Sunderland have agreed to sign defender Billy Jones from West Brom on a four-year contract.
The 27-year-old full-back will become a Sunderland player on July 1 after his contract at The Hawthorns expires.
Jones joined West Brom from Preston North End in 2011 and established himself as a regular with the Midlands club, making 74 appearances in his time in the Midlands.
However, after narrowly avoiding relegation with West Brom last season, Jones is relishing a new challenge at the Stadium of Light.
I m really happy to be here and I m looking forward to getting back for pre-season and kicking on, Jones told Sunderland s official website.
I ve played at the Stadium of Light a number of times so I know what it s about and what great backing the club has.
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Vincent Kompany s return to form and fitness with Manchester City has seen him earn an international recall for Belgium s matches with Czech Republic and Estonia.
Kompany has not featured for his country since October 2015 after struggling with a series of muscle injuries.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a run of seven successive matches for City since April as Pep Guardiola s men secured third place in the Premier League, and qualification for the Champions League group stage.
His displays have done enough to impress Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and he will hope to feature in the friendly with Czech Republic before their World Cup qualifier with Estonia.
Kompany is joined in the squad by team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, the pair two of 15 Premier League players nam…
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Midweek football is back in our lives as the Carabao Cup reaches the Round of 16 phase. With so many clubs being just a handful of games away from a spot at Wembley, things could certainly get interesting as they battle it out for the right to compete in the final. Two such teams who will be doing so are Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, and while they may be separated by a division, they certainly aren t all too far away from one another when it comes to their abilities.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are considered to be a yo-yo team by many, and there s good reason for that. They ve never been able to solidify themselves as Premier League regulars for longer than a few seasons, and once again, they find themselve…
Eden Hazard believes Chelsea can make a big impression in next season s Champions League if they can bring in a couple of key additions.
Chelsea romped to the Premier League title in Antonio Conte s first season at the helm, making up for a dismal campaign in 2015-16 that saw them finish 10th.
The Blues will have a more congested fixture list next term having secure a return to European football s top table, but Hazard is confident they can cope with the demands if the squad is bolstered.
The Champions League is a very difficult competition with many good teams who are capable of reaching the semi-finals and the final, Hazard told Chelsea s official website.
You never know, but if we continue with the way we ve been playing this season we can go far…
Spain have added Raul Albiol to the group of players on standby to plug holes in Luis Enrique s Euro 2020 squad if COVID-19 strikes any further blows.
Captain Sergio Busquets tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday and was taken away from the national team training camp, although it is hoped he will be able to return.
Subsequent tests on remaining players and staff have all showed up negative results, but Spain are erring on the side of caution by ensuring they have suitable reinforcements if needed.
That is why versatile Villarreal defender Albiol, a 56-cap international who won the Europa League with his club side last month, comes into the picture at the age of 35.
With the senior squad in isolation and training individually, it will be a Spain Unde…
Newcastle United s new era started with a familiar feeling of disappointment as Tottenham ran out 3-2 winners at St James Park, with Sunday s match marred by a medical emergency in the stands.
With the pre-match build up dominated by Newcastle s off-field changes, the club s new PIF owners were served up a stark reminder of the issues on the pitch as Steve Bruce s 1000th game as a manager ended in defeat.
Callum Wilson s second-minute header buoyed an already rampant home crowd, but Tottenham hit back through Tanguy Ndombele before Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal of the season.
A fan was taken to hospital after an incident late in the first half, which led to a defibrillator being called for and the suspension of play. When it restarted, Kane turn…
Soccer teams from Shindand District, Herat Province line up for the official inauguration of the Shindand District Sports Field in Khajeh Naw Village, Shindand. The new field benefits about 150,000 Afghan youths, and gives them hope and leads them toward a life of dignity, with a sense of belonging. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Agency for International Development)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Feb. 12, 2011) – Narrowing insurgents’ angles one pitch at a time, Afghan youth soccer players slide tackle the hand they’re dealt in life, with dreams for a country that one day may host the FIFA World Cup.
Realistically, that dream could be decades away, but with the help of coalition forces and U.S. Agency for International Development, many new soccer (football) pitches have been erecte…
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson faces a battle against cancer after undergoing an operation to remove a tumour.
The current coach of Thailand, Robson, 54, underwent surgery in a Bangkok hospital earlier this month.
He took over from Peter Reid as Thailand boss in September 2009.
Bryan Robson underwent an operation to remove a tumour from his throat on March 3, 2011 in a hospital in Bangkok, a Manchester United club statement said.
The laboratory report revealed a cancerous tumour, which will need further treatment. The oncologist is confident that the condition is treatable.
At this moment, Bryan is fine to continue with his role as Thailand coach and his role as ambassador of Manchester United.
Bryan and family have requeste…
Deportivo La Coruna great Juan Carlos Valeron has announced he will hang up his boots at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season.
Valeron moved to Las Palmas in 2013 where he started his professional career in 1995 after making over 400 appearances for Deportivo between 2000 and 2013.
The 40-year-old won the Copa del Rey in 2002 with the Galician club, along with the Segunda Division title, UEFA Intertoto Cup and two Supercopa de Espanas.
The attacking midfielder was capped almost 50 times for Spain, representing his country at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2000 and 2004.
I want to communicate that at the end of the season I will end my time as a professional footballer, Valeron announced on Saturday.
Valerón: Cuelgo las botas en mi casa y en…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United have been a major disappointment since the retirement of legendary manager Alex Ferguson and described their battle for fourth place as undignifying .
Ferguson oversaw a period of unrivalled success in English football during 26 years at Old Trafford, but United have failed to build on his legacy since he stepped aside at the end of the 2012-13 Premier League campaign.
Immediate successor David Moyes lasted less than 12 months in the role and United failed to qualify for the Champions League in their first season without Ferguson at the helm.
Louis van Gaal orchestrated a return to Europe s top table by overseeing a fourth-placed finish last term, but the Dutchman has faced severe criticism over a perceived negative sty…