It has been one of the most eventful weeks in world football and none of it involves a ball being kicked competitively. From seismic managerial appointments across Europe to landmark governance decisions in England, from a World Cup goal-of-the-tournament winner to a deeply controversial FIFA letter, here is everything that happened in football this week.
CONFIRMED: John Stones Completes Inter Milan Move
The transfer that had been building for weeks is now official. John Stones has completed his move to Inter Milan on a free transfer, joining the Italian champions on a two-year deal after ending his decade-long stay at Manchester City.
Stones arrived in Milan on Thursday and sent a personal message to Inter fans ahead of the formal announcement a gesture that reflects the significance of the move for both player and club. He becomes the second defender to move from the Etihad to the San Siro this summer, following Manuel Akanji’s loan-to-permanent switch.
In six years at City, Stones made 295 appearances, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League title a trophy haul that establishes him as one of the most decorated English defenders of the Premier League era. He had interest from both Arsenal and Chelsea before choosing what he described as a desire for a new chapter abroad.
Inter’s official announcement captured the narrative perfectly: “After 32 years in England, John Stones is ready for a new chapter in Milano. From the green fields of Barnsley to the San Siro pitch after making history in Manchester, John Stones is ready for his next chapter at Inter.”
He joins Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid and Harry Kane at Bayern Munich as high-profile English players choosing European football over remaining in the Premier League a trend that appears to be accelerating as the continent’s elite clubs increasingly offer an attractive alternative to English stars at the peak of their powers.
CONFIRMED: Jurgen Klopp Appointed Germany Head Coach
One of football’s most anticipated managerial appointments has been confirmed. Jurgen Klopp has been named Germany’s new head coach on a contract running until the 2030 World Cup returning to management after stepping back from Liverpool in 2024 citing a need to recharge.
Klopp succeeds Julian Nagelsmann, whose Germany side were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup at the Round of 32 by Paraguay on penalties a result that triggered the search for a new direction. The 59-year-old had been working as Red Bull’s global head of football since leaving Anfield, but his desire to manage Germany his home nation was never a secret.
Red Bull facilitated his exit generously, with Klopp himself describing the arrangement as “a very, very generous one.” With 60 days until Germany’s next international match a Nations League double-header against Belgium and Turkey in September the timing is tight but manageable for a coach of Klopp’s experience.
His first task is rebuilding a German team that underperformed at a home World Cup and failed to advance past the Round of 32 a result that, given Germany’s squad depth and domestic league quality, represented a significant underachievement. The 2030 World Cup in South America is the ultimate target, with Euro 2028 on home soil the stepping stone that will define how quickly Klopp’s rebuild takes shape.
CONFIRMED: Zidane Set to Be Named France Head Coach
One legendary figure takes the Germany job. Another prepares to take the France role. Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be confirmed as France’s new head coach following a French Football Federation press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Zidane replaces Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after 14 extraordinary years in charge a tenure that included the 2018 World Cup triumph, a final appearance in 2022 and two European Championship final appearances. France lost their 2026 World Cup semi-final to Spain, ending Deschamps’ reign on a major tournament exit rather than the trophy finale he might have hoped for.
The 54-year-old Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, but his record in management is unimpeachable. He delivered three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018 one of the most dominant periods any club manager has produced in the European game’s history. As a player, he won the 1998 World Cup with France, scoring twice in the final, and starred in their Euro 2000 triumph giving him a level of personal connection to the French national team that no other candidate could replicate.
The appointment will generate enormous excitement in France and across the football world a team built around Mbappé, Lamine Yamal-era opponents and a young French core, managed by perhaps the most complete footballing figure French sport has ever produced.
CONFIRMED: Mancini Returns as Italy Head Coach
While France and Germany make marquee appointments, Italy have turned back to a familiar face and the circumstances surrounding the reappointment are as chaotic as the situation that created the vacancy.
Roberto Mancini has begun his second spell as Italy head coach alongside new technical director Claudio Ranieri the former Leicester and Chelsea manager who famously won the Premier League title as a 500/1 outsider in 2016.
The path to their appointments was anything but smooth. Italy have failed to qualify for yet another World Cup continuing the embarrassing trend that began with their absence from Russia 2018. Gennaro Gattuso left the role in April following this latest qualification failure. Andrea Pirlo had been the frontrunner to replace him but withdrew on Monday amid controversy over his links to a Russian betting firm. That prompted a chaotic reshuffle in which newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo left their roles within days.
Mancini who led Italy to the Euro 2020 title in 2021 in one of the tournament’s great underdog stories was brought back to restore stability and direction. He has signed a four-year contract.
“If Italy go to the World Cup, we become one of the teams to beat,” he said at his unveiling. “Even if we are not favourites, we become dangerous in those tournaments. I was very happy the first time. I hope to win one or two trophies and to hopefully stay even after that, if possible.”
Ranieri, meanwhile, admitted his surprise at being called. “I was at the beach, as you can see from my tan,” he said with characteristic wit. “I know it will be a difficult situation, but my career as a coach speaks volumes about dealing with difficulties.”
Van Bommel Takes Belgium Job as Golden Generation Era Ends
Belgium’s post-World Cup managerial transition is complete. Mark van Bommel has been appointed Belgium’s new head coach on a multi-year deal, tasked with guiding the Red Devils through to Euro 2028.
The 49-year-old former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder replaces Rudi Garcia, who left following Belgium’s quarter-final exit to eventual World Cup winners Spain. Garcia chose not to extend his contract despite taking the team to the last eight.
Van Bommel’s coaching career since retiring in 2013 has taken him through PSV, Wolfsburg and Royal Antwerp, where he delivered a domestic double in 2022/23. He now inherits a Belgium squad in transition the golden generation of De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku and Courtois now either retired or at the end of their careers — and faces the challenge of building a new identity around the next wave of Belgian talent.
Premier League and EFL Agree Historic £1.5bn Partnership Deal
Away from the transfer headlines and managerial merry-go-round, one of the most significant structural decisions in English football’s recent history was confirmed this week. Premier League clubs have unanimously voted to approve a new strategic partnership with the EFL injecting an additional £1.5 billion of funding into the Championship, League One and League Two over a 10-year period.
The deal dubbed the ‘New Deal’ now needs to be formally offered to EFL clubs for their own vote. If approved, it would begin during the 2026/27 season and is designed to create a long-term financial sustainability framework for the professional game in England.
The Premier League’s statement emphasised that the proposal builds on existing commitments: “The Premier League already has long-term funding commitments to invest a record £1.6 billion every three years into the wider game and communities.” The EFL, welcoming the development, confirmed it would review the full proposal before consulting its 72 member clubs.
This is the most significant financial redistribution between the top flight and the Football League in years and its unanimous approval by Premier League clubs reflects a recognition that the long-term health of the pyramid serves everyone’s interests.
Infantino Tells World Cup Critics to “Meditate and Pray”
The 2026 World Cup generated extraordinary football but it also generated considerable controversy, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has responded to criticism in a letter that has itself attracted significant attention.
In a lengthy open letter, Infantino accused critics of “spreading hate and false rumours” and told them to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray.” The letter addressed multiple controversies that defined the tournament’s off-field narrative ticket pricing investigations, hydration break introductions, the denial of Somali referee Omar Artan’s visa, Iran’s difficulties entering the United States amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, and most contentiously, the Folarin Balogun red card suspension reversal.
On the Balogun situation in which a one-match ban was suspended for 12 months after Donald Trump personally asked Infantino to “review” the red card Infantino wrote: “Arguable referees’ decisions or strange disciplinary rulings are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide. It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi described his team’s treatment throughout the tournament as “like a disaster.” Infantino’s letter suggested the Iranian team’s experience was ultimately positive, a characterisation that drew further criticism from those who followed their participation closely.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter banned from football activities since 2015 following a corruption case used the occasion to call for new leadership. “The tournament had lost its credibility,” Blatter wrote. “Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game. Now it is up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership.”
Goal of the Tournament: Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral
Amid the managerial appointments and controversy, the 2026 World Cup Goal of the Tournament has been awarded and it went to one of the competition’s greatest underdog stories. Sidny Lopes Cabral of Cape Verde won the award for his stunning strike against Argentina in the Round of 32 joining a list of previous winners that includes Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison.
“The moment I dribbled past my opponent, I saw an opening and thought, ‘Let’s have a go’,” Cabral said. “When I looked up and saw it heading for that top corner, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’ I started running without thinking. Everybody dreams of just scoring in the World Cup, but to score in this way, at such a big stage against such a big team I couldn’t believe it.”
Cape Verde made their World Cup debut at this tournament one of four first-time qualifiers. That their player should win the tournament’s individual goal award is a story that captures everything the expanded 48-team format was designed to create.
Other Stories This Week
Frenkie De Jong has suffered a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee a significant blow for Barcelona heading into the new season, with the Dutch midfielder now facing a period on the sidelines. Como have introduced academy-wide heading restrictions at youth level a pioneering welfare initiative backed by former Manchester United and France defender Raphaël Varane, who sits on the club’s Board of Education. Under-10s will be banned from heading entirely, with gradual introduction at older age groups. Barcelona have signed Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal, reuniting the 24-year-old German forward with coach Hansi Flick. Jermain Defoe has left Woking after just 116 days as manager his first job in management ending in “circumstances that made it impossible to continue,” according to a personal statement. AC Milan were forced to deny false reports of Franco Baresi’s death the legendary defender’s family requesting privacy as he continues treatment following surgery last year. And CAS has set an October 8 hearing for Senegal’s appeal after being stripped of the 2025 AFCON title with Morocco currently holding the crown following the acrimonious final.
