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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Brighton's Jack Hinshelwood ‘happy to play anywhere, I just really want to be out on the pitch'
'Definitely,' says Jack Hinshelwood, when asked whether he felt any trepidation after Fabian Hurzeler replaced Roberto De Zerbi as Brighton & Hove Albion's head coach last summer. 'When you break through under one manager and then he leaves, there is a bit of doubt in your mind, but I just had to try to turn that into motivation, really go and prove to the manager my worth to the team. Advertisement 'I worked really hard, coming back from an injury (a stress fracture of the foot), to have a good pre-season, to gain my place in the team, and the manager has been great. He has a great personal relationship with everyone. It makes us want to give that extra 10 per cent on the pitch.' Reflecting on that summer of big change for his boyhood club reveals a rare flicker of vulnerability in Hinshelwood. Not much has fazed the versatile 20-year-old on his pathway to success for club and country. Since September 2023, when he made his full debut in the Premier League under De Zerbi, Hinshelwood has established himself as a first-team regular in a variety of positions — his next official appearance will be his 50th across all competitions, with a healthy eight goals and three assists in the 49 he's made so far. He approaches 2025-26 as a member of the England squad that won the European Under-21 Championship in June. Hinshelwood has taken the rapid rise in his stride, including the exit of De Zerbi prompted by irreconcilable differences over transfer policy and the appointment of American-born German Hurzeler as the Italian's successor. 'I've loved playing for both managers,' Hinshelwood tells The Athletic. 'I can't thank Roberto enough for giving me the introduction. They are both very passionate and very emotional. They give you the feeling as players that you want to go out there and run through brick walls for them. 'Roberto's style on the ball was very sort of strict. We had our patterns, and they were set patterns. Fabian is more fluid. There are no strict patterns. We go through ways to break down a team, but we play with fluidity. It is more about counter-pressing and transitions as well.' Although stylistically different, De Zerbi and Hurzeler both latched onto Hinshelwood's on-pitch versatility, each of them using him at right-back and left-back as well as in the central midfield role he grew up playing. The positions demand varying skill sets. Advertisement 'Playing full-back, it's tough defensively,' Hinshelwood says. 'You are up against some of the best wingers in the world, one on one. You have to roll your sleeves up and be prepared for the battle. In midfield, it's 100 miles an hour. There is a lot going on. 'When I play as a full-back, I love getting forward and getting into the box. I always want to be involved in goals and in stopping goals, so sometimes it's harder. I have to be a bit more disciplined, stop the counter-attacks. That is why I love playing in midfield so much. It gives me the license to really get forward but also at the same time be busy defending. Full-back, midfield, they are different challenges. I love them both.' That adaptability was replicated with England juniors at those Euros in Slovakia, a tournament made even more memorable as it was preceded by Hinshelwood becoming a father for the first time. Head coach Lee Carsley used him in midfield and at right-back but mainly at left-back over the course of five appearances. Hinshelwood was in the starting line-up for a 2-1 defeat by Germany in the group stage finale, and played every minute from then on through to the avenging victory against the same opponents, 3-2 after extra time, in the final. 'Our daughter was born on June 9, and then I was on the bench on the 12th (an unused sub in the first group match, a 3-1 defeat of the Czech Republic), so that was a crazy three days, and then it turned out to be an amazing month,' says Hinshelwood. 'In the first game (against Germany) I was centre-mid, unlucky not to score with a header, and then right-back and left-back for the rest of the games; so a few positions, which is always nice. 'I don't mind it. I think the more positions you can play, the more chance you've got of getting into the starting 11, so I can show my versatility. I can show I can do a job in a few positions, so it helps my selection for the team. I am happy to play anywhere — I just really want to be out on the pitch.' Hinshelwood's 26 appearances in the Premier League last season — 22 of them starts — included a goal off the bench at home to Liverpool (beating the newly crowned champions 3-2) and two more playing as a false nine at Tottenham Hotspur (a 4-1 victory over a side who'd won the Europa League final four days earlier) in the closing two games as Hurzeler's side finished eighth, narrowly missing out on European qualification. Advertisement 'I think overall, when we look back, it was a really good season,' Hinshelwood says. 'We had some really good periods and some tough periods, which is only natural with the amount of new players, new management, a new style and learning to play together. We finished the season really well, gave ourselves a chance at Europe and just missed out. 'We can use that energy now to spur us on and hopefully have another go this season. The bar has definitely been raised over the last few seasons and this club is growing so quickly — it is a privilege to be at the club. I have been here for a while, can see the growth of the club, and the club's growth has also helped me to grow. Coming off the back of an eighth-placed finish, we can really be excited to do even better than that this season.' Hinshelwood was described as a 'role model' by Brighton's technical director David Weir when he was awarded a new contract in April last year, which runs until the end of the 2027-28 season. He is the first academy product to make it all the way through to the first team since Brighton opened their new training centre at Lancing, west of the south-coast city, in 2014. 'I am really proud of this,' Hinshelwood says. 'Lots of other players have come through and are now playing professional football elsewhere. It has been an amazing journey at this club, joining at eight, training at Worthing Leisure Centre and the university (of Sussex) at Falmer. The club has come so far to have the training ground, the (Amex) stadium, and to have been a top-10 club for the last four years. 'I love every minute of it. I just want to repay on the pitch the faith that people have shown in me.' Brighton's captain Lewis Dunk, 33, and 31-year-old fellow multi-tasker Solly March have been figureheads for Hinshelwood as older graduates of the club's academy system. Defender Dunk has six England caps, and was an unused member of the squad that finished runners-up to Spain in the 2024 European Championship. 'It's probably not the answer you want to hear, but I don't really look too far ahead,' Hinshelwood says of his own ambitions. 'I already owe so much to the club. I want to really kick on this season, become a regular. Advertisement 'Lewis Dunk's journey has been an inspiring one for me. He is someone I have always looked to growing up. Solly as well, both local lads who have gone on to be heroes at the club. I want to have a similar journey to Dunky. He has been to a major competition with England's first team. That would also be a dream of mine.' The way his career is progressing suggests it is a dream Hinshelwood has a realistic chance of making into reality.
Irish Examiner
23-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Arsenal seal €73.5m Viktor Gyökeres deal after late-night breakthrough
Arsenal have finally reached agreement with Sporting for the transfer of Viktor Gyökeres in a deal worth up to €73.5m, having resolved the problematic issue of the €10m of add-ons to end a tortuous saga and Mikel Arteta's hunt for a No 9. The London club, who are poised to confirm the signing of the centre-half Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial €15m, made the official breakthrough late on Tuesday, sending an updated offer to their Portuguese counterparts to satisfy them over the structure of the bonuses. Sporting have wanted the add-ons to be achievable, based on appearances, goals and assists by Gyökeres plus Champions League qualification, whereas Arsenal had wanted to include some more difficult ones. As the negotiations dragged at the end of last week, it is understood that Sporting felt €5m of Arsenal's proposed bonuses were achievable, €5m not so. One clause that was suggested related to Gyökeres winning the Ballon d'Or with Arsenal. The negotiations have been handled largely by the agents, with club-to-club contact at a minimum. Sporting are comfortable that the bonuses are achievable, allowing them to reflect on having effectively held out for what they wanted. Sporting had demanded €70m plus €10m in add-ons; an €80m euro package was the target, albeit it was less than the €100m release clause in Gyökeres's contract. They have got there with a basic fee of €63.5m and the agents having agreed to waive their 10% cut of that – a saving to Sporting of €6.35m. The positions on both sides had long been entrenched, Gyökeres determined to force the move to Arsenal, ignoring interest from elsewhere; Sporting digging in hard for their money. There has been conflict, Gyökeres refusing to report back for pre-season training with Sporting but, at last, Arteta can look forward to working with his man. It was always going to be a pivotal summer for Arsenal and Gyökeres is the latest step in a spending spree. Arteta and the sporting director, Andrea Berta, have overseen the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard and Noni Madueke for a combined £118.5m. Mosquera has travelled to Singapore to link up with the squad on their pre-season tour. The 21-year-old, who represented Spain at this summer's European Under-21 Championship, has signed a five-year contract which has the option of a further year. Gyökeres was a sensation at Sporting, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances. Having signed for £20.5m from Coventry in the summer of 2023, the 27-year-old helped Sporting to the league title in each of his seasons with them – plus the Portuguese Cup in the last one. Guardian
Metro
18-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Xavi Simons makes decision over transfer after Arsenal and Chelsea interest
Xavi Simons favours a move to the Premier League with both Arsenal and Chelsea monitoring the RB Leipzig midfielder, according to reports. RB Leipzig completed an initial €50 million (£41.8m) deal to sign Simons in January after the 22-year-old spent 18 months on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. However, after missing out on European football altogether last season, RB Leipzig are now open to selling at least one key player with Simons and striker Benjamin Sesko, who is on Arsenal's summer shortlist, the two candidates to leave. Simons is not short of interest with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Arsenal all considering a move for the Netherlands international. On Thursday, Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, met with Simons' brother Faustino and the midfielder's advisor, Ali Barat, at a hotel in the city. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Barcelona, however, would struggle to finance a deal for Simons this summer as RB Leipzig are looking for an immediate return on the €50m (£41.8m) they spent to sign the player earlier this year. Bayern, meanwhile, are said to be admirers of Simons but are prioritising deals for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, who impressed for Germany at the European Under-21 Championship this summer. More Trending Bayern's opening bid for Diaz, worth £58.6m, was rejected by Liverpool this week. Arsenal and Chelsea are both understood to be keeping tabs on Simons' situation at RB Leipzig but neither Premier League side has followed up with an approach. According to Bild, Simons favours a move to the Premier League and has sought the help of Barat to help open a discussion with Chelsea. Barat received the Golden Agent Award in Turin in 2023 after he brokered Chelsea's £115m deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Tottenham prepare £60m bid to sign Bournemouth star ahead of PSG MORE: Arsenal star speaks out after sudden contract termination MORE: Man Utd youngster compared to Bukayo Saka pushing for pre-season chance in new role
Irish Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Venues and ticket details confirmed for Ireland's first two Euro U21 qualifiers
Ireland's first two European Under-21 Championship qualifiers will take place in Dublin and Cork. Jim Crawford's side will host Andorra at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday September 9, and Slovakia at Turner's Cross in Cork on Friday October 10, both with 7.30pm kick-offs. Tickets for the games - Ireland's final Under-21 home matches of 2025 - will go on sale the week of Monday, August 4. The Boys in Green have been drawn in Group D along with back-to-back European champions England, managed by former Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley, as well as Slovakia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Andorra. During their most recent campaign, which ended in heartache as Ireland missed out on the play-offs on goal-difference to Norway, the team played in front of 5,000-plus crowds on three occasions. Crawford is looking for similar support this time around. He said: 'After playing so many games away from home in the last year we're really excited to be back on Irish soil with a new generation of Ireland Under-21s internationals. 'The support we've had in the last few campaigns in Cork and Dublin has been immense. The stats show we're one of the best supported Under-21s international teams in Europe which only reaffirms how much our fans come out to support football in this country. 'I look at those special occasions in Tallaght against Sweden, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina and the games in Cork against Iceland, Türkiye and Italy and on each occasion the crowd has got us over the line. 'They're a young team, with many faces people will recognise from the League of Ireland. The league is seeing a huge surge in crowds and these games are an opportunity for those fans and the communities in both cities to come out and see our boys represent our country.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Brentford have bizarre 5pm deadline to trigger ex-Chelsea star's £35m release clause as they target Mbeumo replacement
Bees made an offer well below the set clause on Monday evening BUSY BEES Brentford have bizarre 5pm deadline to trigger ex-Chelsea star's £35m release clause as they target Mbeumo replacement Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRENTFORD have until 5pm TODAY to trigger Omari Hutchinson's release clause at Ipswich. The Bees, looking to replace Manchester United-bound Bryan Mbuemo, must bid £35million for the winger for the deal to happen. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brentford have until 5pm on Tuesday to trigger Omari Hutchinson's £35m release clause Credit: Getty 4 The Bees are looking to replace Man Utd-bound winger Bryan Mbeumo Credit: Getty Brentford made an offer on Monday evening. However, it is understood that the bid was well below the release clause. Hutchinson, 21, completed a permanent £22.5m move to Portman Road from Chelsea a year ago after a successful loan stint in Suffolk. The £35m clause came into effect after Ipswich's relegation back to the Premier League. READ MORE SPORT STORIES HOSPITAL DASH Ex-Prem manager Juric rushed to hospital as Atalanta release statement In the same way, Liam Delap's £40m release clause was reduced to £30m once Ipswich suffered the drop. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, hopeful of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt, is keen to keep hold of Hutchinson. The forward starred for England against Germany in the final of the European Under-21 Championship. If Tuesday's deadline passes without Brentford triggering the release clause, Ipswich will fancy their chances of keeping Hutchinson. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS As of tomorrow, the Championship side will be able to increase the transfer price to whatever they choose. However, Ipswich are allowing skipper Sam Morsy to speak to a club in Kuwait. Buzz Off! Brentford Demand £65M from Man Utd for Bryan Mbeumo | Transfers Exposed 4 Hutchinson starred for England in the Under-21s European Championship final Credit: Getty The Egyptian international did not travel with Ipswich to Austria on Monday for their pre-season training camp. The defensive midfielder is being allowed to leave even though he has one year left of his current deal. Meanwhile, Ipswich have just spent £7.8m to sign his replacement, Azor Matusiwa, from French side Rennes. 4 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
