Premier League soccer team Chelsea hit with one-year transfer ban on signing players

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Ross Barkley of Chelsea during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between Chelsea and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

English Premier League soccer team Chelsea has been hit with transfer ban by the sport's governing body FIFA, preventing the club signing any new players for the next two windows.

The west London club, who were Premier League champions in 2017, was found in breach of rules relating to the registration of 29 players under the age of 18.

The ban applies to the men's teams and does not prevent the release of players, which is potentially more bad news with Belgian forward Eden Hazard continually linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid.

"Chelsea categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and will therefore be appealing the decision." Chelsea said in a statement on Friday.

"We welcome the fact that FIFA has accepted that there was no breach in relation to 63 of these players, but the club are extremely disappointed that FIFA has not accepted the club's submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players." it added.

It's understood that the ban will not affect the arrival of US international midfielder Christian Pulisic in the summer, as his $78 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund was confirmed before the FIFA sanction. Similarly, the deal that brought Gonzalo Higuain to Chelsea on an 18-month loan last month, will not change.

Additionally, the club has been fined $600,000 and given a period of 90 days to "regularize" the situation of the minor players concerned.

The English Football Association (FA) was also found to have breached the rules in connection with minors. It's been fined $ 510,000 and given a period of six months to address the situation concerning the international transfer and first registration of minors in football.

Last year Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich decided to shelve plans for a new stadium on the existing Stamford Bridge site, after the Russian's UK visa renewal application was denied. He's since taken up an Israeli passport, but has seldom been seen at Chelsea matches this season.

Rules on signing players under 18

FIFA's rule on international transfers of players state it is only permitted if the player is over the age of 18, with only 3 exceptions.

a) The player's parents move to the country in which the new club is located for reasons not linked to football.

b) Both clubs concerned with the transfer are within the territory of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18. However, even then the player should be provided with education and have their general living conditions taken care of.

c)The maximum distance between the player's home and the club they've signed for shall be no more than 100 kilometers (62 miles).

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Rising US soccer star Zack Steffen in Charleston for Carolina Challenge Cup

Zack Steffen never doubted that this day would eventually come.

It’s hard to imagine three years ago that Steffen, the starting keeper for Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, was playing in half-filled stadiums for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the USL â€" North America’s second-tier professional soccer league.

His meteoric rise â€" going from the USL to starting for the Columbus Crew to being named Major League Soccer’s top goalie last season and becoming an established player with the U.S. Men’s National Team â€" has been staggering to some observers, but a natural progression for the former University of Maryland star.

“Life is a process and that includes soccer, especially for a goalkeeper,” said Steffen, whose team plays the Charleston Battery on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Carolina Challenge Cup. “I can’t say that I saw this coming as quickly as it has, but I knew if I put the work in I was going to get to where I wanted to be eventually.”

In July, Steffen, 23, will take another step up the professional soccer ladder when he joins Manchester City, in the English Premier League. His reported transfer fee of between $7 million to $10 million is the highest paid for an MLS goalie.

Steffen's path from the college to the EPL wasn't always the most direct. After two seasons at Maryland, Steffen left the college ranks and signed with Germany’s SC Friedburg â€" a smaller club in the Bundesliga in 2014. He was eventually loaned to the team’s farm club and made 14 appearances over the next two years.

In 2016, he returned to the United States and signed with Columbus, knowing that playing time in the MLS was going to be limited. Steffen spent most of the summer in the USL playing for the Riverhounds. While playing in the USL wasn’t ideal for a player with Steffen’s ambition, he made the most of the opportunity.

“As a goalkeeper you need games, no matter the level and I was happy to get them in Pittsburgh,” Steffen said. “The USL is a good league. As a goalkeeper you’re put into so many different situations throughout the year in each game. The more games you play, the more situations you’ll see and the better you can adapt. To get games and get reps, especially when you’re young, is crucial.”

Steffen had a breakout season in 2017, starting all 34 regular-season and playoff matches for the Crew, recording nine shutouts. His stepped on the national scene when he recorded an eight-save shutout in a playoff win over Atlanta United, which included two saves in the shootout.

"He's calm. He's a calm guy," former Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter told Goal.com. “His ability to stay composed, and even if he makes mistakes â€" and he's had very few â€" he's able to stay calm and play through it."

The following season he was named the MLS goalie of the Year. Steffen conceded just 45 goals and was third in the league with 10 shutouts, while leading the Crew back to the postseason. He had a 64.1 save percentage and a 1.28 goals against average.

He played well enough to catch the eye of the U.S. Men’s National Team. He has made six appearances for the United States, making his debut as a substitute in a friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in January of 2018.

He then started in a friendly against Paraguay in March and made seven saves against France last June in a friendly match. He has started in matches against Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, most recently, earning the confidence of the U.S. coaching staff.

“Obviously a proud moment for me when I put that jersey on,” Steffen said. “I’ve gotten some games, but I can’t assume anything. I’ve got to continue to work and improve and not be complacent about my spot. Nothing is guaranteed. I’ve got to go in and prove myself in every camp that I’m the man that they can count on.”

Steffen said getting back to the World Cup tournament is the team’s top priority. Berhalter was named the U.S. head coach this past December.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Steffen said. “It starts with our coaching staff and I think we’ve made the right move there. We have a good depth of players that want to get back on that world stage again.”

Steffen got to meet Summerville native Jonathan Amon, who made his U.S. national team debut last November against Peru, during camp last year.

“Jonathan is a great guy, quiet,” Steffen said. “He’s an amazing guy off the field, a real sweetheart. He works really hard on the field. Very humble. Gives his all to the team. A very talented player, very technical. I think once he gets his shot he’s going to break out and be a fixture on the national team.”

Steffen said the next step in his career is to test himself against Europe’s elite players. That’s one of the main reasons he agreed to go to Manchester City, which already has an established keeper.

“Right now I think this is what I need to do in my career to get better and become the goalkeeper I want to be,” Steffen said. “I’m excited to start the journey in July, but right now I’m focused on helping the Crew win games.”

Reach Andrew Miller at 843-937-5599. Follow him on Twitter @APMILLER_PandC

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Ex-Manchester United Winger Nani Joins Orlando City on 3-Year Contract

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Former Manchester United winger Nani has joined Orlando City on a three-year contract, the club confirmed Monday:

The 32-year-old joins from Sporting CP on a free transfer as a designated player after a third stint with the Portuguese side.

Nani is an experienced winger who won four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League during his eight years with Manchester United.

The winger will wear the No. 17 shirt at Orlando City:

The club's executive vice president of soccer operations, Luiz Muzzi, highlighted what his side are expecting from their new signing, per the club's official website.

"This is an exciting day for our organization," he said. "Nani brings tremendous experience to our roster. He's a dynamic winger with quality abilities to move and cross the ball, impact games and lead the offensive play."

Nani is an exciting winger with an eye for goal who rose to prominence at Manchester United after joining from Sporting in 2007. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 41 goals.

After leaving Old Trafford, Nani went on to play for Fenerbahce, Valencia and Lazio, and he possesses plenty of top-level experience.

La Liga showed off his acrobatic celebrations and offered a glimpse of what to expect from the winger:

Nani has also enjoyed a stellar international career with Portugal. He's won over 100 caps for the national team and played a key role in Portugal's victory at the 2016 UEFA European Championship:

The 32-year-old leaves Sporting after making 23 appearances for the club this season in all competitions and scoring eight times for Marcel Keizer's side.

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Soccer Made in Portland podcast: Takeaways from preseason, transfer targets

The Oregonian's Jamie Goldberg and Timbers.com's Richard Farley bring you the latest edition of their weekly Portland Timbers and Thorns podcast, Soccer Made in Portland.

In this week's edition, Jamie and Richard touch on a host of topics, including:

* Takeaways from Timbers preseason training camp and what to look for during the club's preseason training stint in Arizona.

* Whether the Timbers are likely to sign a right back and designated player ahead of the regular season.

* Why new goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic has yet to join preseason training camp.

* Whether the Thorns have done enough in the offseason to put themselves in a position to compete for a championship in 2019.

* Caitlin Foord's performance in the Australian W-League and whether she will be able to have the same type of success in the NWSL this year.

* Plus, Jamie and Richard answer questions from listeners.

Listen:

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

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Manchester City's millionaire soccer stars are in for a culture shock this weekend

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Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on April 29, 2018 in London, England.

English Premier League leaders Manchester City has a squad valued at over $1 billion and is still on course for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season, but this weekend it's faced with an unusual challenge.

For the fifth round of this season's FA Cup, England's major domestic cup competition, Manchester City has been drawn against Newport County. A team ranked 82 places below the reigning Premier League champions in the soccer standings.

The two teams operate on very different plains, with Manchester City breaking its transfer record last summer when it signed Riyad Mahrez for $76.8 million, while Newport has never paid even six figures for a player.

Manchester City announced record revenues of $639.9 million for last season, when it also became the first Premier League team to reach 100 points. By contrast Newport County had to be reformed 29 years ago and made a loss of $447,000 in April 2018.

Their vast differences also extend into the value of their kit deals as well. Manchester City is coming to the end of its $109 million six-year partnership with Nike, with a potential $64 million a year switch to Puma on the horizon for the 2019/20 campaign. For the past two season's Newport has had its kit made by Thai company FBT, which produces attire for the national soccer teams of Laos and Cambodia.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has coached in some of the most famous stadiums in the world, but he'll possibly have never seen anything like Newport County's home stadium of Rodney Parade.

The tiny 7,850 capacity stadium is considerably less than the 55,000 Manchester City's Etihad Stadium can hold.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Arsenal want Kai Havertz, known as the 'new Ozil'

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals and keep track of who has joined the big boys. And Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Ozil to be replaced by... 'the next Ozil'?

Will Mesul Ozil stay at Arsenal this summer? That is the question. The popular belief is that Ozil will be heading out of the Emirates, which could pave the way for Unai Emery to add Bayer Laeverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz to his squad.

Calciomercato is reporting that the Gunners have been watching the young midfielder this year and, while they didn't make a move in January, are preparing to do so at the end of the campaign.

Havertz has registered 11 goals this season, eight in the Bundesliga, receiving rave reviews. Playing just behind the forwards, he has drawn comparisons with both Ozil and Real Madrid star Toni Kroos.

LIVE BLOG

17.00 GMT: Everton and Wolves aren't the only clubs interested in Porto winger Yacine Brahimi (see earlier) -- Manchester United and Arsenal could also be in the frame, according to reports.

16.15 GMT: More on United now -- the Independent reports that they have identified their top three targets for bringing in a new central defender. It says they want one of Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar, Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Sampdoria's Joachim Andersen, with "Skriniar's camp aware of United's long-term interest."

15.30 GMT: There's potential bad news for Manchester United in the race for Benfica teenager Joao Felix (see earlier) -- the Mirror claims Real Madrid and Barcelona "are leading the race" for him.

15.00 GMT -- DONE DEAL: Derby have signed defender Efe Ambrose, a free agent after leaving Scottish club Hibs last month, for the remainder of the season.

14.24 GMT: Everton and Wolves have made moves for FC Porto winger Yacine Brahimi, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha.

Brahimi, who has scored seven goals in 27 appearances this season, is available on a free transfer at the end of the season.

13.59 GMT: Manchester United already have one Paul Pogba, so why would they need another one? Still, they've been linked with Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who his manager Bruno Genesio says could be like the Frenchman.

"He's strong physically and especially technically," he told Tuttosport. "I don't like comparisons, but, yes, Ndombele could be a new Pogba. Tanguy can play in every midfield role, he's started to score, but I want him to improve there: he needs to be an 8-10 league goal midfielder."

13.25 GMT: Le Havre defender Harold Moukoudi could be on his way to Napoli, reports in Italy say. Moukoudi has also been linked with Championship side Aston Villa.

12.30 GMT: Tottenham have held initial talks with Sampdoria about a move for defender Joachim Andersen, according to reports in Italy, which say Juventus and Inter Milan are also interested in the 22-year-old.

11.45 GMT: Norwich midfielder Steven Naismith, currently on loan at Scottish club Hearts, could move to MLS when his contract ends in the summer, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

11.15 GMT: Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku could become a summer target for Inter Milan if if Mauro Icardi leaves the Serie A club, according to the Mirror.

10.30 GMT: Midfielder Nabil Fekir, who was close to joining Liverpool last summer and has also been linked with Chelsea, is close to signing a contract extension at Lyon, president Jean-Michel Aulas has said.

09.45 GMT: Jesus Joaquin Fernandez Saenz de la Torre -- or Suso for short -- has been attracted the eye of Arsenal boss Unai Emery, but Tottenham are ready to make their own move says the Daily Mirror.

The AC Milan midfielder would cost €35m, due to a release clause, and Spurs are confident that they will be able to splash the cash more than their London rivals.

09.00 GMT: Espanyol forward Borja Iglesias wants to remain at the La Liga club amid reports that a move to the Premier League could be on the cards this summer.

Diario AS reports that several Premier League clubs are monitoring the player, who has scored 10 goals and set up two more in 23 league appearances. The 26-year-old is under contract with Espanyol until June 2022 and has a €28m release clause. Iglesias was reportedly a target of a Premier League club during the January window.

08.00 GMT: The agent of Benfica sensation Joao Felix believes his client "has everything to be the most expensive transfer of Portuguese football" and "even a candidate for the Ballon d'Or".

Reports in England claim that Manchester United are prepared to bid for the 19-year-old forward in the summer. Diario AS reports that Real Madrid and Barcelona are also monitoring the Portuguese player.

PAPER TALK (By Nick Judd) Liverpool to swoop for Malcom?

It looks as though Barcelona man Malcom isn't keen on staying in one place too long and could again be packing his bags this summer.

Le10Sport reports that Liverpool could take the winger off Barca's hands at the end of the season. The Catalan club signed him last summer after he scored 23 times in 96 appearances for French side Bordeaux.

However, Malcom has found it hard to break into the Barcelona starting XI, making just seven appearances in La Liga, prompting rumours that he could switch to China. However, interest from the Far East appears to have cooled, with Liverpool now said to be front runners for the 21-year-old's signature.

Blanc fancies England return

Former France and Paris-Saint Germain boss Laurent Blanc has hired football agency Base Soccer to help him find a job in the Premier League, the Mirror reports.

The 53-year-old has made no secret of his desire to return to one of Europe's top leagues and is said to favour England, where he lifted the league title in 2003 as a player for Manchester United.

As a manager, Blanc won three French league titles in three seasons at PSG, plus a league and cup double with Bordeaux in 2009.

Tap-Ins

- Paulo Dybala is set to return to the Juventus' starting XI this weekend as boss Massimiliano Allegri attempts to quash rumours linking him with a move away, the Daily Mail reports. Allegri described Dybala as "one of the best around" before confirming he'll return to face Frosinone.

- Eagle-eyed visitors to this page will no doubt have read our reports linking AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie to London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea. The rumours continue, but Kessie has said he wants to stay in Milan. "I have five years left on my contract and I will stay here," he told Sport Mediaset (via insidefutbol.com).

- Earlier this week, Tottenham's in-form Son Heung-Min was being linked to a host of Europe's top clubs, but the Mail suggests he is on the verge of signing a new £150,000-a-week deal. Son has scored 16 goals in 23 games this season, prompting a second pay rise inside 12 months.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Madrid look to pounce on Dybala's unhappiness at Juve

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals and keep track of who has joined the big boys. And Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Madrid monitor Dybala situation

All is not well in Turin. After deserting his teammates for an early shower after being an unused substitute against Parma, Paulo Dybala received a meagre seven minutes of action at Sassuolo.

The Argentine has let his dissatisfaction be known, and while Juventus received the message loud and clear, so too have Real Madrid, according to AS. Los Blancos have been interested in the 25-year-old attacker for the better part of three years now, and the disharmony at the Old Lady could encourage them to make their move this summer.

In a summer that could see Madrid offload Isco, Gareth Bale and more, the report states that the capital club are considering a €120 million offer for Dybala. It also suggests that the Champions League holders would prefer a cash-only purchase, rather than including any players to lower the fee, which raises an interesting point.

With Marcelo having been linked with leaving the Spanish capital for the north of Italy to follow in the footsteps of close friend Cristiano Ronaldo, could the 30-year-old Brazilian not be a useful makeweight in such a deal?

LIVE BLOG

09.47 GMT: Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel could have been lining up for Barcelona this season but turned the club down in January to stay with Fenerbahce.

"Barcelona wanted to sign him and were insisting on him because they needed a central defender that was a reliable alternative, but the player didn't agree because he did not want to be a substitute for [Gerard] Pique and [Samuel] Umtiti," his representative Mithat Halis told AS. "I think he [Skrtel] is a better centre-half than Clement Lenglet. On the other hand, Martin Skrtel is happy in Istanbul and has an important role to play in Fenerbahçe. He did not want to be third choice at Barcelona."

09.13 GMT: All that talk about Paulo Dybala up above has been scotched by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who says the club don't need a No. 9 because Karim Benzema is "the best in the world."

Oh wait, Dybala is a No. 10. As you were...

08.54 GMT: Barcelona have not reached an agreement with Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic but do maintain an interest in the player, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.

Reports in Germany on Monday claimed Barca had struck a deal with Jovic and would now look to negotiate a transfer with Frankfurt. Sources told ESPN FC that is not the case but -- as revealed in November -- Jovic is one of the forwards interesting Barca as they look for a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez .

08.30 GMT: Brazilian left-back Marcelo says the idea of leaving Real Madrid this summer has not crossed his mind.

Marcelo has been strongly linked with Juventus but has been at Madrid for 10 years and is under contract with the club until 2022.

"Leaving Madrid has never crossed my mind," he told Brazilian outlet Esporte Interativo. "I trust myself more than any other person and there is no reason to leave. If the day comes that Madrid doesn't want me, I will go. If that happens, they can pay me and everything will be ok. I'll be sad but I'll go, although I'm sure that I'm not going to be offloaded."

Marcelo admitted it was hard to see Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo leave in the summer.

"I gave everything for Zidane, we had a wonderful relationship," he added. "I have a very good relationship with Cristiano, I played nine years with him and it's normal to be sad."

PAPER TALK Sarri on borrowed time

The future of Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea has been a major topic of discussion recently. Then the Italian manager watched on helplessly as his side got stuffed 6-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad. So what next?

Well, the Telegraph reports that Chelsea's answer lies close to home, suggesting that Sarri assistant Gianfranco Zola is the man most likely to take over as an interim replacement as Chelsea's season goes from bad to worse.

It might not be a bad idea, either, particularly bearing in mind that a Champions League title was delivered in 2012 by a Chelsea manager with the word "caretaker" in his job title in the form of Roberto Di Matteo.

Tap-ins

- The Sun reports that Efe Ambrose is set to join Derby County on a short-term contract, with Frank Lampard adding the ex-Celtic star to the Rams' promotion-chasing squad.

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