‘This was not football, it was a riot. I might have had a reputation as a hard man but I was frightened to death that night'
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Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘This is a huge moment in my career' – Arsenal confirm £51m signing of Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi
The Spain international, 26, moves to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term deal after the Gunners reportedly triggered his £51million release clause. Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid. Zubimendi told the club website: 'This is a huge moment in my career. It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. 'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.' Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is confident Zubimendi can help reinforce his midfield options, having seen Thomas Partey's contract expire and Jorginho also leave the club. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us,' Arteta said. 'The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arsenal (@arsenal) A graduate of the Sociedad academy system, Zubimendi made 236 appearances for the club in all competitions at senior level and helped the team lift the delayed 2019-20 Copa del Rey with victory over Athletic Bilbao. He was also involved as Sociedad finished fourth in the 2022-23 season – their highest league finish – to reach the Champions League for only the third time in their history. The midfielder has been capped 19 times by Spain, where he was part of the squad who won the Nations League in 2023 and became European champions last year after beating England in the final. Zubimendi becomes Arsenal's second signing this summer after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea. The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of Christian Norgaard, with the Brentford captain looking set to join for a reported £10m with a potential £5m of add-ons.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Avenir Sports All-Island Cup wrap: Holders Galway United among semi-finalists
Bohemians will host Shelbourne and Wexford will visit holders Galway United in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup semi-finals after all four teams got through their last-eight ties on Saturday. Reigning back-to-back champions Galway advanced to the last-four of the competition, which brings together both SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division and Northern Irish clubs, after a 3-1 win over Shamrock Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park. Ceola Bergin's double had Galway in control at half-time and then an own goal put Phil Trill's side 3-0 up, before the in-form Joy Ralph scored a consolation for the Hoops. Shelbourne breezed through to the semis after a 6-0 triumph over Treaty United at Tolka Park. Jess Gargan's early goal had Shels on course before Noelle Murray and Mackenzie Anthony solidified that advantage with two more just before the break. Gargan would net again in the second half, with Jemma Quinn and Megan Smyth-Lynch rounding off the scoring. Bohemians, who face second-placed Shelbourne in the league next Saturday, beat Belfast side Glentoran 3-1 at Blanchflower Stadium. Lisa Murphy and Hannah O'Brien scored in the first half, with Murphy completing her brace in the second half after Glentoran had pulled one back via Kascie Weir. The All-Island Cup semi-finals will be played on the week ending 27 July.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Adeleke well off her best at Eugene Diamond League
Rhasidat Adeleke was again well off her best when finishing fourth in the 400m at the Eugene Diamond League in Oregon on Saturday night, the 22-year-old clocking 51.33 seconds to finish well adrift of US superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (49.43). Fellow Dubliners Sarah Healy and Orla Comerford both produced strong runs at the same meeting, with Healy finishing seventh over 1500m in 3:57.20 and Comerford sprinting to victory in the mixed class para 100m in 12.14. With 10 weeks until the World Championships in Tokyo, Adeleke's form remains well off where it was through the previous two summers and she was unable to replicate the 50.42 she clocked in Oslo last month and the 50.48 she ran in Stockholm. Her Irish record remains the 49.07 she ran to win the European silver medal in Rome last year. Pitched in against some of the world's best, she held her own through the opening half but was visibly lacking her usual fluidity and was unable to land any sort of blow against McLaughlin-Levrone, who coasted to victory with fellow US athletes Aaliyah Butler (49.86) and Isabella Whittaker (50.81) following her home. With swirling winds in Hayward Field, times were mediocre throughout the field, but the size of the gap to the leaders was a reminder for Adeleke of how much distance she will need to make up if she's to contend for her first individual global medal in Tokyo. Healy, meanwhile, produced another strong showing in what's been the season of her career, the 24-year-old clocking 3:57.20 to finish seventh in the 1500m, just outside her PB of 3:57.15 which she set in Paris last month. Kenya's Faith Kipyegon produced another masterclass out front, the three-time Olympic champion breaking her own world record with a superb final lap, clocking 3:48.68. There was another world record in the women's 5000m where Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet of Kenya clocked 13:58.06. Comerford, the Paralympic bronze medallist in the T13 (visually impaired) category, was a dominant winner of the mixed para 100m, clocking 12.14 to come home well clear of US sprinter Brittni Mason (12.40), but she wasn't pleased with her time which was well down on the PB of 11.87 she ran to win at the Oslo Diamond League. 'I came in feeling really good, strong, confident, and it's a real honour to be invited,' she said. 'Unfortunately the performance wasn't really there for me today, I had a really bad stumble out of the blocks but no excuses. We'll go back to the drawing board and make sure that when we're stepping out next time we're looking towards those personal bests, world records. I'm still very honoured and privileged to take the win.' Ireland was also represented in the T54 (wheelchair) 800m, with Shauna Bocquet finishing sixth in 1:55.76. Meanwhile at the National U20 and U23 Championships in Tullamore, Precious Akpe-Moses – the younger sister of former European U20 100m champion Gina Akpe-Moses – was among the stars, winning the U20 100m in 11.64 and setting a championship record of 23.66 over 200m. Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) was the standout performer in a stacked U-20 men's 400m, winning in 47.08, while rising star Nick Griggs made a triumphant return to national championship action, winning the U23 800m in 1:52.46.
