Newcastle United are searching for a striker before the window closes and could now make a surprise late move for a goalscorer from the continent, according to a report.
Newcastle United draw a blank at Leeds United
With speculation mounting that Alexander Isak could be on his way to Liverpool, away supporters made their feelings known after the Magpies drew a blank against Leeds United at Elland Road in a 0-0 draw.
William Osula started through the middle, and Newcastle struggled to create many chances of note, though Nick Woltemade’s arrival from Stuttgart has offered one part of the solution for Eddie Howe moving forward.
Speaking on Saturday, the former Bournemouth manager welcomed the towering German striker, signalling his belief that he could be a useful addition once he adapts to life in the Premier League.
“I think I like his different dimensions to his game. Of course, he’s a big presence, he’s a big man but he has really good technical skills and really good creative ideas around the box. If he was playing today he would’ve helped us in that respect, seeing what other players can’t.
“He’ll need a period where he adapts and he understands what we ask of him and the test the Premier League will bring him but I think he will score goals and he’ll hopefully be a fantastic addition for us.”
Imagine him & Bruno: Newcastle lodge bid for "one of the world's best DMs"
Newcastle are looking to sign one of the best midfielders on the planet to partner Bruno Guimaraes
By
Will Miller
Aug 31, 2025
Brentford striker Yoann Wissa has been a long-term Newcastle target and it remains to be seen whether he is drafted in before the deadline to add goals at the top end of the field. However, there is a chance that the Magpies look elsewhere to find clinical firepower amid recent developments.
Newcastle make late Artem Dovbyk move
According to The Sun, Newcastle are in talks over a deal to sign Roma striker Artem Dovbyk that could take the form of a loan-to-buy agreement between now and the close of play in what they describe as a ‘surprise’ deadline move.
Rated at around £30 million, the Ukraine international scored 17 times in 45 appearances last term, though is yet to strike in two outings this term amid speculation over his future.
Labelled “elite” by Zach Lowy, Dovbyk may be allowed to leave Roma this summer, providing they can fetch a sizeable loan fee, which could push Osula out of the door as part of a striker merry-go-round.
Callum Wilson’s departure has left two holes to be filled in light of the Isak situation. Bringing an experienced forward to the North East with a proven track record would be a pleasing outcome for supporters.
SRH hit 178 sixes in 2024, the most by any side in an IPL season. Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers will have their work cut out in what is a rematch of last season’s second qualifier
Himanshu Agrawal22-Mar-20253:01
How will Ishan Kishan fit into the SRH line-up?
Big Picture: Samson to start as batterIn a video uploaded by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday, Heinrich Klaasen, batting in the nets, belts every ball he faces out of sight. Travis Head, his equally big-hitting team-mate, keeps swinging his his head around to try and follow the ball into the distance. Leading into IPL 2025, it was a throwback to Klaasen, Head and Abhishek Sharma’s merciless six-hitting last season. The three combined to smash 112 sixes out of SRH’s 178 in 2024 – the most by any side in any IPL season.Related
'We have to let go of the past' – Samson keen to work out strengths of new-look Royals
Vettori: 'Whatever ground we go to, our batting is going to be aggressive'
Parag to lead Royals for first three games, Samson to play as batter
IPL to allow one ball change on demand to counter dew
Stats – All the records that can be broken in IPL 2025
Ahead of IPL 2025, SRH retained the explosive trio with no questions asked, alongside their captain Pat Cummins and emerging allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. SRH now begin their new season by facing the team they had knocked out in last year’s Qualifier 2.Rajasthan Royals (RR), like their opposition on Sunday, have retained their core group of Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag (alongside Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel and Sandeep Sharma). Samson has been RR’s go-to batter – he has 300-plus runs for them in seven successive seasons – but he will begin this season as an Impact Player, giving up keeping and captaining duties as he recovers from an injured finger. Parag will be lead RR in their first three games, a clear sign that at only 23 he’s already part of their leadership group.Hetmyer is RR’s only overseas batting option, and that leaves them with a potentially all-Indian top five of Jaiswal, Samson, Parag, Nitish Rana and Jurel. With Hetmyer to follow, the batting still looks formidable, but RR are short on Indian bowling options. They will hope Jofra Archer (who is back with RR after five years), new imports Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana and Sandeep can challenge SRH’s ultra-aggressive approach.New loyaltiesLast year, both Hasaranga and Fazalhaq Farooqi were with SRH. But while Hasaranga pulled out due to injury, Farooqi didn’t get a game. Now they are both with RR, and have been in great form since the last IPL. While Hasaranga has 64 wickets at an average of 16.15 in all T20s since then, Farooqi has 62 at 15.17. Farooqi’s run included being the joint-highest wicket-taker at the T20 World Cup 2024. So, this time, SRH could get to see what they missed last season.Adam Zampa, meanwhile, withdrew late from the IPL last year after being retained by RR. This time, he’s at SRH, and heads into the IPL on the back of 62 wickets in 39 T20s since the last IPL. SRH have some consolation after all.
Team news & likely XIIsJoining the SRH batting party this time is Abhinav Manohar. He was the second-highest run-getter in last year’s Maharaja T20 Trophy, the Karnataka-based T20 league, where he slammed 52 sixes, 22 higher than the next batter on the list. As for SRH’s fourth overseas player, they have options in Zampa, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder and Eshan Malinga. They could opt for Mendis if they choose to lengthen their batting line-up, or Zampa if they want to include a second frontline spinner alongside Rahul Chahar.Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Adam ZampaIn Samson’s absence from the field, Jurel will likely that over the wicketkeeping gloves. Depending on the pitch and the conditions, RR might have to choose between Theekshana and Farooqi. They have only Hasaranga in the allrounder bracket in a squad otherwise full of specialist batters and bowlers.Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Sanju Samson, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Shubham Dubey/Akash Madhwal, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana/Fazalhaq Farooqi, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Tushar DeshpandeBig questionTwo quicks who have had injury issues will be in action in Hyderabad on Sunday.Cummins is set to return after missing the Tests in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy due to the birth of his second child and an ongoing ankle issue. He will be leading SRH for the second season running.Archer, on the other hand, had an injury-free 2024 for England after chronic elbow and back problems. But given his history of injuries, and England’s big Test series against India and Australia to follow later this year, he might have to manage his workload a bit.In the spotlight: Nitish Reddy and Yashasvi JaiswalOne of IPL 2024’s big finds was Nitish Kumar Reddy. His captain Cummins called him “awesome”, and Reddy, a rare pace-bowling allrounder in India, so impressed the national team’s management that he was handed a T20I later in the year and then flew to Australia to face Cummins’ side in Test cricket. A Test century in Melbourne brought tears to his father’s eyes, and he will be hoping to keep making him proud this IPL.Yashasvi Jaiswal took the IPL by storm in 2023, when he cracked its fastest fifty – off 13 balls. He tallied 625 runs at a strike rate of 163.61, including a century. The next year, although he scored 435 runs, that number still seemed to have fallen short of expectations. Jaiswal was part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad just after that, but didn’t get a game. He has remained on the fringes of India’s T20I side, and with immense competition from Abhishek and Samson, he will need an impactful IPL to change that.3:14
Cricinformed – SRH’s six-hitters set for a new IPL high?
Key stats The SRH vs RR rivalry is nowhere near as popular as CSK vs RCB, or CSK vs MI. But the cricket, of late at least, has been tight and exciting; SRH lead the faceoff against RR 11-9, with two of the last three games between them being high-scoring, last-ball thrillers. Thirty-two batters faced at least 200 balls last season, of which Abhishek (204.21) and Head (191.55) led charts for strike rate. Klaasen was seventh with 171.07. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a major part of SRH’s line-up from 2014 to 2024. Sunday will be the first time since October 2021 that SRH will be playing a match without him in the side.Pitch and conditionsThe average run rate in Hyderabad last year was 10.54, the second-highest among the 13 grounds. SRH’s ultra-aggressive attitude with the bat – they even chased down 166 against LSG within ten overs – took the pitch out of the equation.Hyderabad is expected to be hot on Sunday afternoon, with hardly any chance of rain. So expect big scores again, and the ball flying to all parts of the ground.Quotes”I think it’s a pragmatic answer to a difficult problem, [dew] doesn’t affect every ground. Don’t think we experience dew here [in Hyderabad] at all, Chennai and Mumbai [are affected with dew] in particular. It’s a nice solution for everyone to come up with, I think it’ll work really well.” Next three fixturesSRH host Lucknow Super Giants four days after hosting RR. They then have back-to-back away games against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.Three days after playing SRH, RR host Kolkata Knight Riders, and three days later they have a home game against Chennai Super Kings – both in Guwahati. With a five-day gap after that, RR fly to Mullanpur to play Punjab Kings.
حقق منتخب السعودية فوزًا مهمًا على حساب نظيره إندونيسيا، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات التصفيات النهائية الأسيوية المؤهلة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم 2026.
وأقيمت مباراة السعودية وإندونيسيا، في الجولة الأولى من المجموعة الثانية لمباريات المرحلة الرابعة النهائية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم بأمريكا وكندا والمكسيك العام المقبل.
وفاز الخُضر بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي جمعتهما مساء اليوم الأربعاء، في تمام الساعة الثامنة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة في تصفيات كأس آسيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم
وكانت 6 منتخبات حسمت التأهل بشكل رسمي إلى نهائيات كأس العالم، من المرحلة الثالثة، وهي إيران وأوزبكستان وكوريا الجنوبية والأردن واليابان واستراليا.
ومن خلال المرحلة الرابعة التي تم تقسيمها إلى مجموعتين من 6 منتخبات، كل مجموعة تضم 3 منتخبات، سوف يتأهل المتصدر من كل مجموعة لاكتمال عدد المنتخبات من قارة آسيا.
وتقام مباريات المرحلة الرابعة بنظام الدوري من دور واحد، وتلعب مواجهات المجموعة الثانية في السعودية، بينما المجموعة الأولى ستلعب في قطر. ترتيب مجموعة السعودية في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد الفوز على إندونيسيا
Still looking to spend big this summer, Everton have now reportedly made contact to sign a Champions League-winning star for David Moyes.
Everton announce Aznou arrival
Resuming their summer business for the first time since welcoming Mark Travers from Bournemouth, Everton officially announced the arrival of young left-back Adam Aznou earlier this week. The former Bayern Munich gem has arrived in a deal reportedly worth around €12m (£10m) with add-ons included and represents an impressive coup by all involved at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Speaking for the first time since putting pen to paper, the 19-year-old told Everton’s official website: “I’m so happy to be here. I’m so proud to be part of this team.
“The project they gave me is really good. The Premier League is the best league in the world so I’m really excited to start. The stadium is really nice. It gives you a good feeling and it’s good for our fans to support us. It’s perfect for us. I just have to say I’m really thankful to be here. I’m really proud so I will give everything in every training session and every game.
“[Moyes] talked with me, he spoke with me about the team and how he wants me. So I decided directly when I spoke with him. I decided really quickly because of the words he gave me. He gave me confidence, so I decided to sign.”
Bayern Munich's Adam Azou on loan at Real Valladolid.
Even after the Bayern Munich youngster, however, Everton are not done there on the transfer front. The Friedkin Group still have money to spend and have reportedly set their sights on welcoming their most impressive addition yet as a result.
Everton hold concrete talks to sign Grealish
As reported by AreaNapoli and relayed by Sport Witness, Everton have now made a serious first approach to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City this summer after identifying the Champions League winner as a key target.
The England international has looked destined to leave Manchester City for at least a year now and it became clearer than ever that his future lies elsewhere when Pep Guardiola left him out of his Club World Cup squad earlier this summer.
Their new Gordon: Everton set to hold talks over signing big-money PL star
Everton eye sensational transfer for Manchester City’s treble-winning winger
By
Will Miller
Jul 30, 2025
City’s trash could quickly become one of Everton’s most prized assets, however. At his best, Grealish played a pivotal part in City’s historic treble win in the 2022/23 campaign and remains a talented serial winner despite recent struggles at the Etihad.
On top of that experience, the £16m-a-year star, who is represented by the same agent as Jordan Pickford, is also a player who starred at international level under Gareth Southgate.
The former England boss told reporters in 2020 after defeat against Belgium: “I thought Jack Grealish had an absolutely outstanding game. Losing Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, we lose a lot of speed. But I can’t fault the attacking play until the last chance.
“I saw what I knew I would see from Jack, someone with the bravery to play. He took the ball in tight areas, his technique was good, we knew he would buy a lot of free-kicks.”
The match will take place in the morning of the opening day between Australia and England at the MCG
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2024An Afghanistan women’s cricket team, consisting of refugees who now live in Australia, will play a game in Melbourne in January, the first time they have been able to come together as a group since leaving their country following the Taliban takeover.The T20 match between an Afghanistan Women’s XI and a Cricket Without Borders XI will take place on January 30 at Junction Oval ahead of the opening day of the floodlit Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG.The players involved fled Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban came into power and now live in Canberra and Melbourne. Many play for local cricket clubs but have not been able to form themselves into a representative team.The Australian government has been involved in helping set up the match.”Many people across cricket and the community have come together to provide support for members of the Afghanistan women’s team since their relocation to Australia and this match will be a celebration of that work,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said.”I’m delighted that their ambition to play together will be achieved in this exhibition match which will be a wonderful addition to the many events around the Day/Night Women’s Ashes Test.”Earlier this year, 17 of the players who were contracted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board in 2020 prior to the Taliban takeover wrote to the ICC asking for assistance in setting up a refugee team in Australia.”Our goals in having a refugee team are to develop and showcase our talent, give hope to the women remaining in Afghanistan, and to draw attention to the challenges women of Afghanistan face,” the letter said. “Like the Afghanistan men’s team, we aim to compete at the highest levels. We want to recruit and train girls and women who love cricket to show the world the talent of Afghan women, and to demonstrate the great victories they can achieve if given a chance through the leadership and financial support of the ICC.”On Tuesday, CA announced a partnership with UNICEF Australia as part of the foundation’s “Until Every Girl Can Play” campaign aimed at gender equality.
Looking to continue their summer business, Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive 12-goal midfielder for Ruben Amorim this summer.
Rashford and four others ask to leave Man Utd
As much as results haven’t gone his way since arriving, there’s been no standing in the way of Ruben Amorim’s ruthless streak at Old Trafford. The former Sporting Club manager instantly showed Marcus Rashford the new and initially dropped Alejandro Garnacho before falling out with the latter altogether. Now, with the summer transfer window open, that ruthless streak looks destined to end in a much-needed exodus of players.
Without a role under Amorim, Rashford, Antony, Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho have all reportedly asked to leave Manchester United this summer – sparking several exit rumours.
Rashford and Garnacho are two names that stand out the most in that list, with the former even reportedly attracting the interest of Barcelona. The La Liga giants just missed out on Nico Williams, who opted to sign a new contract at Athletic Bilbao, and have now set their sights on Rashford as a result.
Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd leading the race to sign "world-class" CF
Manchester United appear to be taking strides to land one key attacking talent this summer.
2
By
Ethan Lamb
Jul 5, 2025
Meanwhile, Garnacho could yet decide to stay put in the Premier League in the hope of exacting revenge on Amorim and United amid links with a move to rivals Chelsea. At 21 years old, the winger is still a player full of potential and one who could realise that potential elsewhere if he avoids the problems that he has endured at Old Trafford.
With that said, all of these potential departures are likely to hand Manchester United a major boost, allowing them to return to the transfer market themselves this summer.
Man Utd enter race to sign Orkun Kokcu
Among the names that the Red Devils could turn towards as a result of departures this summer is an Inter Milan target. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now entered the race to sign Orkun Kokcu from Benfica this summer – rivalling the Italian giants as well as Liverpool for his signature.
Orkun Kokcu for Benfica.
The deal wouldn’t break the bank for INEOS either. Reports are suggesting that Benfica will let their midfield star leave for around €40m (£35m) this summer, which should hand those at Old Trafford a major boost.
Last 365 days (via FBref)
Orkun Kokcu
Bruno Fernandes
Non-penalty goals per 90
0.17
0.17
Shots per 90
2.05
2.83
Assists per 90
0.24
0.29
Shot-creating actions per 90
5.06
5.86
Keeping up with Bruno Fernandes’ output is no easy task, but Kokcu is one of the rare few midfielders who manage to do so throughout Europe. Now, United could form the ultimate midfield partnership.
Dubbed a “leader” by scout Jacek Kulig during his Feyenoord days, Kokcu has only kicked on at Benfica since then and could be on his way to the Premier League after scoring 12 goals in all competitions last season.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is personally leading the charge to sign a “powerful” player, with an offer now ready to be submitted, according to a report.
Berta taking hands-on role at the Emirates
Having laid the foundations, the Arsenal hierarchy believes now is the time for the team to start winning silverware, and Berta has a big role to play, with the Italian regarded as a master negotiator, capable of being involved in multiple deals at once.
The 53-year-old is taking a hands-on role at the Emirates Stadium, attending training sessions and press conferences, while also putting in work behind-the-scenes to secure agreements for the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi.
There have been some disagreements with Mikel Arteta, however, especially when it comes to which striker they should bring in, with Berta keen to sign Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, while the manager would prefer to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
Berta is simultaneously working on moves for both strikers, indicating a decision is yet to be made as to which striker is the preferred option, and the north Londoners are also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.
That is according to a report from Super Deporte (via Sport Witness), which states Berta is now leading the charge for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, who has recently been identified as a key target by Arteta.
Saka will love him: Arsenal agree initial fee to sign £60m "monster"
Arsenal could be growing closer to signing a new striker.
ByMatt Dawson Jun 29, 2025
Such is Arsenal’s level of interest, they are now ready to submit an offer in the region of €20m – €25m (£17m – £21m) for Mosquera, with around €3m – €5m (£2.6m – £4.3m) of the higher amount based on bonuses relating to performance.
Berta is said to be key to the deal, with the sporting director retaining a long-term interest in the 21-year-old, having also targeted him during his time with Atlético Madrid.
"Powerful" Mosquera could be ideal centre-back signing
With any new centre-back signing unlikely to immediately take Gabriel or William Saliba’s spot in the starting XI, it would make sense to bring in a younger centre-back, capable of replacing one of the first-choice options on a long-term basis.
The Valencia star is showing very promising signs in La Liga, having now established himself as a key player, missing just one La Liga game last season, while the defender has also received high praise from former youth coach Miguel-Ángel Angulo.
Angulo said: “He’s characterised by a physical condition and good technical qualities, powerful in the air, and mature for his age.”
Having also received plaudits from Statman Dave, Mosquera is clearly an exciting young player, who could provide Arsenal with the depth to compete on all fronts next season, before going on to stake a claim for a regular starting spot.
The Australia captain has not had the ball since the IPL but could feature during the Super Eight stage if conditions require it
Andrew McGlashan19-Jun-20241:33
Maxwell: Marsh has been ‘unbelievable’
Mitchell Marsh has declared himself ready to bowl in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 to hand Australia another option ahead of their game against Bangladesh in Antigua, while Glenn Maxwell believes the captain is close to making a big impact with the bat.Marsh has not bowled since leaving the IPL with a hamstring injury and a cautious approach has been taken to his return with the initial rehab requiring a little longer than expected.”I’ll be available to bowl,” he said. “With the line-up that we’ve got, I don’t really necessarily see a need for me to bowl, but I think it’s really important in this format to have options and we’re blessed with plenty of those.”Related
Head: Anything possible in the last seven or eight overs
Tim David 'working really hard' on his legspin
Australia have not been found short due to Marsh being held back from bowling duties with Marcus Stoinis playing an important role, while against Scotland they used 12 overs of spin with an eye on potential conditions in the Super Eight.Marsh having a role with the ball would become a more likely scenario if Australia fielded Ashton Agar as a second frontline spinner again then decided they needed some extra overs of seam.”Physically feel good,” Marsh said. “It’s always nice to have a bit of break from bowling and I often joke about that. But Stoin and I often talk about it as allrounders, we love being in the game.”Mitchell Marsh hasn’t quite hit his stride with the bat since returning from injury•ICC/Getty Images
Marsh wouldn’t divulge whether Australia will return to three specialist quicks against Bangladesh or retain the balance of attack they used against Scotland. The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has not offered huge assistance for the spinners so far – the numbers at the venue are skewed somewhat by four-wicket hauls for Adam Zampa and Adil Rashid against Oman and Namibia – but Australia are on alert for sharply-spinning conditions in St Vincent where they face Afghanistan.Should Australia bring both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood back into their XI after they were rested against Scotland then Maxwell can take on the role of the second spinner.Marsh and Maxwell are the two parts of Australia’s batting order that have yet to fire at the World Cup with 63 runs between them in seven innings, but Maxwell was confident he and the captain were close to making a big impact.”For me and Mitch, we got a lot of confidence out of that England game for the role we played,” Maxwell told ESPN’s . “Even though it’s a small sample size we still feel like we played out role; we set the innings up for the lower order to then go nuts. The opening batters going out and scoring at 12, 13 an over can be bit misleading to how conditions are and if we try to go at that rate for the rest of the innings thinking that’s what it’s like we could throw our wickets away.”Mitch has been unbelievable over the last couple of years, since he’s come back into all three formats, especially the Test stuff, [and] I think that’s probably filtered into the confidence in the other two formats. Watching him go about his work, you always know he’s only one or two shots away from basically ruining a game and we are looking forward to seeing that.”On his own form, which stems back to a poor IPL, Maxwell said: “Still feeling really good. I’ve been hitting the ball pretty well, but…it’s just been really hard to, I suppose, get that rhythm and momentum. You’ve seen our openers go out there and pump it all over the place then in the middle order it’s been quite difficult to adjust.”The only one throughout the tournament who has consistently smashing them is Stoin – he’s been outstanding. To have those guys below me gives me a lot of confidence and actually knowing I have a bit of time to get myself into the tournament and we’ve got some real quality below us. It’s a nice position to be in that I don’t feel like I’ve fully hit my straps, played pretty well against England…but I know it’s not far away.”
The Women’s FA Cup has just as much magic as its male equivalent, with the finale’s place at the end of the domestic calendar handing two teams the opportunity to finish the campaign on a high in front of a large capacity crowd.
That has only been heightened by the welcome rise in prominence within the women’s game of late, with the FA Cup final being held at Wembley Stadium since 2015.
While the national stadium has typically only been half full for such occasions in the past, the 2023 final between Chelsea and Manchester United saw over 77,000 witness the Blues secure a third straight triumph through Sam Kerr’s winner.
Large crowds like these are now the norm for showpiece women’s events, particularly at Wembley, with the FA Cup final and England internationals well in the habit of bringing in spectators en masse.
The 2024 final was further evidence of this, with United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur again drawing in over 75,000 supporters.
But who are the most successful clubs in the FA Cup’s history? Here is a look at the history of the competition and a detailed look at the most recent finals.
Women's FA Cup history timeline
1970: Following the lifting of a ban on women’s football, which had stood for nearly 50 years, the first FA Cup tournament is held by the Women’s Football Association (WFA). The National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace hosts the first final in 1971, won by Southampton Women’s FC.
1993: The Football Association takes administrative control of the competition, along with the rest of women’s football in England.
2015: The final is held at Wembley Stadium for the first time, as 30,000 spectators see Chelsea defeat Notts County 1-0.
2023: A world-record crowd attends a domestic cup final, nearly 12 months on from the Euro 2022 final at a sold-out Wembley.
2024/25 Women's FA Cup
The 2024/25 FA Cup takes place on Sunday, 18th May, one day after the men’s event. This year’s women’s final is between Chelsea and Manchester United, in what is a repeat of the 2023 final.
Chelsea are going for a treble after being crowned as unbeaten champions and having won the League Cup back in March, while holders United are defending their FA Cup crown, which was won through their 4-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2024.
It has been an exceptional first year in charge for Sonia Bompastor since replacing Emma Hayes, with the Blues’ only defeats this term coming in the Champions League to Manchester City and Barcelona.
Manchester United are looking to end the season on a high after having to settle for third following their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the WSL season.
Women’s FA Cup past winners
18 different clubs have won the Women’s FA Cup, with Arsenal being the record winners, having won it 14 times.
Southampton Women’s FC is the next-most successful club, winning eight times, most recently in 1981.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s record is only bettered by Doncaster Belles, who appeared in 11 out of 12 finals between 1983 and 1994, winning six times. However, the Blues can draw level with them in 2025.
Most Women’s FA Cup wins
Club
Times won
Last won
Arsenal
14
2016
Southampton Women’s FC
8
1981
Doncaster Belles
6
1994
Chelsea
5
2023
Manchester City
3
2020
Charlton Athletic
3
2005
Everton
2
2010
Fulham
2
2003
Millwall Lionesses
2
1997
Manchester United
1
2024
Birmingham City
1
2012
Norwich City
1
1986
AFC Wimbledon Women
1
1985 (as Friends of Fulham)
Howbury Grange
1
1984
Lowestoft Ladies
1
1982
St Helens
1
1980
Queen’s Park Rangers
1
1977
Fodens
1
1974
Previous FA Cup finals
12th May 2024: Manchester United 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United sealed their first FA Cup triumph against first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 in a comprehensive victory at Wembley.
Ella Toone got the ball rolling just before the end of the first period, with her long-range rocket adding to her catalogue of big-game goals.
The second half saw Spurs tire and crumble under the wave of United attacks, with Rachel Williams’ header and Lucia Garcia’s double seeing the Red Devils run out deserved winners.
Beth England came closest for the runners-up when her header smashed the bar, but there could be no complaints about the final result as United claimed their first major trophy.
14th May 2023: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
Chelsea secured a league and cup double in 2023 after battling to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Marc Skinner’s side had most of the better chances, particularly in the first half when they had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minute and forced Ann-Katrin Berger into a number of important saves.
Sam Kerr turned home Pernille Harder’s pinpoint cross in the second half, to which the Red Devils had no reply.
15th May 2022: Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City (aet)
The Blues edged a five-goal thriller against United’s closest rivals in 2022. Sam Kerr nodded Chelsea ahead before Lauren Hemp equalised just before half-time.
Erin Cuthbert’s screamer restored the Blues’ lead and had looked set to be the match-winner until Hayley Raso’s fine finish forced extra time.
Both sides had chances in the extra period, but Kerr took the crucial one in the 99th minute, with her deflected strike handing Chelsea another FA Cup.
5th December 2021: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
Postponed due to the pandemic, the 2021 finale took place nearly seven months later than usual. The date chosen for the final came a century after the FA’s ban on women’s football in 1921.
It was Chelsea who once again emerged victorious, as opponents Arsenal came up against an inspired Kerr, who scored twice after Fran Kirby’s early opener to seal a comfortable victory.
1st November 2020: Everton 1-3 Manchester City (aet)
Played in front of no fans during the pandemic-affected 2020/21 campaign, Man City won their third FA Cup in four seasons with an extra-time victory over Everton, who were in the first final in six years.
The 50th Women’s FA Cup final saw Sam Mewis’ header put Gareth Taylor’s team in front, before Valerie Gauvin’s equaliser from a corner took the sides to extra time.
Georgia Stanway’s poked finish left City with one hand on the cup, and she laid the ball on a plate for Janine Beckie to finally put the game to bed and secure a second successive cup triumph.
Barry Ferguson has three more matches left to manage as the interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers before he moves on from Ibrox this summer.
The former Scotland international came in to replace Philippe Clement earlier this year and has only won four of his 12 games in charge of Rangers to date, drawing his most recent clash in the Old Firm derby.
Ferguson, therefore, has not done much to suggest that the new owners, when they complete their takeover, should be looking to hand him the role on a full-time basis moving forward.
In fact, TEAMtalk recently reported that the 49ers want to appoint a fresh face with no prior connection to Rangers, which immediately rules out Ferguson, who has now played for and managed the Light Blues.
The outlet added that Steven Gerrard is also out of the running, because of that stance, and will not be returning to Ibrox for a second stint in the dugout.
Whilst the 49ers will not be pursuing a move for the out-of-contract English tactician, they should be looking for a manager who can be their own version of the Liverpool legend.
Why the 49ers should want their own Steven Gerrard
Back in the summer of 2018, Rangers, who were aiming to put Celtic’s dominant run of league titles to a stop, confirmed the appointment of Gerrard on a four-year contract.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Prior to that summer, the Hoops had won seven Scottish Premiership titles in as many seasons and the Gers needed a manager who could wrestle back control of the league.
Gerrard was a risky appointment, as he had not managed a first-team game by that point, and it was not a move that instantly worked out for the Light Blues, because the English boss needed time to develop a style and to build a squad that was ready to win the title.
Rangers finished in second place, behind Celtic, in the manager’s first two seasons at Ibrox, before they went on to win the division in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process.
Steven Gerrard (Premiership)
20/21
21/22
Matches
38
12
Wins
32
8
Draws
6
3
Defeats
0
1
Points
102
27
Points per game
2.68
2.25
League position
1st (Champions)
1st
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s side won 32 of their 38 matches that season to clinch the Premiership crown and to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.
The Light Blues then won eight of their first 12 matches in the following season, taking them to the top of the table, before the manager decided to pursue an opportunity with Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Steven Gerrard
Unfortunately, Rangers have finished second in all four of their seasons without Gerrard at the helm, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all failed to deliver a title to the Ibrox faithful.
The 49ers should, therefore, want to find their own version of the English boss because they now face the same task that the club faced in 2018: stopping Celtic’s title dominance.
Why Rangers should target Frank Lampard
Back in October 2023, when Beale was relieved of his duties, Sky Sports reported that Frank Lampard had shown an interest in the available post at Ibrox.
Almost two years later, the 49ers must target the English manager to see if he would be interested in the job this time around, should Coventry fail to earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Frank Lampard in charge of Coventry City.
It seems unlikely that he would want to ditch the Sky Blues if they make their way to the top-flight in England, but Rangers must attempt to convince Lampard to make the move to Scotland if Coventry do not join Leeds United and Burnley in the top division.
The 46-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, joined the Sky Blues when they were 17th in the Championship and level on points with the bottom three and led them to a fifth-placed finish, to secure a place in the play-offs.
Speaking on talkSPORT recently, pundit Jermaine Jenas hailed Lampard’s ability to work through criticism and claimed that he has done a “pretty special” job at Coventry, which is hard to argue against when you look at the images above.
The former Chelsea midfielder, who played alongside Gerrard at international level for England in their playing days, has had mixed success throughout his managerial career, but is currently thriving at the CBS Arena.
Frank Lampard’s managerial career
Season
League (club)
Matches
Points per game
Position
24/25
Championship (Coventry)
29
1.79
5th
22/23
Premier League (Chelsea)
9
0.56
12th
22/23
Premier League (Everton)
20
0.75
19th
21/22
Premier League (Everton)
18
1.11
16th
20/21
Premier League (Chelsea)
19
1.53
9th
19/20
Premier League (Chelsea)
38
1.74
4th
18/19
Championship (Derby County)
46
1.61
6th
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Lampard enjoyed early success with sixth and fourth place finishes with Derby County and Chelsea, before being sacked by the Premier League giants and by Everton.
He then endured a dismal interim spell at Chelsea after Graham Potter’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge, earning just 0.56 points per game across nine matches, before taking the Coventry job earlier this season.
Whilst managing at the top of the Premier League may be a step too far for him at this moment in time, Lampard has finished in the play-off positions in both of his seasons in the Championship with Derby and Coventry, which shows that he can motivate and set up a team to win consistently.
Couple that with the respect that his playing career earns him, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that he could be the 49ers’ own version of Gerrard in the new era at Ibrox, as another manager on the up who has something to prove rather than someone who has been there and done it and may not have the same motivation.
Not just Gerrard: "Error prone" Rangers star must not be part of 49ers era
Steven Gerrard is not the only big name who should not be part of the 49ers era at Rangers.
ByDan Emery May 8, 2025
Like Gerrard, Lampard is yet to win a league title and the prospect of doing that at Ibrox could be an attractive and highly-motivating factor for him, which is why the 49ers could tempt him to leave Coventry if his side fails to win the play-offs.
The English tactician has shown promise at Championship level and has proven that he can galvanise a losing team and turn it into a winning one, which is, in essence, what Rangers are in need of.