There isn’t a job in football that comes under more scrutiny than that of a referee. Whether it’s jeers from the stands, managers from the dugout or players within touching distance, criticism is often everywhere to be seen no matter the reason for certain decisions. And that’s even been the case for some of the best referees to step foot in English football.

"Sir Alex gave me the hairdryer treatment!" – Peter Walton reveals the life of a Premier League referee

Read our exclusive chat with former Premier League referee Peter Walton.

ByBen Goodwin Apr 2, 2025

Mark Clattenburg is considered one of those. The 50-year-old took charge of some of the biggest games that both English and European football has to offer during his 11-year spell in the centre circle, including the Champions League final in 2016.

Since then, he hasn’t been afraid to reveal all about the career of an experienced referee, telling stories about arguments with Jurgen Klopp and even taking aim at current PGMOL head chief Howard Webb.

Clattenburg also isn’t the first ex-Premier League referee to be so open about his career. Graham Scott recently appeared on talkSPORT to speak about the frustrations of VAR and why he felt sorry after ruling out Alexis Mac Allister’s wonder goal a few years ago.

He said: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”

Now, Clattenburg has explained a regret of his own and one that left Everton boss David Moyes fuming several years ago.

Clattenburg: I got Everton decision "completely wrong"

Speaking on the Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast, Clattenburg revealed he got one Everton decision “completely wrong” in the 2007 Merseyside derby. The referee sent off two Everton players that day, with one being Tony Hibbert and the other being Phil Neville, which sparked fury from Moyes.

Clattenburg also failed to award the Toffees a late penalty when Jamie Carragher hauled Joleon Lescott to the ground, which he has now admitted was the wrong decision as the Red went on to seal victory.

Moyes was left incredibly frustrated after the game and told reporters: “You wonder whether they allow themselves to be influenced by the top four. Didn’t Clattenburg go to Hong Kong with Liverpool for the Asia Cup this summer? Maybe he wants to be their friend.”

Manchester United supporters very much enjoyed Grimsby Town's downfall as the League Two side crashed out of the Carabao Cup after losing 5-0 against Brentford on Tuesday. Grimsby fans were on cloud nine only a couple of months ago after they dumped the Red Devils out of the competition following an epic penalty shootout win over the Premier League giants. Goalkeeper Andre Onana in particular had a nightmare outing and was later loaned out to Turkey.

Getty Images SportGrimsby stunned Man Utd in round two

United made a sloppy start to the 2025-26 campaign as they lost their opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal and before being held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham. However, things became worse after their Carabao Cup second fixture against Grimsby as they played out a 2-2 draw against the fourth-tier and then were dumped out after a 12-11 loss in the penalty shootout.

Onana had a nightmare game and the loss prompted United to act swiftly in the transfer market as the Cameroonian was loaned out to Turkish Super Lig giants Trabzonspor, while Senne Lammens was signed from Royal Antwerp on deadline day.

AdvertisementThe reaction on social media

United fans were mocked and humiliated after their club's exit from the Carabao Cup. But some supporters of the Red Devils decided to get their own back on Grimsby after they were beaten 5-0 by Brentford.

@Lasha_069 wrote on X: "But you have won your “win against Manchester United” trophy already…idiots…Grimsby will always stay as Grimsby and no one ever will remember it’s name…"

A use with the handle @ZirzkeeSzn11 posted: "Out you go hahahahaha bye bye."

@Deen__K wrote: "You never see anything, fools."

@eyebee_art could not stop laughing as the post read: "Let's all laugh at Grimsby town fc" and then several laughing emojis.

A fan named @utd_BigC wrote: "Not only down. You'll perish."

Grimsby coach took a dig at Man Utd ahead of Brentford clash

Ahead of the Brentford clash in the League, Grimsby boss David Artell had taken yet another dig at the Red Devils as he claimed that the Bees would make for a much tougher opponent than Ruben Amorim's side. Artell said in his pre-match press conference: "I don’t want loads of letters from Manchester United fans from Kenya or Norway – or Stretford – but I think they’re still in that process of finding their way again. Brentford are fully in, fully understanding. That makes it so much more difficult. I think everyone agrees that Man United are still – maybe not in transition per se – but finding their way under a new manager that needs to be given time."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPHas Carabao Cup loss helped Man Utd?

A lot has happened since the fateful night at Blundell Park. While United still struggled in the next few games, they have finally managed to regain form as they are now on a three-game winning streak in the Premier League. The Carabao Cup exit may been seen as a sort of blessing in disguise for the Red Devils as they got even more time to prepare for their Premier League games on the training ground, having not qualified for European football this season. Manager Amorim even admitted after beating Brighton – who had won on their last three visits to Old Trafford – that his side were starting to benefit from that added preparation time.

United have the chance to win a fourth consecutive league game for the first time since February 2024 when they take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday in Sean Dyche's first Premier League home match in charge at the City Ground.

MatériaMais Notícias

Fundado no dia 26 de agosto de 1914, o Palmeiras colecionou e vem colecionando títulos e mais títulos ao longo dos 109 anos de sua história. Campeão paulista neste ano, o Verdão ainda pode alcançar mais uma conquista nesta temporada: a Libertadores. Buscando sua quarta taça da competição continental, o Alviverde quer adicionar mais um troféu a sua gloriosa trajetória. Mas afinal, quais são os maiores títulos da história do Palmeiras?

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasTécnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira não deve ser punido pelo STJD por insinuação de ‘roubo’Palmeiras22/09/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras não consegue voltar para São Paulo e treina em Porto Alegre após derrota para o GrêmioPalmeiras22/09/2023PalmeirasAbel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, é denunciado pela Associação Brasileira de ÁrbitrosPalmeiras22/09/2023

+ Palmeiras perde invencibilidade e baliza zero às vésperas de decisão na Libertadores

O Palmeiras é o maior campeão nacional, com 11 conquistas do Campeonato Brasileiro (incluindo a Taça Brasil de 1967). Além disso, o Verdão é o terceiro clube com mais títulos da Copa do Brasil, com quatro (1998, 2012, 2015 e 2020) – assim como o Flamengo. O Alviverde está atrás apenas do Grêmio, com cinco, e do Cruzeiro, maior campeão do torneio com seis troféus.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

Quando o assunto é Libertadores, o Verdão já conquistou três taças (1999, 2020 e 2021) – empatado com Flamengo, São Paulo, Santos e Grêmio (do Brasil). Em caso de título nesta temporada, o Palmeiras chegará ao tetracampeonato e se isolará como o time brasileiro com mais troféus da competição continental. Veja abaixo os maiores títulos da história do Alviverde:

continua após a publicidade

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoCopa do BrasilLibertadoresPalmeiras

Eighteen years spent in the belief that (this year the cup is ours), 17 of them ending in wretched disappointment for one of the IPL’s biggest and most passionate fan bases, three of them ending with defeat at the final hurdle.Eighteen seasons in, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are finally IPL champions. Their victory in their fourth final came at the expense of another trophy-less team that had put together a heartwarming IPL 2025 campaign; it wasn’t to be for Punjab Kings (PBKS), but their time will surely come too.It’s a sign of how far T20 has come that 190 beating 184 was a bowler-dominated game. PBKS did brilliantly to restrict RCB to 190 after sending them in, but RCB’s bowlers did even better, with Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal – who have all won IPL titles at other teams – bringing their experience and nous to play on an unusual Ahmedabad surface.The margin of victory was narrow – six runs – and while it showed how closely matched these two teams have been over the season, it was also deceptive. Shashank Singh, who finished on an unbeaten 30-ball 61, hit Josh Hazlewood for 6, 4, 6, 6 to end the match and the season. But those hits came just a touch too late; PBKS went into the final over needing 29, and Hazlewood had started with a pair of dots that all but ended the contest mathematically.2:28

Aaron: Kohli has been king of the castle for 18 years

18th time lucky for No. 18

At the end of it, all eyes were on one man, the man with 18 on his back. Like his innings in last year’s T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli’s 43 in this game seemed at various points like it belonged to another era, too risk-averse, and likely to set his team a below-par total. But there were clues throughout his knock that this wasn’t the sort of pitch that Ahmedabad has rolled out routinely this season, where 196 had been the smallest first-innings total in eight games. He had struggled especially to generate power with his pull shot, with the PBKS seamers generating tennis-ball bounce when they bowled into the pitch.A target of 191, for all that, seemed too small for a PBKS line-up that had gunned down 204 with an over to spare at the same ground two days previously. But this pitch was different, and it didn’t necessarily ease up through the second innings. Between them, two of PBKS’ brightest batting talents outdid Kohli’s struggles: where Kohli scored 43 off 35 balls, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera scored 41 off 40 between them.2:38

Aaron: Patidar a huge factor in RCB’s title win

Krunal bends another final to his will

Krunal has won three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians (MI), and was Player of the Match in one of them. That was for what he did with the bat.This time, he came in to bat in the 18th over and holed out for 4 off 5. This time, he turned the match with the ball.The final was on a knife edge when he came on. PBKS were 52 for 1 at the end of their powerplay; RCB had been 55 for 1 at the same stage.Krunal’s first over contained most of the ingredients that made him so difficult to hit on this pitch, which had just enough natural variation of pace and turn to make him hard to line up. He bowled fast and into the pitch, either angling the ball into the right-handers’ leg stump and cramping them for room or firing it wide of off stump to offer a single to sweeper cover that they didn’t particularly want. Only three runs came off this over.His next over brought in another dimension: the ability to spot the batter’s intentions and change his pace at the last moment. Seeing the struggling Prabhsimran charge at him, Krunal – whose usual pace hovers in the 98-101kph range – dangled an 80kph ball outside his eyeline. Wrenched out of shape, Prabhsimran skewed a catch to point.2:06

Aaron: Iyer ‘one of the best captains in the IPL’

Iyer and Inglis fall at the wrong times for PBKS

Go back to November 19, 2023. Shreyas Iyer had been in red-hot form through that ODI World Cup, and had played the innings of India’s semi-final win. Then, in the final, he had fallen early, caught behind off a back-of-a-length delivery.The same script played out all over again now, more or less. Where he had poked uncertainly at Pat Cummins two years ago, he top-edged an attempted slash through point, off Romario Shepherd. It was a massive inflection point in this game, leaving PBKS needing 112 off 62 balls.They were still in with more than a shout, though, because of their batting depth, and because Josh Inglis was playing a blinder. On this pitch where the short or shortish ball wasn’t coming onto the bat at anything like a predictable pace or height, he was playing the pull like a man in a dream. He scored 33 off 10 pulls, against pace and spin, hitting one four and four sixes.At 39, however, he looked to step out and launch Krunal over long-on, and didn’t quite find either the power or elevation to do so. At that point, with PBKS needing 93 off 47, it seemed all but over.2:03

Do titles alone define a team’s legacy?

Too late for a Shashank Redemption

Shashank had started his season at the same ground, and hit five fours in a now iconic final over, leaving his captain, on 97, without the strike.He ended it with another burst of brilliance, keeping PBKS hanging on by their fingernails even as the required rate kept climbing. He hit Hazlewood for two sixes in the 16th over, and kept the equation within the bounds of possibility: 55 off 24. Then, with the rest of PBKS’ batters and genuine allrounders back in the hut, he refused singles and kept the strike all through the 19th over, hitting Bhuvneshwar for a six and a four to bring it to 29 off the last six balls.It wasn’t to be, but the explosion at the finish, when the match was done, showed how much closer PBKS could have come if things had gone just a little differently.Virat Kohli and silverware make quite the striking pair•BCCI

Jitesh plays a crucial hand

Through most of RCB’s innings, it felt difficult to pin down whether they were going a touch too slow on a flat pitch or laying a strong platform on a slow one. While Kohli did his thing at one end, his top-order colleagues kept falling just when they were looking threatening, with Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone scoring 66 off 43 between them. All three fell to Kyle Jamieson, who used the slower legcutter to telling effect, either getting it to die on the batter from shorter lengths or dip disconcertingly when he went full.Jamieson, Azmatullah Omarzai and Vijaykumar Vyshak all hammered away on a hard length, and RCB couldn’t quite find a way to attack that length until Jitesh Sharma walked in. His 24 off 10 balls was a crucial little cameo in the end, featuring a flat-batted six over cover when he exposed all his stumps to create room, and a scooped six over his head, hit while chest-on to the bowler, Jamieson.Jitesh’s innings threatened to take RCB past 200, but their ambitions were nipped in the bud by Vyshak, who dismissed Jitesh while conceding just five runs in the 18th over, and Arshdeep Singh, who found the reverse-swing that allowed him to go full and attack the stumps in a three-wicket final over that cost PBKS just five runs.

England batter Tammy Beaumont will return to Strikers for the first time in seven years

Alex Malcolm19-Jun-2025

Sydney Sixers produced a shock in the WBBL overseas draft by taking England batter Sophia Dunkley with the No.1 pick which left long-time Sixers overseas Sophie Ecclestone available for Adelaide Strikers at pick No.2.There was a lot of uncertainty heading into the WBBL draft after Melbourne Renegades lost star pre-signing Hayley Matthews to a shoulder injury while Hobart Hurricanes announced they had pre-signed star England allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt on draft day.A number of clubs were chasing top-order batting talent in the draft including Sixers who had the number one pick. Ecclestone, the world’s No.1 T20 bowler, had previously played two seasons with Sixers including last season. But Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said the need for a top-order batter forced their hand with the first pick.”Sophie Ecclestone has been an incredible player,” Haynes told ESPNCricinfo. “It was really tough to let her go through the draft. But I think the last couple of seasons, our reflection as a club has been that our batting has been short, and the numbers certainly show that.”We definitely looked locally to try and address that. But the next option is at the draft, and so really excited we’re able to secure Sophia Dunkley.”A lot of clubs were unsure of what each would do in the opening round and Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers attempted to flush out some retention picks in the opening round.Related

MCG and SCG won't host WBBL games as Stadium Series is shelved for now

All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2025-26 season

Wolvaardt signs two-year WBBL deal with Adelaide Strikers

Hayley Matthews to miss next WBBL because of shoulder surgery

Stars tried to get India batter Jemimah Rodrigues with pick No.3 but Heat used their retention pick. They then tried to get England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge but Hurricanes retained her.Stars finally landed in-form England wicketkeeper bat Amy Jones. Perth Scorchers had the right to retain but opted not to. Scorchers tried to poach Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin but Sydney Thunder and Renegades both used their retention picks immediately.Scorchers then used the final pick in the opening round on pre-signing Sophie Devine to lock her in at the platinum price.Most of the second round featured pre-signed players but Scorchers made a slight surprise in picking fringe England batter Paige Scholfield in the second round at the gold price. Scorchers also picked up South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon, who will play for her fourth WBBL club after previously playing for Hurricanes, Sixers and Thunder.Thunder were thrilled to get South Africa quick Shabnim Ismail in the final round to walk away with arguably the strongest overseas trios, having claimed Knight as a retention and pre-signed Chamari Athapaththu.England batter Tammy Beaumont will return to Strikers for the first time in seven years having played 27 matches for them between 2016 and 2018. She has since played for Renegades and Thunder.Renegades were the only club not to take three players in the draft. The injury to pre-signing Matthews allows them to make another signing at a later date although they can only recruit a player who had nominated for the draft but was not selected.”We were at a distinct disadvantage,” Renegades coach Simon Helmot said. “We were the only team not to have a pre-signed player. But the allowance then was we only need to pick two today, and I suppose we can stop and have a look at what’s going on in the world of cricket over the next couple of months. I don’t believe there’s a rush in this decision. So we can look at what happens in the Hundred, look at what happens in the in the CPL, even look what happens in the World Cup, and see which players are in form, and also maybe what our needs are.”Adelaide Strikers: Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt, Tammy Beaumont
Brisbane Heat: Jemimah Rodrigues, Chinelle Henry, Nadine de Klerk
Hobart Hurricanes: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith
Melbourne Renegades: Deandra Dottin, Alice Capsey
Melbourne Stars: Amy Jones, Marizanne Kapp, Dani Gibson
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Paige Schofield, Chloe Tryon
Sydney Sixers: Sophia Dunkley, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Villiers
Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight, Chamari Athapaththu, Shabnim Ismail

Tottenham Hotspur are among the main contenders to sign a “tremendous” attacking midfielder, who has now been identified as a priority target.

Spurs looking to sign new attacking midfielder

It has been a solid start to the season for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank being left very impressed by his side’s performance in the 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, despite the fact they were unable to take all three points.

Frank said: “I think this is our best performance of the season. I actually think that overall, if there should have been a winner, it should have been us.

“So many crosses into the box, near chances, missed opportunities. We were physically strong and mentally strong, and that is so important if you want to achieve something.”

Tottenham plan "irresistible" offer for £68m midfielder amid Thomas Frank belief

The Dane thinks he could be a game-changing signing.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 21, 2025

Summer signing Mohammed Kudus played a key role in Spurs clawing their way back into the game, with the Ghanaian grabbing two assists, having made a flying start to life in north London.

However, the Lilywhites remain keen on bolstering their attacking ranks even further, having now joined the race for Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who has been identified as a priority target for the upcoming transfer window.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Tottenham have emerged as one of the main contenders for Sancet’s signature. However, there could be rival interest from a number of other Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, who could be an expensive addition to the squad, given that there is a €80m (£70m) release clause included in his contract.

Sancet could be "tremendous" signing for Spurs

There are some doubts over whether the 25-year-old would be a necessary signing, given that a deal would be very costly, and Frank is already relatively well-stocked in attacking midfield, having signed Xavi Simons in the summer.

However, the Athletic Bilbao star clearly has the talent to be a success in north London, having received very high praise from sporting director Rafa Alkorta, who said: “Oihan is at a tremendous level. I’m very happy for him. I’ve known him for years, I’ve followed his career, and I think he’s a very important player, probably more important than he thinks, and what he needs is continuity and luck with injuries.”

The Pamplona-born attacker has shown a very good eye for finding the back of the net in recent times, bagging 15 La Liga goals last season, while also impressing with his passing ability over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.50 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

82.6% (88th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.22 (80th percentile)

Sancet could be a fantastic acquisition for Tottenham, but when James Maddison returns, Frank will be blessed with a number of attacking midfield options, so it may be best to invest the money into other areas of the squad.

Tottenham legend Harry Kane has a tempting release clause in his Bayern Munich contract, which becomes active as early as January, and Spurs boss Thomas Frank has opened the door to a potential return for the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

What Thomas Frank said about Harry Kane re-joining Tottenham

Since leaving N17 in a deal worth £86 million two years ago, Kane has continued to turn heads in Germany.

The 32-year-old remains one of Europe’s most devastating number nines, finishing both of his first full seasons at Bayern as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 goals in 2024 and 26 in 2025.

Kane finally got his hands on a piece of major silverware to show for his exceptional displays at the end of last season, with Vincent Kompany’s side restoring their dominance of Germany by taking the title right back off Bayer Leverkusen.

The former Spurs superstar also has a German Super Cup in his trophy cabinet, and he’ll be hoping to add even more pieces of silverware before the time comes for him to leave the Allianz Arena.

Once he decides to call time on his Bayern career, a return to North London is seen as a real possibility, with Kane still just 47 goals off Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goalscoring record.

Tottenham also have a first option for Kane if they decide to open talks with Bayern, according to The Telegraph, and German news outlet BILD first reported back in February that his contract will have a £54m exit clause this winter.

When asked about the clause, Frank was surprised, but insisted that the centre-forward is welcome back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium any time.

While Frank is not convinced he’ll re-join any time soon, a new report has claimed that Spurs are ready to pull the trigger – on one condition.

Tottenham ready to re-sign Harry Kane on one condition

According to a Spanish media source, Tottenham “will not hesitate” to pursue a deal for Kane, if they’re given encouragement that he’d be open to a reunion.

Taking this into account, it would appear the decision rests solely on the ex-Lilywhite favourite’s shoulders, and the prospect of a sensational comeback may well tempt him.

Not only does Shearer’s record still stand, but Frank’s new-look Tottenham side have displayed real promise. It would be the ultimate sign-off on a stunning career if he managed to win a major trophy back at Spurs, especially after many chances to do so alluded him before an exit to Bavaria.

Kane has enjoyed another electric start to the season, netting two hat-tricks in the league alone already, with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig the victims of his attacking prowess.

The forward opened Bayern’s account for the campaign in their 2-1 Super Cup win over Stuttgart too, with Kane’s brace against Chelsea also handing Kompany’s men a convincing 3-1 win over Tottenham’s London rivals in the Champions League.

He has aged like a fine wine, and £54m would still be a meagre price to pay for England’s greatest ever striker.

تقدم فريق بوروسيا دورتموند الألماني، بهدف أول في مباراته أمام مانشستر سيتي، ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء اليوم الأربعاء.

ويستقبل مانشستر سيتي خصمه بوروسيا دورتموند، على ملعب “الاتحاد”، ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة لمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأحرز فالديمار أنتون هدف بوروسيا دورتموند الأول بشباك مانشستر سيتي، في الدقيقة 72 من عمر المباراة، بفضل ركلة ثابتة متقنة.

وسدد البديل باسكال جروس ركلة حرة في منتصف ملعب مانشستر سيتي وصلت لجوليان رايرسون والذي لعب كرة عرضية بدقة نحو القائم القريب، ليُسددها فالديمار ببراعة في مرمى حارس مانشستر سيتي.

وكان مانشستر سيتي تقدم بثلاثة أهداف أمام دورتموند، عن طريق فيل فودين الذي أحرز هدفين، وإيرلينج هالاند.

When it comes to the best player to have represented West Ham United in the modern era, you really are spoilt for choice.

However, if you then limit that to those who are homegrown and have come up through the academy, it’s hard to ignore one man: Declan Rice.

The England international might have broken some hearts with his move to Arsenal, but it’s impossible to deny the fact that he was a superstar for the Hammers, making 245 appearances, wearing the captain’s armband and most crucially of all, playing a significant role in the club’s Conference League triumph.

The Irons are yet to produce another prospect quite as talented as Rice, and while it will come eventually, they’ve already lost a youngster who’s being touted for big, big things.

West Ham's exciting prospects

While it feels like they are unlikely to be as impactful as Rice was, or the youngster they lost a couple of years ago, West Ham still have several exciting prospects emerging from the academy.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

For example, with how poorly the club’s current crop of strikers are doing, it might not be too long before the London Stadium faithful get to see Josh Landers in action.

The Scottish forward joined the Hammers from Hibernian in February of this year and has been on fire ever since.

In just 12 games for the U18s he has scored nine goals, and since moving up to the U21s, the Innerleithen-born poacher has found the back of the net five times.

Another dangerous gem, but one who spends time at left-back or on the left-hand side of midfield is Emeka Adiele.

The 18-year-old, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with “confidence & tenacity,” has already provided seven goal involvements in just eight appearances for the U21s this season.

Finally, someone who could potentially come is a long-term heir to Bowen on the right, Elisha Sowumni.

Appearances

25

Minutes

2081′

Goals

14

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

Minutes per Goal Involvement

130.06′

The 18-year-old was a force of nature for the youth sides last season, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists in just 25 appearances.

Moreover, while he is considered a right-winger, he has shown an impressive ability to play all over the pitch, which could help him earn some first-team minutes in the coming years.

However, while these three are certainly exciting prospects, they all pale in comparison to someone who left West Ham a couple of years ago.

The incredible prospect West Ham lost for nothing

All teams lose promising prospects; it’s just the way football goes sometimes, but Divine Mukasa does not appear to be any ordinary prospect.

The hugely exciting youngster joined West Ham at just five years old, but in September 2013, he moved to Manchester City for free.

He made his senior debut for Pep Guardiola’s side this season, in a League Cup game against Huddersfield Town, a game in which the teenager registered his first senior goal involvement, an assist for Phil Foden.

However, while it’s certainly an encouraging sign regarding his development to see him already playing in the first team, it’s his unreal form in the junior sides that has turned so many heads, and why he might’ve been the Hammers’ most talented prospect since Rice had he remained in London.

For example, in 41 appearances across various age groups last season, totalling 2807 minutes, the incredible midfielder racked up an outrageous tally of 17 goals and 25 assists.

Appearances

41

Minutes

2807′

Goals

17

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

1.02

Minutes per Goal Involvement

66.83′

In other words, the youngster averaged a 1.02 goal involvement per game, or one every 66.83 minutes all season.

Such an out-of-this-world rate of return goes some way in justifying journalist Nassali Sandrah’s claim that the 18-year-old is “the best academy player in Europe.”

As if that weren’t enough, he has also flown through the international youth teams and currently has three caps for England’s U19s.

Ultimately, West Ham have got their fair share of exciting talents in the academy at the moment, but had they kept hold of Mukasa, he would undoubtedly be the jewel in the crown.

West Ham are brewing homegrown Diouf in exciting 18-year-old at Rush Green

The incredibly exciting youngster could be a future star for West Ham.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

Amid the late show at Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle was left blown away by what one of Enzo Maresca’s most impressive players did against Liverpool.

Caballero: Chelsea "deserved" Liverpool victory

After racing into the lead against the Premier League champions before Cody Gakpo’s equaliser eventually pegged them back, the stage was set for Chelsea and teenage star Estevao Willian to steal the spotlight, and that he did. The talented Brazilian was perfectly placed to tap home at the back post to hand the Blues a major scalp against Liverpool in the 95th minute.

The last-gasp winner sent Stamford Bridge wild and even had Enzo Maresco doing his best impression of Jose Mourinho down the towards the corner flag. The moment led to the manager’s second booking and subsequent red, but he won’t care. Chelsea, having won two of their opening six Premier League games prior, may finally now have lift off.

Speaking in Maresca’s absence, assistant manager Willy Caballero claimed that Chelsea “deserved” to beat a lacklustre Liverpool side even if it came in dramatic fashion.

Saved by Estevao: 5/10 Chelsea star showed why he looks lost without Palmer

Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners vs. Liverpool thanks to Estevao’s late goal

By
Joe Nuttall

Oct 5, 2025

The former shot-stopper told reporters: “He (Maresca) was so happy and wanted me to praise the players because of the effort they showed. We believe we deserved the victory after the chances we created and how we played. Thanks to our football and the effort of our players, we scored in the last seconds and got the three points.”

It’s hard to argue with that claim. The Blues were the ones pushing for a winning goal and got what they had been searching for against the Reds. Several stars deserve plenty of praise, but Hoddle was left in awe of what one particular star did in Saturday’s stunning victory.

Hoddle blown away by "excellent" Caicedo

Moises Caicedo has arguably been Chelsea’s most important player in the last 12 months. After a mixed start to life at Stamford Bridge, he has proven to be worth every penny of the £100m fee that the Blues paid for his signature in 2023 and is even beginning to add goals to his game.

After unleashing an incredible strike into the upright to open the scoring against Liverpool, Caicedo received high praise from club legend Hoddle, who said:

Caicedo is unlikely to hit a sweeter strike all season. Chelsea’s star just about summed up an afternoon for the Blues to savour and one that they must now push on from after the international break. As for the midfielder himself, he must simply just pick up where he left off.