Friday, January 20, 2006
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Arsenal signed teenager Theo Walcott on Friday from Southampton in a deal that could cost the Gunners up to $24 million.
Arsenal said the initial fee for the 16-year-old England youth international was $10 million, but would rise depending on club and international appearances.
Walcott will turn professional on March 16, his 17th birthday.
"Theo Walcott is a very young player, but has already shown in his performances for Southampton that he is a talented player with huge potential," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"I also like the fact that he is a versatile player who is incredibly dedicated, shows great determination to succeed and is blessed with electric pace."
Walcott was Southampton's youngest-ever player when he came on as a second-half substitute against Wolverhampton in the League Championship on Aug. 6 at the age of 16 years, 143 days. He plays as a striker or attacking midfielder.
Walcott has made 13 appearances for Southampton this season and scored five goals. He has earned 14 caps for England's under-17 team and scored five goals.
Walcott will wear the No. 32 shirt with Arsenal.
"Coming to Arsenal will give me the opportunity to work with world class players every day and play football at the highest possible level," Walcott said. "It's a strange day, because I'm also very sad to be moving from Southampton.
"I'm leaving many friends and some great coaches who have been so important to my career so far, but I leave with many great memories from the club."
Walcott had a pre-contract agreement with Southampton to sign a professional deal with the Saints when he turns 17. Arsenal is paying compensation to Southampton, which was relegated from the Premier League last season.
Hibs captain to join Celtic: Hibernian captain Gary Caldwell will join Celtic next season.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said Friday the club had reached a pre-contract agreement with the former Scotland international defender.
"`He's coming here in the summer and there will be no deals done now," Strachan said.
Caldwell is Strachan's 10th signing since he took over at Celtic Park.
Riise signs new Liverpool deal: Norway international John Arne Riise signed a new contract at Liverpool on Friday, keeping him at the club until 2009.
The 25-year-old, who can play in midfield or defence, is the sixth player from last season's European Cup-winning team to extend his contract this season. Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore and Dietmar Hamann are the others.
"He's been a good servant, a good player to have around and a good teammate," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said of Riise. "He can play in several positions for us and has been outstanding in the near two seasons I have been here."
Riise joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2001 and has scored 23 goals in 235 appearances.
Stubbs rejoins Everton: Defender Alan Stubbs rejoined Everton on Friday after a few months at Premier League rival Sunderland.
Stubbs, 34, signed a short-term deal through the end of the season, with an option for another year. He passed a medical and is eligible to play against Arsenal on Saturday.
Stubbs quit Everton over the summer to join Sunderland after the Toffees refused to offer him a new two-year contract extension.
"I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be back at the club I have supported all my life," Stubbs said. "What happened last summer is now water under the bridge.
"All I want to do now is play for Everton for as long as possible and to end my playing career at Goodison Park."
U.S. defender returns to Feyenoord: United States defender Cory Gibbs has returned to Feyenoord after six months of rehabilitation in Florida.
Gibbs has been sidelined since hurting his knee in an international friendly against England last year.
"He is not yet 100 per cent fit," club spokesman Gido Vader said Friday. "He will need at least a month before he gains full match fitness."
The 26-year-old Gibbs joined Feyenoord from FC Dallas in January 2005. In his first season at the Dutch club, he scored one goal in 15 appearances.
Feyenoord, which is in second place in the Dutch league, hosts Roda JC in Rotterdam on Sunday.
Ziegler returns to Spurs: Switzerland defender Reto Ziegler is leaving Hamburger SV to return to Tottenham.
Ziegler arrived in Hamburg on loan in August and was supposed to stay until the end of the season. But Spurs used the option to bring back the defender during the Bundesliga's winter break, the club said Friday.
Germany's to tune up with Colombia: Germany's final World Cup warm-up match will be against Colombia on June 2 in Moenchengladbach.
"It will be a good opportunity to fine-tune our game before the World Cup, especially for the match against Ecuador," Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Friday.
Germany's Group A opponents also include Costa Rica and Poland. Germany kicks off the June 9-July 9 tournament against Costa Rica in Munich.
Klinsmann's team begins its World Cup year March 1 at Italy, then plays the United States on March 22 in Dortmund.
Japan, another World Cup qualifier, will be Germany's opponent on May 30 in Leverkusen.
Le Mans hope for Grafite deal: Le Mans hopes to complete the signing of Brazilian striker Grafite from Sao Paulo this weekend.
"The deal is on the right track," club communications director Laurent Petit said Friday. "We remain very hopeful it will go through this weekend."
Grafite has already passed a medical test, Petit said, adding that the deal "needs to be finalized at the Brazilian end."
Petit would not say how much Le Mans has offered Sao Paulo for the player, but said the contract would be for a maximum of three years.
The 26-year-old Grafite, whose full name is Edinaldo Batista Libano, tore a knee ligament last year and was sidelined for six months.
Grafite was called up to the Brazil team in 2004 after scoring 17 goals in 38 games for Sao Paulo.
Schwarzer wants to stay at 'Boro: Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer wants to stay at Middlesbrough after all.
Schwarzer asked to be taken off the transfer list Friday, just a few weeks after asking for a move to another club.
"I had made it clear to Mark that I didn't want to lose him," manager Steve McClaren said. "At the time he was upset but I don't think he ever really wanted to leave.
"Mark has been loyal to this club for nine years now and has been a key figure for us throughout that time. I have always said he is one of the best 'keepers about and that remains the case."
Another Australian, Brad Jones, has started in goal in Middlesbrough's last three games. Last week, 'Boro was trounced 7-0 by Arsenal in a Premier League game.
McClaren said Schwarzer was in the squad to play Wigan on Saturday but wouldn't say if he'd start.
Schwarzer, 33, joined Middlesbrough in 1996.
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Arsenal said the initial fee for the 16-year-old England youth international was $10 million, but would rise depending on club and international appearances.
Walcott will turn professional on March 16, his 17th birthday.
"Theo Walcott is a very young player, but has already shown in his performances for Southampton that he is a talented player with huge potential," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"I also like the fact that he is a versatile player who is incredibly dedicated, shows great determination to succeed and is blessed with electric pace."
Walcott was Southampton's youngest-ever player when he came on as a second-half substitute against Wolverhampton in the League Championship on Aug. 6 at the age of 16 years, 143 days. He plays as a striker or attacking midfielder.
Walcott has made 13 appearances for Southampton this season and scored five goals. He has earned 14 caps for England's under-17 team and scored five goals.
Walcott will wear the No. 32 shirt with Arsenal.
"Coming to Arsenal will give me the opportunity to work with world class players every day and play football at the highest possible level," Walcott said. "It's a strange day, because I'm also very sad to be moving from Southampton.
"I'm leaving many friends and some great coaches who have been so important to my career so far, but I leave with many great memories from the club."
Walcott had a pre-contract agreement with Southampton to sign a professional deal with the Saints when he turns 17. Arsenal is paying compensation to Southampton, which was relegated from the Premier League last season.
Hibs captain to join Celtic: Hibernian captain Gary Caldwell will join Celtic next season.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said Friday the club had reached a pre-contract agreement with the former Scotland international defender.
"`He's coming here in the summer and there will be no deals done now," Strachan said.
Caldwell is Strachan's 10th signing since he took over at Celtic Park.
Riise signs new Liverpool deal: Norway international John Arne Riise signed a new contract at Liverpool on Friday, keeping him at the club until 2009.
The 25-year-old, who can play in midfield or defence, is the sixth player from last season's European Cup-winning team to extend his contract this season. Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore and Dietmar Hamann are the others.
"He's been a good servant, a good player to have around and a good teammate," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said of Riise. "He can play in several positions for us and has been outstanding in the near two seasons I have been here."
Riise joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2001 and has scored 23 goals in 235 appearances.
Stubbs rejoins Everton: Defender Alan Stubbs rejoined Everton on Friday after a few months at Premier League rival Sunderland.
Stubbs, 34, signed a short-term deal through the end of the season, with an option for another year. He passed a medical and is eligible to play against Arsenal on Saturday.
Stubbs quit Everton over the summer to join Sunderland after the Toffees refused to offer him a new two-year contract extension.
"I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be back at the club I have supported all my life," Stubbs said. "What happened last summer is now water under the bridge.
"All I want to do now is play for Everton for as long as possible and to end my playing career at Goodison Park."
U.S. defender returns to Feyenoord: United States defender Cory Gibbs has returned to Feyenoord after six months of rehabilitation in Florida.
Gibbs has been sidelined since hurting his knee in an international friendly against England last year.
"He is not yet 100 per cent fit," club spokesman Gido Vader said Friday. "He will need at least a month before he gains full match fitness."
The 26-year-old Gibbs joined Feyenoord from FC Dallas in January 2005. In his first season at the Dutch club, he scored one goal in 15 appearances.
Feyenoord, which is in second place in the Dutch league, hosts Roda JC in Rotterdam on Sunday.
Ziegler returns to Spurs: Switzerland defender Reto Ziegler is leaving Hamburger SV to return to Tottenham.
Ziegler arrived in Hamburg on loan in August and was supposed to stay until the end of the season. But Spurs used the option to bring back the defender during the Bundesliga's winter break, the club said Friday.
Germany's to tune up with Colombia: Germany's final World Cup warm-up match will be against Colombia on June 2 in Moenchengladbach.
"It will be a good opportunity to fine-tune our game before the World Cup, especially for the match against Ecuador," Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Friday.
Germany's Group A opponents also include Costa Rica and Poland. Germany kicks off the June 9-July 9 tournament against Costa Rica in Munich.
Klinsmann's team begins its World Cup year March 1 at Italy, then plays the United States on March 22 in Dortmund.
Japan, another World Cup qualifier, will be Germany's opponent on May 30 in Leverkusen.
Le Mans hope for Grafite deal: Le Mans hopes to complete the signing of Brazilian striker Grafite from Sao Paulo this weekend.
"The deal is on the right track," club communications director Laurent Petit said Friday. "We remain very hopeful it will go through this weekend."
Grafite has already passed a medical test, Petit said, adding that the deal "needs to be finalized at the Brazilian end."
Petit would not say how much Le Mans has offered Sao Paulo for the player, but said the contract would be for a maximum of three years.
The 26-year-old Grafite, whose full name is Edinaldo Batista Libano, tore a knee ligament last year and was sidelined for six months.
Grafite was called up to the Brazil team in 2004 after scoring 17 goals in 38 games for Sao Paulo.
Schwarzer wants to stay at 'Boro: Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer wants to stay at Middlesbrough after all.
Schwarzer asked to be taken off the transfer list Friday, just a few weeks after asking for a move to another club.
"I had made it clear to Mark that I didn't want to lose him," manager Steve McClaren said. "At the time he was upset but I don't think he ever really wanted to leave.
"Mark has been loyal to this club for nine years now and has been a key figure for us throughout that time. I have always said he is one of the best 'keepers about and that remains the case."
Another Australian, Brad Jones, has started in goal in Middlesbrough's last three games. Last week, 'Boro was trounced 7-0 by Arsenal in a Premier League game.
McClaren said Schwarzer was in the squad to play Wigan on Saturday but wouldn't say if he'd start.
Schwarzer, 33, joined Middlesbrough in 1996.
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