Chelsea
Frank Lampard has signed for New York City FC, the Major League Soccer franchise have announced.
He left Chelsea at the end of last season after 13 seasons and a club record 211 goals.
The midfielder, 36, becomes New York City FC’s fourth player and second major summer signing following the arrival of David Villa from Atletico Madrid.
Lampard, who has signed a two-year deal with his new club, made 649 appearances for Chelsea since signing from West Ham in 2001. He has played 106 times for England, scoring 29 goals.
He signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues in May 2013 after mulling over a move to Los Angeles Galaxy, who he will now play in opposition from next spring.
New York City FC sporting director Claudio Reyna said Lampard was “one of the greatest players over the last 15 years” and “ticked all the boxes” in terms of a signing.
The move appealed to Lampard, too.
Lampard said: “Why not chose New York City? For me talking about it ticking all the boxes, personally for me it does exactly the same. It’s a very exciting challenge for me in life terms.
Nigeria
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced they are set to begin talks with coach Stephen Keshi over a new contract.
Keshi took over as coach in 2011 and his first contract ended after the World Cup in Brazil. He has since been linked with the vacant South Africa post.
The 52-year-old led Nigeria to the round of 16 in Brazil after guiding the Super Eagles to a third Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa last year.
“The executive committee mandated the technical sub-committee to open channels of communication with Mr. Stephen Keshi with a view to extending his contract, as the NFF is still interested in working with him,” a statement issued by the NFF on Thursday read.
Swansea City
Swansea have announced the signing of Ecuador international Jefferson Montero.
The 24-year-old winger, who started all three of Ecuador’s group games against France, Switzerland and Honduras during the World Cup in Brazil, has agreed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Montero went straight into training with the Swans on Thursday after passing a medical. He has moved to the Liberty Stadium from Mexican club Morelia.
He becomes Swansea’s latest new signing of a busy summer, quickly following Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose move from Spurs was confirmed on Wednesday, while other new arrivals have included ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and former Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis.
FC Basel
Basel have signed former Champions League-winning defender Walter Samuel on a one-year contract.
The 36-year-old Argentina international was a free agent after his nine-year spell at Inter Milan ended last season.
Samuel helped Inter to become European champions in 2010.
Basel have direct entry to the Champions League group stage this season after winning the Swiss title for a fifth straight year.
Basel president Bernhard Heusler said Samuel is “a very experienced player and, at the same time, a great personality.”
Russian Premier League
Torpedo Moscow say the club are close to signing Australia full-back Ivan Franjic.
The 26-year-old has won three Australian A-League titles with his current club Brisbane Roar.
He represented his country at the World Cup in Brazil, but his campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury suffered in the opening 3-1 defeat to Chile.
Torpedo president Alexander Tukmanov was quoted as saying by Russian agency R-Sport that “almost all of the agreements regarding the transfer” have been reached.
Franjic would be the only Australian playing in Russian football after Luke Wilkshire left Dynamo Moscow as a free agent at the end of last season.
The coming season will be Torpedo Moscow’s first in the Russian Premier League
Qatar
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has met with the Emir of Qatar to discuss improving migrant workers’ rights in the 2022 World Cup host nation.
In a statement published late Wednesday, Fifa says they discussed “ongoing reforms of labour rights” at a one-hour meeting.
Unions and rights groups have campaigned to highlight unsafe conditions in Qatar, unpaid salaries and contracts tying workers to employers.
Blatter’s postponed visit, which was not announced in advance, had been planned for May before the Fifa Congress in Brazil.
Blatter praised “Qatar’s commitment to use the 2022 Fifa World Cup to achieve positive social change.”
Fifa says the two leaders “reviewed the achievements accomplished” on projects related to the World Cup.
Later this year, Fifa and Qatar will likely agree to reduce the original 12-stadium plan.
Japan
Japan hasve appointed Mexican Javier Aguirre as the new head coach of the national team.
The Japan Football Association made the appointment on Thursday, with the 55-year-old Aguirre replacing Alberto Zaccheroni, who coached the team to a disappointing group-stage exit at the World Cup.
Aguirre guided Mexico to the round of 16 at the World Cup in 2002 and 2010, and most recently was coach of Spanish club Espanyol last season, with the Barcelona club finishing 14th.
Aguirre’s first task will be to prepare Japan for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia in January, and then qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
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