Ter Stegen Flies to Amsterdam for Ajax Medical After Tax Delays ResolvedMarc-Andr ter Stegen is set to undergo a medical in Amsterdam before completing a season-long loan move to Ajax, with The Athletic reporting that the 34-year-old left Barcelonas pre-season camp in the United Kingdom on Thursday after the club gave him the green light to travel to the Netherlands. He will not feature in the Blaugranas friendly against Birmingham City on July 31.A move that has dragged for weeksThe Athletic first reported on July 3 that Ajax and Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement in principle over the loan, which would cover the entire 2026-27 season. What should have been a routine exit then stalled for the best part of a month over tax complications arising from the legal frameworks in Spain and the Netherlands specifically, how the additional fiscal charges generated by paying a salary across two jurisdictions would be distributed between the parties.Marc-Andre ter Stegen directs his teammates during a match for FC Barcelona.Barcelona sources described the situation as considerably more complicated than initially anticipated, while those close to Ter Stegens camp said the delays stemmed from a determination to structure the deal correctly rather than rush it through. Those issues were resolved on Thursday, clearing the path for him to fly to Amsterdam. As Ter Stegen himself acknowledged briefly at Birmingham Airport before boarding, the process was not quite finished: he still needs to complete his medical, finalise documentation and sign all relevant agreements before Ajax can formally announce the transfer.Financial structure and salary burdenThe financial structure of the loan has been the defining complication throughout. Barcelona will continue to pay around 90 per cent of Ter Stegens wages a figure that could dip slightly depending on his involvement and achievements at Ajax, but only marginally. That is a consequence of the contract extension he signed in 2023, which was back-loaded with deferred salary payments and runs until 2028, leaving the Catalans carrying the bulk of his remuneration regardless of where he plays.The FFP obstacles that had been blocking the deal were real enough, but Barcelonas motivation was always as much about squad clarity as cap relief. Joan Garca has been the first-choice goalkeeper since joining from Espanyol last summer, and Wojciech Szczsny who had announced his retirement from football in July 2024 before returning to cover for Ter Stegens injury signed a two-year extension in July 2025. There is simply no place for Ter Stegen in Hansi Flicks plans.What Ajax get and what comes nextAjax will inherit an immediate number one with 423 Barcelona appearances behind him and a manager, Michel, who was instrumental in persuading Ter Stegen to join Girona on loan in January 2026. That spell was disrupted by a hamstring injury that limited him to two appearances and cost him a place in Germanys World Cup squad Manuel Neuer came out of retirement to fill the void but Michels confidence in him has not wavered.The interior of the Johan Cruijff Arena, home stadium of AFC Ajax.Once the medical clears and the paperwork is complete, the formal announcement is expected within days, after which Ter Stegen will begin training with a squad whose season is already underway. Barcelona, meanwhile, continue to reshape their roster the club is also managing the futures of several other players, with the window still open and further departures possible before it closes.

If we've learned nothing about sports documentaries in recent years, it's that the subjects of the documentaries often have the ability to keep some of the facts that have been documented from being included in the finished product.And so it should surprise no one that Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had the ability to pull the plug on anything that the producers of the Quarterback series proposed for inclusion into the final cut.The topic came up during Mayfield's Thursday press conference, the one that focused primarily on his contract situation with the team."To be honest with you, I didn't watch the full series," Mayfield said. "They sent all the clips of us in it, just so I could give the final OK. Apologies to the families of little kiddos because the language on there is actually not very suited for them. It's might be a little angry elf on the field every once in a while. So that's probably the part that I do regret a little bit, but that's the fire on the field, unfortunately, that comes out on TV."But, yeah, I wanted to portray that I'm all ball. It's you can say what you want in the media. You can say I'm cocky and whatever, but it's all ball. I love my teammates, I love this game, and I love playing it."Mayfield added that "there's a few things" he exercised his prerogative to remove from the show.It's the key caveat to keep in mind as to any of these shows. Even though we're ostensibly getting access to key behind-the-scenes moments, we still only get to see and hear the things the subject of the production wants us to see and hear.And it's surely fair to assume the other quarterbacks who have submitted to the series have had that same power. Approval of the final cut became part of the deal from the early days of Hard Knocks. In 2010, when the question of final say had become a talking point, former Ravens coach Brian Billick confirmed that his team had the ability to remove content during the very first year of the show, in 2001.While it's better than the alternative of having nothing at all, the power of the teams in Hard Knocks or the players in Quarterback to say "strike that from the tape" should always be remembered.Especially when things slip through that probably should have been scrubbed, like the time Hue Jackson clumsily asserted in a meeting with his staff that "I get to drive this bus" and pretty much all of the Giants' run on the one-and-done offseason version of Hard Knocks.

Sky Germany deny reports linking Mohamed Amoura with RB Leipzig moveAfter Maghreeb Foot quoted Mohamed Amouras agent as saying that his client was close to joining RB Leipzig from VfL Wolfsburg, Sky Germany have moved to dismiss the report.According to the German broadcaster, the claims have been rejected by both clubs and are considered wide of the mark.Sky further report that Leipzigs current focus is on signing Fisnik Asllani from TSG Hoffenheim instead.Amoura, 26, is widely expected to leave Wolfsburg following the clubs relegation from the Bundesliga last season.

A former Spartan will reportedly explore a return to college basketball following the recent injunction that allows a fifth year of eligibility for players in the 2022 class.Former Michigan State guard Tre Holloman could return for another season with the Spartans this upcoming season. Jamie Shaw of On3 reported on Saturday that Holloman will be "exploring college options" for next season following the notable injunction that was approved on Friday.Holloman played his first three years of his collegiate career with the Spartans before transferring to NC State for this past season. He appeared in 106 games during his three years with the Spartans, averaging 9.1 points and 3.7 assists per game during his final season in 2024-25.In his lone year with NC State, Holloman appeared in 32 games (27 of which were starts). He ended the season averaging 9.2 points and 2.1 assists per game with the Wolfpack.Holloman has been back in the East Lansing, Mich. area in recent weeks, playing in the Moneyball Pro-Am event and presumably hanging out with Spartan players. It'll be interesting to see if Michigan State would welcome him back to the program as a reserve point guard or if Holloman will look elsewhere for a starting role in his final year of college hoops.Former NC State point guard Tre Holloman is in the @TransferPortal and is exploring college options following the recent injunction, @onpointsports_ told @On3. The 6-2 senior from Minneapolis averaged 9.2 points and 2.1 assists this season. https://t.co/Z86cO2QoSapic.twitter.com/qCJlKhR9R8 Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) August 1, 2026Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former Spartan to reportedly explore a fifth year of college basketball

Kelsey Plum trade grades: Mercury make bold playoff gamble as Sparks begin another rebuild originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The biggest name available before the WNBA trade deadline is officially on the move. The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury, according to ESPNs Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews. Los Angeles will receive guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick in the deal.The trade was completed late Saturday night, just hours before Sunday afternoons deadline. According to ESPN, Plum becomes only the fourth All-Star in WNBA history to be traded during a season. Plum has not played since June 21 because of a lower left leg injury, but she had returned to practice and was expected to be available for the Sparks game against the Portland Fire on Sunday. It remains unclear whether she will be ready to make her Mercury debut Monday against the Chicago Sky.When healthy, Plum gives Phoenix one of the leagues most dangerous offensive guards. She is averaging career highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists through 12 games this season.Here are the early grades for the blockbuster trade.Mercury trade grade: BPhoenix is taking a major swing despite facing a difficult path to the playoffs. The Mercury entered Sunday with an 11-19 record, six games behind the New York Liberty for the eighth and final postseason spot. Adding Plum does not guarantee Phoenix will close that gap, especially with only a limited portion of the regular season remaining.It does, however, make the Mercury significantly more dangerous. Plum joins an experienced core featuring Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. She should provide the perimeter scoring, shooting and playmaking Phoenix needs after reaching the WNBA Finals last season.The two-time WNBA champion has also demonstrated that she can thrive alongside other stars. Plum helped the Las Vegas Aces win consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023 before being traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2025 season. Phoenix did not acquire Plum merely to improve its regular-season record. The Mercury are betting that their veteran roster can reach the postseason and become a matchup no contender wants to see in the opening round.The cost is substantial for a team sitting 12th in the standings. First-round picks carry increased value as the WNBA continues to add talent and expand, while Akoa Makani is a promising young guard. Plums contract situation also creates long-term uncertainty. Still, Phoenix needed an offensive difference-maker, and no player available at the deadline offered more immediate upside than Plum.Sparks trade grade: B+Trading Plum signals another change in direction for a Sparks organization that has struggled to establish a clear plan. Los Angeles acquired Plum before the 2025 season in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick, hoping she could accelerate a rebuild centered around Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. The Sparks then made another aggressive move this past offseason, trading Jackson as part of a deal for veteran guard Ariel Atkins.Those moves have not produced a playoff contender. Los Angeles entered Sunday at 10-17 after losing six consecutive games. The Sparks have gone 2-9 during Plums current absence and are in danger of missing the postseason for the sixth straight year. Plum also signed only a one-year deal worth $999,999 to return to Los Angeles during the offseason. The Athletic reported that she was not interested in re-signing with the Sparks, leaving the team at risk of losing its leading scorer without receiving anything in return.Considering those circumstances, Los Angeles did well to acquire a first-round pick, a second-round pick and a young player.Akoa Makani gives the Sparks another developmental option in the backcourt. The 24-year-old guard entered the league as a third-round selection by Phoenix in the 2025 WNBA Draft after playing professionally in France. The 2027 first-rounder is the centerpiece of the return. Its eventual value will depend on Phoenixs record and any protections attached to the selection, but it gives Los Angeles another important asset as the franchise reevaluates its roster.The trade does not fix the Sparks larger problems. General manager Raegan Pebley was fired in July, and interim assistant GMs Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen are now responsible for determining the organizations direction. At least Los Angeles avoided compounding its mistakes by keeping Plum through the deadline and potentially losing her for nothing.MORE:Sky rookie Sydney Taylor stuns Aces with game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzerWhy the trade is a gamble for both teamsThe deal carries considerable risk on each side. Phoenix is surrendering future assets for a 31-year-old guard who has appeared in only 12 games this season. Even if Plum returns immediately, the Mercury have significant ground to make up in the standings.Los Angeles, meanwhile, is moving on from a player it acquired less than two years ago to help lead the franchise back into contention. The Sparks are once again collecting future assets without a clearly established timeline for returning to the playoffs.Plum is the unquestioned winner. She leaves a team on a six-game losing streak for a veteran Mercury roster willing to make an aggressive push.If Phoenix can reach the postseason, Plums scoring ability and championship experience could make the Mercury far more dangerous than their record suggests. If the rally falls short, the franchise may regret sacrificing a first-round pick for such a narrow window.For now, the WNBAs biggest deadline move has given both teams something they needed: The Mercury have another star, while the Sparks have a chance to start over again.More WNBA news:Sophie Cunninghams touching gesture brings young Fever fan to tears after winReplay shows Caitlin Clarks Fever teammates may have saved her from automatic WNBA suspensionAliyah Boston faces WNBA fine after heated exchange with Serah WilliamsKelsey Mitchell makes double WNBA history in Fevers win over FireKiki Iriafen, Cotie McMahon face WNBA fines after chippy Mystics-Wings game

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Hibernian have announced the signing of 35-year-old Australia striker Kyah Simon on a one-year deal.Simon has 29 goals in 111 games for her country, although has not played for the Matildas since 2022.She has played for several clubs in her homeland, enjoying goalscoring spells at Sydney FC and Melbourne City.Her football career has taken her around the globe, racking up appearances in the US, Netherlands and England where she played for Tottenham.Most recently, she played for Dijon in France.Head coach Joelle Murray said: "Kyah has competed at the very highest level throughout her career, and we're excited for our players to learn from her experience."We're looking forward to seeing the influence she'll have as we continue to build a competitive and ambitious environment."Simon added: "As soon as I spoke with Joelle, I knew this was the right move for me."I'm really excited for a new challenge in Scottish football, and to be fighting alongside this team for silverware this season."

Jimmy Rolder will miss time with the leg injury he suffered in training camp Friday, July 31, but Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said the injury isn't so severe it will prevent the rookie linebacker from contributing this fall."Oh, absolutely," Sheppard said before camp Sunday, Aug. 2. "As far as the mental and all that, hell still be engaged in meetings and all that with us, so I absolutely see him contributing at some point."Rolder left midway through Friday's practice with a leg injury, and the Lionssigned former Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White on Saturday.The Lions have not put a timetable on Rolder's return, but Sheppard said White improves "the competitive depth situation" the team has at the linebacker position "with his championship pedigree.""It just backs up everything [Lions coach] Dan [Campbell] spoke of this offseason, that we are going to find the best 90 to come in here and compete," Sheppard said. "Its all about competition. We have the chance to acquire somebody that we feel like can come in, whether that's push to start or push guys in the room to make them [know] the urgencys real this year, its not just lip service, and thats what we did."White, 28, had a career-high 174 tackles in his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders last season but is best known for his play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in 2019-23. White was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020 and earned his only Pro Bowl selection the next year.He spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans.A fourth-round pick out of Michigan, Rolder played mostly middle linebacker with the second-team defense this spring and through the first three days of training camp.CAMP ROSTER: What to know about every Lions playerHe was expected to contribute on special teams and push for a rotational role as a backup this fall, where the Lions are still looking to solidify the No. 3 linebacker spot next to Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes.Malcolm Rodriguez has taken first-team reps at weakside linebacker throughout camp, but Sheppard said Rolder has been on an upward trajectory since spring."Came in, in the spring like anybody, a veteran linebacker we acquired, where weve took this system now with the adjustments, the checks, the things like that, especially at the linebacker position its a lot," Sheppard said. "So he came in, in the spring hes like, Whoa, kind of. But as soon as he showed up Day 1, you saw two things: He put work in this summer, he applied himself, and then hes trusting the coaching."What [we're] asking him to dos a tick different then the things he did at Michigan, and hes met that challenge. And Ill tell you, that kid was getting better every day, each and every day. Hopefully, we have a tremendous athletic training room staff in there and theyll try to get him back to speed as far as return to play as soon as possible."Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him atdbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him onBluesky,XandInstagramat @davebirkett.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions DC: Injury won't keep rookie LB Jimmy Rolder from contributing