Craven Cottage stages a first-ever competitive meeting between Fulham and AFC Wimbledon on Thursday, with a place in the Carabao Cup third round at stake.
Fulham enter off the back of a narrow 2-3 defeat to Chelsea on the Premier League's opening weekend, Alvaro Arbeloa's first game in charge, while Wimbledon have gone six matches without a win across all competitions and are yet to score in League One this season.
Wimbledon reached this stage only after Callum Maycock's dramatic 97th-minute equaliser forced a penalty shootout against Newport County, which the Dons went on to win. Fulham, whose 146-year history has never produced a major trophy, reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals last season and will see this competition as a realistic route to silverware. Steven Sessegnon, who began his career at Fulham before moving on, could line up for Wimbledon against his former club.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 20:00 BSTVenue: Craven Cottage
Captain Tom Cairney remains sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected back until later in the autumn. Joachim Andersen is available again having served the final match of a three-game suspension against Chelsea, though Arbeloa may still use the tie to rest him. Several substitutes from the Chelsea game, including Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Muniz, Harrison Reed and Shea Charles, are pushing for starts.

#carabao

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Chelsea welcome Luton Town to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup after making a winning start to the Xabi Alonso era.
The Blues beat west London neighbours Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage to kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season in style.
The failure to qualify for European football last season means Chelsea must now play in the second round of the Carabao Cup for just the third time in the 21st century.
Luton, in the Premier League as recently as 2023/24, have taken four points from their first two League One games of the campaign. They are managed by former ******* nal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

#Chelsea #luton #sporting #carabao

Joao Pedro took just 31 seconds to make a statement about how he is handling the so-called curse of the number nine shirt at Chelsea.
The Brazilian deftly lifted his shot over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to set his side on their way to a dramatic 3-2 win at Craven Cottage in manager Xabi Alonso's first game in charge on Monday.
It was a memorable weekend for Joao Pedro personally, having been handed the coveted number nine shirt and improved financial terms on a new contract that will run until 2034.
It might seem trite, but there is a sizeable group of Chelsea supporters who believe in the so-called curse.
Not since Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink left the club in 2004 have the club had a prolific striker in the number nine shirt.

#shirt #Chelsea #curse

Xabi Alonso came to Craven Cottage hoping for another Premier League first. Twenty-two years earlier, he bagged his first English top-flight goal for Liverpool. Against a former Reds team-mate striving for the same goal in Alvaro Arbeloa, he made another happy memory on his managerial bow.
Most pictured his return to England to come with Liverpool; Chelsea fans already seem grateful he's landed in London. While far from the perfect performance, victory in a five-goal thriller against Fulham brought a lot of encouragement.
A mixture of big spending and summer snubs seems to have forged one of the most dangerous attacking front threes in the league. Morgan Rogers showed signs he was worthy of his £117m price tag. Cole Palmer, with a point to prove after his World Cup omission, suddenly looked like a real problem again after what was, by his standards, a dud of a season. His link-up with Joao Pedro took effect within 31 seconds.
Chelsea's front three stole the show against Fulham (Reuters)
"They are going to be a very important part of the team," recognised Alonso, who now wants the trio's team-mates to reach the level they exhibited on Monday night. "To build [the team] around them, no. To build the team with them. They need to take responsibility, they need to lead the rest, they need to inspire the rest, because if they do great, the other ones will follow.

#goal #need

Xabi Alonso came to Craven Cottage hoping for another Premier League first. Twenty-two years earlier, he bagged his first English top-flight goal for Liverpool. Against a former Reds team-mate striving for the same goal in Alvaro Arbeloa, he made another happy memory on his managerial bow.
Most pictured his return to England to come with Liverpool; Chelsea fans already seem grateful he's landed in London. While far from the perfect performance, victory in a five-goal thriller against Fulham brought a lot of encouragement.
A mixture of big spending and summer snubs seems to have forged one of the most dangerous attacking front threes in the league. Morgan Rogers showed signs he was worthy of his £117m price tag. Cole Palmer, with a point to prove after his World Cup omission, suddenly looked like a real problem again after what was, by his standards, a dud of a season. His link-up with Joao Pedro took effect within 31 seconds.
Chelsea's front three stole the show against Fulham (Reuters)
"They are going to be a very important part of the team," recognised Alonso, who now wants the trio's team-mates to reach the level they exhibited on Monday night. "To build [the team] around them, no. To build the team with them. They need to take responsibility, they need to lead the rest, they need to inspire the rest, because if they do great, the other ones will follow.

#need #Liverpool #fulham #build

Robert Sanchez has cost Chelsea once again, and is very lucky his team have been good at the other end.
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Chelsea are 2-1 up against Fulham after the first half against Fulham at Craven Cottage, but it could have been very different.
The Blues took the lead within 30 seconds with a superb Cole Palmer ****** ist to Joao Pedro, and after that there were a few chances for Xabi Alonso's team to extend their lead.
But just as they got comfortable, the same old villain returned. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez looked nervy on the ball, spreading panic though the defence as usual.

#robert #fulham #lead #cottage

Fulham welcome Chelsea to Craven Cottage in the West London derby this evening, with both sides entering new beginnings on the managerial front.
In July, Fulham announced the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as the new head coach, taking over from Marco Silva, who spent five years at the club and is now at Benfica. Last season, Arbeloa took over Real Madrid from Xabi Alonso, whom he faces in the capital, but ultimately couldn't salvage any silverware for the Spanish giants.
The Cottagers have had a busy summer, with 22-year-old striker Gonzalo Gonzalo García joining the club from Real Madrid for £34 million, along with Cesar Palacios, Shea Charles and Jonah Kusi-Aware. Significant outgoings include Saša Lukić and Issa Diop to recently promoted Ipswich Town, while Harry Wilson left on a free transfer to Leeds United and Raúl Jiménez returned to Wolverhampton in the Championship.
Ahead of the derby under the lights, the Fulham boss spoke to the media, saying, "I know how important that game is for our supporters.
"It's also very important for everyone at the club, for us, for players, for me. It's the first game of the season, the first game at Craven Cottage, so we are ready, we are excited, and of course we can't wait for that game."

#club #cottage #arbeloa

Xabi Alonso will look to begin his Chelsea tenure by claiming local bragging rights as the Blues make the hop to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.
The former Liverpool and Spain midfielder shares the touchline with a fellow Premier League debutant, with Alvaro Arbeloa similarly making his managerial bow in the English top flight with the hosts.
The Blues have spent big once again this summer, headlined by the £117m signing of England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, in a bid to change their fortunes after a dismal 10th-place finish last season.
Fulham, meanwhile, will hope not to regress in a post-Marco Silva era, with Arbeloa hoping to move the team forward with his Real Madrid recruits.
Here's everything you need to know.

#craven

Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Monday night in the opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season, with both clubs fielding a new head coach for the first time.
Fulham and Chelsea finished level on 52 points last term, Chelsea a place above Fulham only on goal difference, and both have since removed their manager: Marco Silva after five years at Craven Cottage, and Liam Rosenior, sacked by Chelsea in April after only three months in charge.
Arbeloa has brought in Real Madrid duo Gonzalo García and César Palacios to help replace the departed Harry Wilson and Raúl Jiménez, while Alonso, who succeeded Rosenior in the summer, has overseen a heavy outlay, including a club-record fee for Morgan Rogers. The two head coaches were teammates for close to a decade at Liverpool and Real Madrid, and will face each other for the first time as Premier League rivals.
Date: Monday, 24 August 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST

#cottage #rosenior

After a productive pre-season schedule drew to a close, Leeds United finally begin the 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a trip to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Last term, the Whites impressed on the return to the top-flight with an outstanding 47 points haul, finishing in 14th place and reaching the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals!
Across the summer, it has been all systems go behind the scenes with United securing the signatures of four very exciting new additions, beginning with Wales international Harry Wilson who joins the club after a stellar season last time out with Fulham that saw him crowned Player of the Year at Craven Cottage.
Then, commanding central defender Tarik Muharemović arrived from Sassuolo before England international James Trafford made the switch on a club-record deal from Manchester City. Further experience was added at the back through Borussia Mönchengladbach's Nico Elvedi.
After an enjoyable tour of the US, Daniel Farke's side have beaten Bundesliga outfits RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Elland Road, as well as drawing with rivals Manchester United at Dublin's Croke Park.

#united #manchester #last #leeds

MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Eagles will open the season at home on Aug. 27 against Ohio Dominican. With just over a week between media day and kickoff, Morehead State is quickly shifting its focus to the regular season.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways from media day.
QB1 battle
The competition at quarterback remains ongoing.
With the graduation of Carter Cravens, Morehead State entered the offseason searching for its next starter. Bryce Patterson appears to be the leading candidate.

#morehead #Media #Eagles #here

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge with the Blues. Portuguese giants Benfica have registered their interest in signing Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, according to Nizaar Kinsella.
The move would pave the way for a reunion with Benfica head coach Marco Silva, who previously managed Adarabioyo during a productive three-year spell at Fulham.
Under Silva at Craven Cottage, the 28-year-old established himself as a reliable, ball-playing Premier League defender, making nearly 100 appearances before joining Chelsea on a free transfer in summer 2024.
Having seen Adarabioyo excel in his tactical system, Silva sees his former centre-back as an ideal replacement for Antonio Silva, who recently joined Bournemouth.
Chelsea have received initial interest from Benfica regarding Adarabioyo's availability. With less than two years on his current contract, Chelsea's decision-makers are carefully evaluating their position.

#benfica #back

Fulham have announced the signing of Northern Ireland international Shea Charles on a five-year deal.
The 22-year-old joins the club from Southampton in a deal reported to be worth an initial £26 million with the potential of a further £6 million in add-ons.
Charles initially came through the Manchester City academy before joining the Saints in the summer of 2023. In total, the midfielder played two seasons with the club, playing 76 games and scoring six goals – all of which came last season. He also spent the 2024/25 campaign away on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
"I'm buzzing to finally get it over the line," Charles said on his arrival at Craven Cottage. "The Club has got a really good foundation, from the bottom to the top really.
"It's a great club, with a really good vision – the Manager explained that to me. To be here is a massive privilege.

#million #fulham

Fulham have confirmed the signing of Southampton midfielder Shea Charles in a deal worth up to £30m.
The 22-year-old becomes the most expensive Northern Ireland footballer of all-time after signing a five year contract at Craven Cottage.
The fee consists of a £26m fee up front with a potential further £6m in performance-related add-ons.
Charles, who started his career at Manchester City, also attracted interest from Leeds United but has opted to move to west London to replace Sasa Lukic following the Serbia international's £9m move to Ipswich Town last week.
"I'm buzzing to finally get it over the line. The club has got a really good foundation, from the bottom to the top really," Charles told the club's official website.

#fulham

In a recent report, Fichajes revealed that Manchester United have set their sights on Fulham midfielder Sander Berge. It has been mentioned that the Red Devils have identified the Norwegian midfielder as a target for this transfer window.
Berge enjoyed a good run of form at the London club in the previous campaign when he put in a string of impressive displays for them in the middle of the park. The Norway international played in 35 league matches for Fulham last season but failed to score or create a goal for them.
The 28-year-old is currently among the most talented central midfielders in the Premier League. Thus, he would be a welcome addition to Man United's squad this summer.
His current contract at Craven Cottage will expire in the summer of 2029, so the Red Devils would have to make a convincing offer if they want to recruit him later this year.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Sander Berge #8 of Norway celebrates after the 2-1 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 05, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

#devils

Luis Figo has implored Gianni Infantino to resign as pressure mounts on the much-criticised Fifa president following his foiled attempts to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Infantino was forced to abandon his plans – namely to sell stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa tournaments to private investors – after public uproar last week, with Uefa confirming a boycott of Fifa events if the plan was voted through.
On Tuesday, Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein accused Infantino of "blackmail" and, under immense pressure, the Fifa boss has called a meeting with senior leaders of world football's governing body on Wednesday.
Real Madrid and Portugal legend Figo, who stood to be Fifa president in 2015 before withdrawing prior to the election won by Sepp Blatter (who made way for Infantino a year later), has now branded the various actions of Infantino as the "lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed" in a stinging column for the Daily Mail.
Figo, who works as an adviser for Uefa, said: "I could write 10,000 words on the problems at Fifa. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go.

#pressure

Portugal great Luis Figo has said embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino must go in a blistering op-ed in the Daily Mail.
Figo did not hold back on Infantino, who has been under fire due to his abandoned effort to bring private investment into the structure of the World Cup.
"What I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behavior I have ever witnessed," Figo said of Infantino's push to lure in outside investors.
Infantino has been heavily criticized not only for the plan itself, but the secretive way he conceived the idea.
FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said last week that the controversial proposal was "the project of one person."

#infantino

Former World Footballer of the Year Luis Figo has joined the criticism on FIFA president Gianni Infantino and wants him out immediately in the wake of a World Cup investor plan.
"I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go," the Portugal legend Figo wrote for British paper Daily Mail.
"I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game. But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed."
The column on Wednesday came the same day that Infantino has reportedly summoned FIFA executives to Morocco for an emergency meeting in the wake of a massive backlash on the investor issue which FIFA announced last week Tuesday and then withdrew early Saturday.
UEFA, which threatened to boycott FIFA events if the plans had become reality, has said it has lost confidence in Infantino and FIFA and is "actively considering" legal action.

#fifa #figo #last #former

Luis Figo has implored Gianni Infantino to resign as pressure mounts on the much-criticised Fifa president following his foiled attempts to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Infantino was forced to abandon his plans – namely to sell stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa tournaments to private investors – after public uproar last week, with Uefa confirming a boycott of Fifa events if the plan was voted through.
On Tuesday, Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein accused Infantino of "blackmail" and, under immense pressure, the Fifa boss has called a meeting with senior leaders of world football's governing body on Wednesday.
Real Madrid and Portugal legend Figo, who stood to be Fifa president in 2015 before withdrawing prior to the election won by Sepp Blatter (who made way for Infantino a year later), has now branded the various actions of Infantino as the "lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed" in a stinging column for the Daily Mail.
Figo, who works as an adviser for Uefa, said: "I could write 10,000 words on the problems at Fifa. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go.

#figo #World #pressure #stakes

Earlier this week, Real Madrid finalise the double sale of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios to Premier League side Fulham. Both players have reunited with ex-Los Blancos head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, and they may not be only players to swap the Bernabeu for Craven Cottage this summer.
It's no surprise that Arbeloa has expressed strong interest in several Real Madrid players. He's already landed Gonzalo and Palacios, but he has already eyed up further stars that he could be reunited with at Fulham, with one of them being midfielder Thiago Pitarch.
Fulham have been linked with Pitarch in recent weeks, but that was before the teenager suffered an injury that will sideline him until September. However, this has not deterred Arbeloa, with El Larguero reporting that a move will soon be made by the London club.
If Real Madrid manage to get a deal done for Rodri, it would be extremely difficult for Pitarch to get any minutes during the 2026-27 season. Thus, it makes sense for an exit to be sought now, although it has been complicated by his injury.
Nevertheless, if it is indeed true that Fulham are prepared to go for Pitarch now, it would make sense for Real Madrid to let him go – as long as a deal is agreed that sees them retain a significant sell-on clause and/or a buy-back option, given that he could very well go to another level in the Premier League. He will be playing under a manager that knows him well, so there is every chance that he does get better and better.

#palacios #league

Erskine Rennie, leaves Celtic to join Fulham. Photo social media
Yet another young Celtic prospect has been lured by the riches and fame on offer down south, leaving us all wondering if it’s possible to actually keep hold of our up and coming young talent, at least long enough for them to make any sort of impact on the first team.
The latest youngster to make the move is talented 16 year old winger Erskine Rennie, who decided to join Fulham ahead of a host of fellow EPL sides, with some European clubs also said to have been interested in the Scottish youth international.
Football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted the news on his social media account on X, as he revealed the youngster committed to a long term contract at Craven Cottage, with Celtic receiving a compensation sum of just £100,000.
The teenager’s move comes hot on the heels of his fellow youth colleague Dara Jikiemi’s move to Liverpool and leaves us all wondering if the exodus of our most promising prospects will ever end.

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Not everything your clients hear on the pickleball court is true.
Social Security grabs a lot of headlines with warnings of looming benefit cuts and trust fund insolvency. Financial advisors also talk a lot about the program and the importance of clients' claiming decisions. Less attention, however, is devoted to Medicare, according to Cole Craven, co-founder of the health care cost ****** ysis and planning platform Move Health. That gap is often filled by Medicare myths and misconceptions that mislead retirees making coverage decisions, potentially resulting in excess costs or subpar coverage. It could be a chance for advisors to provide added value to clients.
"You've got the opportunity to save clients a lot of money and headaches and look like an absolute superhero, but most advisors steer clear of healthcare planning in general," Craven said.
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Leeds United have completed the signing of Wales international Harry Wilson on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Fulham.
The 29-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Elland Road, becoming Leeds' first arrival of the summer as they strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Wilson leaves Fulham after five impressive seasons in west London, where he made 187 appearances, scoring 36 goals and providing 41 ******* ists. He enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his career last season, registering 10 Premier League goals and seven ******* ists in 36 appearances, earning Fulham's Player of the Season award.
Leeds had previously attempted to sign Wilson during the 2025 summer transfer window, but the move collapsed on deadline day after the paperwork was not completed in time. They have now finally secured the winger's signature after he turned down the opportunity to extend his stay at Craven Cottage.
A product of Liverpool's academy, Wilson also enjoyed loan spells at Hull City, Derby County, Bournemouth and Cardiff City before joining Fulham in a £12 million deal in 2021.

New Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa is best known in England for his impressive two-year spell at Liverpool as a player before returning to Real Madrid for a seven-year stint and ending his career with a season at West Ham.
He earned 56 caps for Spain and was part of arguably the greatest team in their history, which won two European Championships and the World Cup in consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2012.
Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa played together for seven consecutive years at club level and even longer with the national team - and now they will face each other in rival dugouts in their Premier League opener at Craven Cottage on Monday, 24 August.
Jose Mourinho signed the pair from Liverpool in the same summer both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka joined Real to help them compete with a dominant Barcelona side managed by Pep Guardiola.
Such was the closeness of the two that they went on holiday and spent time together away from the pitch. One well-placed source in Spain said that one replacing the other at the Bernabeu in January was initially awkward.

New Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa is keen on bringing some of his former Real Madrid players to Craven Cottage, including attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia.
Mastantuono is available on loan, although it is understood competition for his signature includes at least 12 clubs across Europe, while Fran Garcia is could be sold following Real's signing of left-back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
As for Gonzalo Garcia, the La Liga giants are expected to take him on their pre-season tour, although he could become available later in the window.
All three players have great relationships with Arbeloa.
The Spaniard, who has signed a three-year contract at Fulham, led Real for the last 28 games of 2025-26 as they finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich.

A new Premier League manager announced late on Tuesday evening.
An official Fulham statement revealing that Alvaro Arbeloa now has the job.
With the Premier League season kicking off in only six weeks time, Fulham finally appointing their successor to Marco Silva.
The official Fulham statement beginning: ‘The Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as the new Head Coach of Fulham. The 43-year-old has agreed a three-year deal, tying him to Craven Cottage until the summer of 2029. Following a trophy-laden playing career, Arbeloa’s coaching journey has been forged at arguably the biggest side in the world, starting with Real Madrid’s youth sides before taking charge of the senior team last season.’
Alvaro Arbeloa declaring: “It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London. I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League. I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together. Come on Fulham!”

Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed Fulham manager after his departure from Real Madrid at the end of last season.
Arbeloa, 43, succeeds Marco Silva in the Craven Cottage dugout after the Portuguese coach left at the end of his contract, opting to join Benfica rather than pen a new deal.
It acts as a return to the Premier League for the former Spain international, who two years at Liverpool during his playing days before finishing his career at West Ham.
“It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London,” Arbeloa said.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to Mr (Shahid) Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as Fulham’s new head coach on a three-year contract.
The 43-year-old former Spain full-back, who finished last season in charge of his long-time club Real Madrid, succeeds Marco Silva after the Portuguese coach departed for Benfica at the end of his contract.
He said: “It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to Mr (Shahid) Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.
“I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans.”

Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach, with the former Real Madrid manager signing a three-year contract at Craven Cottage.
The 43-year-old replaces Marco Silva, who left the west London club to take charge of Benfica after five years in charge of the Cottagers. Fulham had explored several candidates during their search, including Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna, before turning to the Spaniard.
Arbeloa arrives after a brief spell in charge of Real Madrid's first team. Initially promoted from the club's academy setup on an interim basis following Xabi Alonso's departure, he oversaw the final 28 matches of the season, guiding Los Blancos to a second-place finish in La Liga before their Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals.
The former Liverpool, West Ham and Real Madrid defender is no stranger to English football, having enjoyed successful spells in the Premier League during his playing career. Reports suggest his appointment was backed by strong recommendations from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and José Mourinho, who recently returned to the Spanish giants.
Speaking to the club's media team, Arbeloa said: "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London. I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

The day the WNBA truly arrives is the day a foul is a foul. Not an inciting event for troll armadas to threaten the people involved. Not an inspiration for craven pundits and politicians to use players as divisive avatars. Not even a reason for teams or coaches to fire blowtorches at each other. When everyone understands it’s all pretty much just basketball, it’ll all be pretty much just fine.
That day is not this day. There’s acid all over what should be a celebratory 30th anniversary season because, apparently, no one can process trash-talking and technical fouls and the occasional fist-to-throat as anything but a cultural reckoning. Death threats and doxxing and a siege on leadership — or lack thereof — are the discourse. Not, you know, wins and losses. A sport gone mad, in every sense.
Let’s go ahead and bring the temperature down. Way, way, way down. Throw the 2026 WNBA season into an ice bath and start reasonably appraising what is happening before our eyes. This is a game played and coached by competitive, passionate people. A game with ****** le intent and some obvious flaws. All true. But … it’s still a game. It would be great if everyone, including many people in the game itself, could keep that front of mind.
In sum, the lid blew off last week after the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury faced each other twice. During the first game, the Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner got tangled up, said some unkind things, and five players wound up with technical fouls in the aftermath. During the second game, the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas – among those T’d up in the first meeting – wound up on top of Clark during a loose-ball scramble and then propped herself up using Clark’s neck. The officiating crew missed it in real-time, somehow. The league subsequently hit Thomas with a retroactive flagrant foul and one-game suspension.
In a world populated by people who have watched basketball games before, that could have been that. Should have been that. Even if it involved a player as intensely adored as Caitlin Clark. This was competitors at each other’s throats – sure, literally so is a bit much – and variously penalized for it. Maybe throw in a round of sports-yeller commentary, and then it evaporates. Move along. Nothing to see here but the same kind of occasionally rugged moment we’ve seen in sports for as long as sports have existed.