth, allowing both players to feature in the Club World Cup.
What Happens Next?
The window reopens on Monday, 16 June, allowing clubs—particularly those still competing in the Club World Cup—to register players for the knockout rounds. The final deadline for transfers is Monday, 1 September at 7pm, slightly earlier than the usual 11pm closure.
Deal Sheets and Late Moves
To accommodate deals completed late in the day, clubs may use a “deal sheet” to confirm a transfer agreement before the deadline. For this first window phase, deal sheets had to be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, granting clubs until 9pm to finalize the paperwork.
As the second window looms, more transfer activity is expected, with clubs looking to strengthen ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season and beyond.
Fan Zone
Meanwhile, Afghan football fans will have access to live coverage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup through Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the tournament in Afghanistan.
The network’s commitment to bringing major global sporting events to local audiences reinforces its growing role as the country’s leading sports broadcaster.
This marks a significant step in ATN’s efforts to connect Afghan viewers with international football, providing access to world-class clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.
The move is part of ATN’s broader strategy to make international sports more accessible to Afghan audiences and to inspire the next generation of Afghan sports fans and athletes.
Sport
Afghanistan beat Ireland by 3 wickets in third ODI
Afghanistan’s national cricket team defeated Ireland by three wickets on Monday in the third ODI of the five-match series in Belfast.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Ireland were bowled out for 206 runs in 46.3 overs, setting Afghanistan a target of 207 runs.
Rashid Khan and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar claimed three wickets each for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s batters then produced a solid performance in the second innings, chasing down the target for the loss of seven wickets in 44.5 overs.
Afghanistan had also won the second match by 92 runs.
The fourth match between the two teams will be played on Wednesday, August 12, in Belfast, Ireland.
Fans can watch the fourth match live and exclusively in Afghanistan on Ariana Television.
Sport
Sorkh Poshan Khawafi lead Afghanistan U17 Champions League after week six
Sorkh Poshan Khawafi are leading the Afghanistan Champions League U17 standings after week six, having collected 15 points from six matches.
According to the latest standings released by the Afghanistan Football Federation, Sorkh Poshan Khawafi have won five of their six matches and suffered one defeat. They have scored 22 goals and conceded just two, giving them a +20 goal difference.
Sarsabz Yashlar sit second with 14 points, following four wins and two draws, while Aino Mina are third, also on 14 points but with an inferior goal difference.
Arman FC are fourth with 12 points, followed by Khurasan Faryab with 10 points and Toofan Herat with eight.
In the lower half of the table, Ettifaq Khanzadah have six points, Abu Muslim FC have five, while Jawanan Perozi and Istiqlal Kabul are yet to earn a point after six matches.
Istiqlal Kabul have conceded 35 goals, the most in the competition so far, while Sorkh Poshan Khawafi have the tournament’s strongest attack with 22 goals.
The Afghanistan Champions League U17 is being contested by 10 teams and is being held at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul.
Sport
Abasin Defenders stun Kabul Zalmi in Kabul Premier League
Abasin Defenders produced a dominant bowling performance to defeat Kabul Zalmi in the second match of the Kabul Premier League on Saturday, August 8, at the Ayoubi Cricket Ground in Kabul.
Kabul Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings quickly unravelled as Abasin Defenders’ bowlers struck regularly.
Kabul Zalmi were bowled out for 63 in 7.2 overs, leaving Abasin Defenders with a modest target to chase.
Sediqullah Pacha was the standout performer for Abasin Defenders, claiming the Player of the Match award for his match-winning bowling performance.
Abasin Defenders chased down the target comfortably to secure a convincing victory and get their Kabul Premier League campaign off to a winning start.
The result followed the opening match of the tournament earlier on Saturday, when Pamir Stars defeated Shamshad Eagles by 116 runs.
The Kabul Premier League features six teams — Pamir Stars, Shamshad Eagles, Kabul Zalmi, Speenghar Warriors, Abasin Defenders and Band-e-Amir — competing in the 2026 tournament.
All matches are being broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television, allowing cricket fans across Afghanistan to follow the competition.
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