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Chelsea seal agreement to sell Moroccan player, Hakim Ziyech to Galatasaray

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English Premier League club, Chelsea has sealed an agreement with Galatasaray of Turkey to offload Moroccan international, Hakim Ziyech before the end of the transfer window.

Ziyech, who has long fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, is seeking a fresh challenge away from England, and with the huge influx of new players at the club, his chances of getting regular playing time in the team look slim.

The 30-year-old Morocco international winger is now expected to undergo a medical with the Turkish Super Lig club ahead of concluding the deal in the next few days.

Previous attempts to sell Ziyech by the London club had fallen through as moves to Paris St-Germain and Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr, did not materialise.

Hakim Ziyech joined Chelsea from Ajax in 2020 for £33.3 million and made 107 appearances for the club in all competitions. But in the last two seasons, he has not been top priority for the team as successive managers have not found him worthy of being part of the squad.

Despite being one of the standout players for Morocco as the Atlas Lions romped into the semi final of the Qatar World Cup last year, Ziyech has become a peripheral figure at the Blues following a significant splash of funds on new players by American, Todd Boehly and his Clearlake consortium who took over the team in May 2022.

Ziyech was left out of Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the USA earlier this summer and was not named in the matchday squad in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last Sunday. He was also not given a squad number for the new Premier League season.

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Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

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Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.

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SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

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South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with illness.

According to South African media, Moripe lit up the country’s football fields in the 1970s and became a rallying point for football in the country, especially in the apartheid era.

“Moripe, who mesmerised opponents and spectators alike during an injury ravaged career, spent his last years confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, and died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 71,” one media report said.

“Moripe, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players the country has produced by those who saw him play, was called “the god of football”’ by adoring fans during the early 1970s in a nod to his natural talents.

“He was feared by defenders and goalkeepers and his style of play was synonymous with flair, finesse and the golden era of South African football.

“In recent years Moripe was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a mild stroke that was worsened by the effects of a long-term knee injury that stopped his playing career in the late 1980s.

“Throughout his career, Moripe played for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies, winning the respect of both teammates and supporters.

“In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in honor of his noteworthy achievements to South African football. Major football games are still held at this stadium, which now stands as a tribute to his legacy.

“Moripe’s career highlights include leading Pretoria Callies to victory against top clubs and earning the 1973 NPSL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles.

“He also played internationally for Caroline Hill in Hong Kong and briefly for Orlando Pirates. Persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in the late 1980s.”

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