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Manchester United are set to announce the signing of Carlos Baleba imminently after all documents were exchanged with Brighton.

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the Cameroon midfielder from Brighton for an initial fee of £65, with a further £5m dependent on add-ons. Brighton will also retain a sell-on clause for the 22-year-old as part of the agreement.

Baleba will become Michael Carrick’s third midfield signing of the summer window, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The focus on midfield comes amid Casemiro’s exit and a long-term injury to Manuel Ugarte.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that all documents have been exchanged with official confirmation expected shortly. It will represent the conclusion of a long-term pursuit for Manchester United, who saw an approach for Baleba rejected last summer.

The transfer also represents a boost for the Red Devils following their opening day loss at Hull City. Carrick’s side lost 2-0 to the newly-promoted Tigers in an upset at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

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Joao Pedro has said Chelsea is ‘home’ and is confident he can achieve his career ambitions in West London.

Pedro has put pen to paper on a new Chelsea contract that reflects his impressive impact since arriving from Brighton last summer.

The Brazilian scored 23 goals in all competitions last season and was awarded Chelsea’s Player of the Season for the 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea had been keen to reward Pedro with an improved contact, amid transfer interest from clubs including Barcelona.

That deal has now been finalised, with Pedro saying representing the Blues is the fulfilment of his dream to play for a ‘big club’ with ‘a long tradition of winning’. After an impressive individual pre-season, Pedro begins his Premier League campaign when Chelsea travel to Fulham tomorrow night.

“I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea,” he said.

” Ialways dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club. Chelsea has a long tradition of winning and it has big ambitions for the future.

“I have a very good relationship with everyone here at the club and I have felt at home here in London from the moment that I joined.

“Everyone is very excited for this season. We know we can achieve a lot of things, we have a great team, we have a coach who wants to win and has won already. I am fully committed, everyone is ready and hopefully we can achieve our targets.”

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Atlético Madrid host Villarreal on Sunday for their second La Liga meeting at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Diego Simeone’s team arrives in excellent form after a perfect start to the domestic season. Atlético opened with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Málaga CF, showing squad strength as substitutes Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena supplied the goals. Riding strong home momentum carried over from last season’s finish, Los Colchoneros look organised and determined to keep another clean sheet in Madrid.

Atletico Madrid team news

Simeone has a mix of injury problems and welcome returns to manage before today’s game.

The big news is that star forward Julián Álvarez has returned to training after an extended post-tournament break and is fully fit to lead the attack.

However, Atlético will definitely be without main striker Alexander Sørloth, who is out with an ongoing muscle problem. Long-term absentees Thomas Lemar and new defensive signing Cristian Romero are also unavailable due to physical issues.

Simeone is favouring a flexible 1-4-1-4-1 shape, with Koke sitting deep in midfield. He must make difficult selections on the flanks after eye-catching displays from Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena—both of whom came off the bench to score against Málaga CF and are pushing hard to displace Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz in the starting lineup.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup

Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Le Normand, Grimaldo; Barrios, Koke; Simeone, Kang-in, Baena; Lookman

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 4pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal?

In the UK, the Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal game will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.

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Hansi Flick’s Barcelona travels as they face Elche in their opening La Liga fixture of the season on Sunday.

The reigning champions, FC Barcelona, finally begin their long-awaited campaign tonight after summer tournament commitments delayed their start. Fresh off a title-winning season that featured an impressive 31 victories, Flick’s side enters the new term with strong momentum. They sharpened their match readiness in mid-August during pre-season friendlies, including a big 5-2 win over FC Basel and a 2-1 success versus Al Ahly to claim the Trofeo Joan Gamper.

Barcelona team news

Barcelona starts the league with notable rotation because of injury and fitness issues across the squad. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong is sidelined with a knee problem, while marquee signing Rodri is unavailable after missing training.

Key attackers Pedri, Gavi, and Dani Olmo are not at full match fitness and are expected to begin the game on the bench.

With Robert Lewandowski having left the club, teenager Hamza Abdelkarim looks set to lead the line after an eye-catching pre-season. New wide options Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi could make their debuts alongside Lamine Yamal.

In central areas, youngsters Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart are likely to take on increased responsibility.

At the back, João Cancelo may start from the bench due to limited training time, which would see Alejandro Balde preferred at full-back, while Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martín are slated to form the central pairing ahead of goalkeeper Joan García.

Barcelona predicted lineup

Possible Barcelona starting XI: J Garcia; E Garcia, Christensen, Martin, Balde; Espart, Bernal; Yamal, Raphinha, Gordon; Abdelkarim

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8:30pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

How to watch Elche vs Barcelona?

For viewers in the UK, the Elche CF vs FC Barcelona match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.

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Hansi Flick’s Barcelona will face Elche in their opening La Liga fixture of the season on Sunday.

Barcelona will aim to start the season on a strong note while Elche, who have already started their La Liga season with a draw against Deportivo a Coruna, will look to get a positive result against the defending champions.

Elche vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news

Date: Sunday, 23rd August.
Kick-off: 8:30pm BST.
Venue: Estadio Manuel Martinez Valerio, Elche.

Elche team news

Elche CF prepares to host the Catalan giants with a few notable absences of their own.

Manager Martín Anselmi will be forced to cope without winger Yago Santiago, who is out with a knee injury, and forward Adam Boayar, who is sidelined with a muscle strain.

Midfielder Grady Diangana and attacker Abiel Osorio remain major doubts as they nurse minor knocks ahead of kickoff.

Elche is expected to set up defensively to contain Barcelona’s new-look attack. Anselmi will likely employ a compact five-man defensive line featuring Victor Chust and Federico Redondo.

Midfield duties will fall heavily on Marc Aguado and Martim Neto to disrupt possession, while summer signing Fer Niño is tasked with leading the line upfront to exploit counter-attacking opportunities.

Barcelona team news

FC Barcelona kicks off its La Liga season under Hansi Flick with significant squad rotation due to injuries and fitness concerns.

Midfielder Frenkie de Jong remains sidelined with a knee injury, while new blockbuster signing Rodri is ruled out after missing training.

Key stars Pedri, Gavi, and Dani Olmo are not yet at full match fitness and will likely start on the bench.

Following Robert Lewandowski’s departure, teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim is poised to lead the attack after a stellar pre-season.

New winger additions Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi are available for their debuts alongside Lamine Yamal.

In midfield, teenagers Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart are expected to step up. Defensively, João Cancelo may drop to the bench for Alejandro Balde due to limited training, leaving Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martín to anchor the backline ahead of goalkeeper Joan García.

Form

Elche

Elche CF enters this fixture seeking consistency under new manager Martín Anselmi. They opened their La Liga campaign on Monday with a dominant but frustrating 1-1 away draw against newly-promoted Deportivo La Coruña. Despite controlling the statistics, they relied on a 75th-minute equalizer from Marc Aguado. Looking further back, Elche boasts a robust seven-game unbeaten home league streak at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, proving difficult to break down on their own turf.

Barcelona

Defending champions FC Barcelona make their highly anticipated season debut tonight. Delayed by summer tournament commitments, Hansi Flick’s side carries great momentum into the new term after securing a staggering 31 wins to claim the title last season. The Blaugrana sharp-tuned their preparations in mid-August with strong pre-season friendly showings, including a high-scoring 5-2 victory over FC Basel and a 2-1 win against Al Ahly to lift the Trofeo Joan Gamper.

Predicted lineups

Elche: Dituro; Chust, Redondo, Affengruber; Sangare, Villar, Aguado, Valera; Houary, Nino, Cepeda

Barcelona: J Garcia; E Garcia, Christensen, Martin, Balde; Espart, Bernal; Yamal, Raphinha, Gordon; Abdelkarim

How to watch Elche vs Barcelona?

In the UK, you can watch the Elche CF vs. FC Barcelona match live on Premier Sports 1.

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PSG kick off their Ligue 1 campaign away at Rennes on Sunday at Roazhon Park.

The reigning champions arrive after mixed early results. PSG began August on a high by winning the UEFA Super Cup, beating Aston Villa 2–1, but their momentum stalled with a 1–0 loss to RC Lens in the Trophée des Champions. Over their last five games the team has recorded two wins, two draws and one defeat, leaving manager Luis Enrique keen to find more consistency in domestic play.

PSG team news

Enrique starts the title defence with a deep and mostly fit squad, though he must adapt tactically because of an early suspension in defence.

Left-back Nuno Mendes is sidelined after receiving a red card in the Trophée des Champions, so new signing Lucas Digne is expected to step in.

Captain Marquinhos returns to the starting lineup to lead the defence alongside Willian Pacho.

In midfield João Neves has completed his return to full training after being rested and is fully available for selection.

Up front there is a slight uncertainty: Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye could be absent while transfer talks with Liverpool continue. Aside from those contract matters, Enrique can rely on an otherwise very healthy squad.

PSG predicted lineup

Possible PSG starting XI: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Digne; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fernandez; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 7:45pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

How to watch Rennes vs PSG?

In the UK, the Rennes vs PSG match is available to stream live via the Ligue 1+ service and Amazon PPV.

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PSG begins their new season of Ligue 1 with a match against Rennes on Sunday as they travels to Roazhon Park.

Luis Enrique’s men will be looking to bounce from their Super Cup defeat against Lens and start their Ligue 1 campaign on a strong note.

Rennes vs PSG – Match preview and team news

Date: Sunday, 23rd August.
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
Venue: Roazhon Park, Rennes.

Rennes team news

Stade Rennais F.C. enters their opening fixture at Roazhon Park dealing with specific selection limitations in both their defensive and midfield departments.

Manager Franck Haise must reconfigure his central progression because midfielder Mahdi Camara is suspended for this match.

Further complicating their depth, backup goalkeeper Nicolas Lemaitre remains sidelined with a lingering injury.

On a more positive note, midfielder Adrien Thomasson is fully fit and could make his competitive debut for the club following his summer arrival.

PSG team news

Paris Saint-Germain kicks off their Ligue 1 title defence under manager Luis Enrique with a deep, largely healthy squad, though tactical adjustments are required due to an early-season defensive suspension.

Left-back Nuno Mendes is unavailable, serving a disciplinary ban after receiving a red card during the Trophée des Champions defeat against Lens.

New signing Lucas Digne is poised to fill this defensive vacancy. Meanwhile, captain Marquinhos returns to the starting eleven to anchor the backline alongside Willian Pacho.

In midfield, João Neves has returned to full training after being rested and is completely available for selection.

The squad faces a minor distraction in attack: forward duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye may sit out due to ongoing transfer negotiations with Liverpool.

Despite these dynamic contract situations, Enrique benefits from an exceptionally clean medical bill across the rest of the squad.

Form

Rennes

Stade Rennais F.C. kicks off their campaign determined to address patchy form carried over from their previous sixth-place finish. Their recent stretch consists of an inconsistent three wins and two defeats. Additionally, Franck Haise’s men struggled through their pre-season preparations, slumping to four defeats in seven friendly games. Despite structural inconsistency, they hold a distinct psychological edge from a 3–1 victory over PSG at Roazhon Park.

PSG

Paris Saint-Germain enters the season following a mixed run of early competitive results. The reigning Ligue 1 champions started August brightly by lifting the UEFA Super Cup with a 2–1 victory over Aston Villa. However, their pre-season confidence was checked shortly after by a 1–0 loss to RC Lens in the Trophée des Champions. Having registered two wins, two draws, and a defeat over their last five outings, Luis Enrique’s side searches for domestic consistency.

Predicted lineups

Rennes: Samba; Frankowski, Boudlal, Cresswell, Merlin; Rongier; Al-Taamari, Blas, Thomasson, Soumare; Lepaul

PSG: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Digne; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fernandez; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

How to watch Rennes vs PSG?

You can watch the Rennes vs PSG match live in the UK tonight through the French league’s official streaming services Ligue 1+ and Amazon PPV.

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AC Milan travel to the Stadio Olimpico to open their Serie A season against Torino on Sunday.

The Rossoneri arrive with mixed but exciting form heading into Rúben Amorim’s first competitive match in charge. They ended pre-season on a high with a 4-2 win over Manchester United, though that result came after a heavy 3-0 loss to Chelsea. Milan’s end to last season was inconsistent — they lost seven of their final 13 league games — so making a statement in the opener is a priority.

AC Milan team news

Amorim starts his 2026/27 campaign with some selection problems. Star winger Rafael Leão is out with a recent muscle strain, and forward Santi Giménez is sidelined by an ankle sprain.

Still, club-record signing Gonçalo Ramos is fit and expected to lead the line. New summer signing Mario Gila is available to make his competitive debut, likely joining Strahinja Pavlović in Amorim’s preferred three-man defence.

Samuel Chukwueze looks set to keep his energetic pre-season role as a right wing-back, while veteran Luka Modrić will bring experience and control through midfield as Milan chase a convincing start.

AC Milan predicted lineup

Possible AC Milan starting XI: Maignan; De Winter, Gila, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Saelemaekers; Ramos

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 7:45pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

How to watch Torino vs AC Milan?

In the UK, you can watch Torino vs AC Milan live tonight on TNT Sports 1 or via the DAZN streaming service.

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AC Milan travels away from home and visit the Stadio Olimpico as they meet Torino in their first Serie A match of the season on Sunday.

Torino vs AC Milan – Match preview and team news

Date: Sunday, 23rd August.
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

Torino team news

Torino enters the new season under the guidance of AC Milan club legend Ignazio Abate, who faces his former team with a highly motivated squad.

Il Toro enjoys a relatively healthy roster, though they will miss Faustino Anjorin, Pietro Pellegri, and long-term absentee Duván Zapata.

Striker Giovanni Simeone, who scored the decisive winning goal in that cup tie, is locked in to lead the frontline attack.

Additionally, fans can expect competitive debuts for new signings, including Ajax loanee Kian Fitz-Jim in midfield and Swiss centre-back Eray Cömert in defense.

Abate’s side looks well-prepared to exploit Milan’s defensive adjustments and secure a crucial home result at the Stadio Olimpico.

AC Milan team news

AC Milan kicks off their 2026/27 Serie A campaign under new manager Rúben Amorim, who faces a few selection headaches for this opening fixture.

The Rossoneri will be without star winger Rafael Leão due to a recent muscle strain, while forward Santi Giménez is also sidelined with an ankle sprain.

Despite these absences, excitement is high as club-record signing Gonçalo Ramos is fit and expected to lead the attack.

Fellow summer arrival Mario Gila is also ready to make his competitive debut, slotting into Amorim’s preferred three-man defensive line alongside Strahinja Pavlović.

Tactically, Samuel Chukwueze is set to continue his impressive pre-season role as a dynamic right wing-back. Meanwhile, veteran midfielder Luka Modrić will provide crucial experience and pull the strings in the center of the pitch as Milan aims for a strong start.

Form

Torino

Torino enters the season with solid momentum under Ignazio Abate. They kicked off their competitive campaign with a 1-0 victory over Carrarese in the Coppa Italia, courtesy of a Giovanni Simeone strike. Historically robust at home, Il Toro ended their previous Serie A campaign unbeaten in their last six matches at the Stadio Olimpico (W4, D2). They aim to leverage this formidable home streak to upset the visitors.

AC Milan

AC Milan brings mixed but highly explosive form into Rúben Amorim’s first official match. The Rossoneri wrapped up their pre-season tour with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Manchester United. However, this followed a heavy 3-0 defeat against Chelsea. Looking back at the end of last season, Milan struggled with consistency, dropping seven of their final 13 league games, making a dominant opening statement a top priority.

Predicted lineups

Torino: Mascardi; Comuzzo, Comert, Coco; Pedersen, Fitz-Jim, Gineitis, Cacciamani; Vlasic, Casadei; Simeone

AC Milan: Maignan; De Winter, Gila, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Saelemaekers; Ramos

How to watch Torino vs AC Milan?

You can watch the Torino vs AC Milan match live in the UK tonight on TNT Sports 1 and via the DAZN streaming platform.

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Atletico Madrid is set to face Villarreal in their second La Liga encounter at their home ground on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal – Match preview and team news

Date: Sunday, 23rd August.
Kick-off: 4pm BST.
Venue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid.

Atletico Madrid team news

Diego Simeone faces an intriguing blend of major injury setbacks and exciting personnel returns ahead of today’s clash.

The headline news is the confirmed return of star forward Julián Álvarez, who rejoined training after an extended post-tournament break and is fully fit to spearhead the attack.

However, Atlético Madrid will be without premier striker Alexander Sørloth, who remains completely ruled out due to a persistent muscle injury.

Furthermore, long-term absentee Thomas Lemar and defensive signing Cristian Romero are sidelined with physical ailments.

Simeone is leaning toward a fluid 1-4-1-4-1 tactical setup, anchored by Koke in deep midfield. He faces tough choices on the wings following stunning performances from Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena.

Both players scored off the bench in the 2-0 opening victory against Málaga CF and are pushing aggressively to replace Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz in the starting eleven.

Villarreal team news

Manager Íñigo Pérez brings a nearly full-strength and highly robust squad to the capital, heavily contrasting the injury struggles of their opponents.

Villarreal received a massive boost as reliable defender Juan Foyth has fully recovered from a long-term Achilles injury and has already played the first match.

Key forward Gerard Moreno and central midfielder Santi Comesaña have brushed off minor knocks and are training entirely without restrictions.

Pérez is expected to employ a classic 1-4-4-2 formation, aiming to absorb pressure and hit Atlético on the counter.

The only real tactical dilemma for the Yellow Submarine remains in the central pivot position. Exciting youngster Carlos Maciá has impressed coaching staff in recent sessions, creating a tight battle with the experienced Comesaña to see who will partner Pape Gueye in midfield alongside dangerous wingers Nicolas Pépé and Alberto Moleiro.

Form

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s side enters this match in excellent form after a perfect start to their domestic season. Atlético Madrid comfortably won their opening fixture with a dominant 2-0 home victory against Málaga CF. The team showcased immense depth, with substitutes Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena providing the goals. Capitalizing on strong home momentum from the end of the previous campaign, Los Colchoneros look structurally disciplined and intent on keeping consecutive clean sheets in Madrid.

Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine heads into the capital displaying mixed but highly resilient form under new manager Íñigo Pérez. Villarreal CF started their league campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw away at Racing Santander, impressively fighting back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a point. While their attacking variety remains dangerous, notable defensive vulnerabilities and ongoing struggles.