Former chairman Daniel Levy has agreed to sell a 24.99 per cent stake in Tottenham Hotspur to American tech billionaire Brooklyn Earick in a deal expected to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

The 63-year-old stepped down from his leadership role last September after running the North London club for a quarter of a century.

He has now signed a formal sale and purchase agreement with Eight Sports Capital to transfer a significant portion of his holding.

Boyhood fan brings vast wealth

Earick is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who previously worked for Nasa and grew up supporting the Lilywhites.

The American has raised more than £25bn in funds throughout his career, drawing substantial investment from sovereign wealth funds.

He currently operates as the chief executive of Redacted RnD, a prominent venture capital company based in Singapore.

Commitment to continued growth

Eight Sports Capital itself is a sports investment firm owned by Triller, a network previously involved in high-profile pay-per-view boxing events.

A spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited stated: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC.”
“We look forward to working with the club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success.”

Ownership structure and recent struggles

Despite this major boardroom transaction, ENIC will remain the majority owners of the Premier League side.

The Lewis family continues to hold a 70.12 per cent share, currently represented by Vivienne Lewis and her son-in-law Nick Beucher.

Peter Charrington took over as chairman following Levy’s high-profile departure last year.

This off-field restructure follows a deeply turbulent period on the pitch for Spurs.

Promises of fresh investment

They finished 17th for the second consecutive season, only narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the recent league campaign.

Following their survival, the hierarchy released a statement insisting the club was not for outright sale and promised crucial funding for the playing squad.

While the exact financial figures of this new agreement remain undisclosed, the outgoing executive will retain approximately four per cent of ENIC.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has promised a full explanation once the independent commission’s ruling on the club’s alleged financial breaches is published.

The Premier League champions are awaiting a verdict following a 12-week disciplinary hearing that concluded in December 2024.

City were initially charged in 2023 with breaking financial regulations over a nine-year period spanning from 2009 to 2018.

The club strongly denies all allegations, which reportedly total up to 130 separate breaches of top-flight rules.

Awaiting the verdict

Speaking during an end-of-season interview, the 48-year-old executive maintained his long-standing silence on the ongoing legal proceedings.

“Let me be as consistent as I’ve always been – until we have a ruling, I can’t say much,” stated Al Mubarak.

“Once we have a ruling, believe me, we’re going to have a wonderful sit-down together and I’ll say everything I’ve wanted to say for the last three years.”

The Abu Dhabi-backed outfit has enjoyed an era of unprecedented domestic dominance during the contested timeframe, raising the stakes of the impending judgment.

No intention to sell

This protracted legal battle arrives during a significant transitional phase for the Etihad side.

Legendary manager Pep Guardiola has just departed following a trophy-laden decade that yielded 20 major honours, including a historic Champions League title.

Despite this major boardroom uncertainty and the loss of their transformative head coach, leadership insists owner Sheikh Mansour remains fully committed to the project.

“There’s no intention to sell,” Al Mubarak confirmed.

“There’s only intention to keep growing this because the view here is that this will only grow and this is a beautiful business to own.”

Jose Mourinho will return as Real Madrid manager for the 2026-27 season if Florentino Perez wins the club’s presidential election on Sunday.

Perez’s campaign team made the official announcement late on Wednesday evening via a short social media video.

The brief clip featured the Portuguese tactician smiling in a Real Madrid shirt and saying “yes” to confirm the agreement.

Rebuilding a struggling superpower

Real Madrid have endured a difficult period on the pitch, failing to win a major trophy in their last two campaigns.

Recent managers Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa have all been unable to extract the maximum from a star-studded squad.

Perez believes the two-time Champions League-winning manager is the ideal candidate to oversee a new era at the Bernabeu.

The presidential incumbent highlighted the world-class talent currently available in the Spanish capital, including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

“A good coach, with these players, is going to make another very important era in Real Madrid history.”

Election battle heats up

The confirmation of the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss arrives just days before club members cast their deciding votes.

Perez is facing fierce competition from businessman Enrique Riquelme for the club presidency.

Riquelme was appearing live on Spanish television to pledge the signing of striker Erling Haaland when news of the managerial appointment broke.

The rival candidate admitted the move caught him by surprise but acknowledged the veteran tactician’s pedigree.

Should Perez secure re-election this weekend, the self-styled ‘Special One’ will officially begin his second stint in the Spanish capital.

Graham Potter has successfully guided Sweden to the 2026 World Cup following a dramatic play-off victory against Poland, completing a remarkable four-month turnaround.

The former Chelsea manager replaced Jon Dahl Tomasson last October in the wake of a disastrous initial qualifying campaign.

Despite early setbacks in dead-rubber matches against Switzerland and Slovenia, the English tactician meticulously planned for a final salvation attempt via the Nations League play-offs.

Building a cohesive unit in record time

Unlike club management, the international arena afforded the 48-year-old just 48 hours on the training pitch with his squad before crucial fixtures.

Recognising the impossibility of implementing complex tactical systems in such a short window, the head coach instead focused entirely on squad unity and pragmatic winning strategies.

He spent the four months leading up to the March play-offs travelling across Europe to conduct face-to-face meetings with key squad members.

This exhaustive schedule included visiting midfielder Jesper Karlstrom in Italy and spending time with Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski in London.

‘The best night of my career’

The rigorous preparation paid dividends when the Scandinavian nation overcame Poland to secure their ticket to the tournament in North America.

In the jubilant post-match dressing room, a visibly emotional Potter gathered his squad to celebrate the monumental achievement.

“Look at this, this is a f****** team.”

He subsequently declared to his victorious players that they were finally heading back to football’s most prestigious tournament.

Speaking from his London management offices just days before departing for the competition, the manager reflected on the unique challenges of his demanding role.

“The reality is that you have two days to prepare for a game. It doesn’t matter what you think or your ideas.”
“What matters is getting the players on the pitch that have the best chance of winning a game of football… there’s not too much else to think about.”

Potter’s pragmatic shift from his usually expansive playing style has ultimately resurrected a national team that had previously looked devoid of hope.

Newcastle United have agreed a £25m deal to sign 20-year-old Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen on a four-year contract as Eddie Howe begins his summer rebuild.

The Magpies moved quickly to secure their first arrival of the transfer window following a disappointing Premier League campaign.

Howe’s side finished 12th in the domestic table and suffered a heavy Champions League last-16 elimination against Barcelona.

Identifying a new number one emerged as a priority after Aaron Ramsdale concluded his loan spell and returned to Southampton.

Top prospect arrives at St James’ Park

Jaouen is widely regarded as one of the most promising young stoppers in world football.

The highly-rated youngster played a crucial role for his former club last season as they reached the promotion playoff final.

Despite an eventual defeat to Metz, the French custodian’s astonishing performances attracted attention from European heavyweights including Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Pope faces fresh competition

The arrival of the highly coveted prospect raises questions over the starting role of Nick Pope.

While the veteran shot-stopper recently saw his contract extended until 2027, there have been lingering concerns regarding his recent form.

Newcastle management are reportedly delighted to have won the race for a player who was previously identified as a potential long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois.

France will face Senegal, Norway and Iraq in Group I of the 2026 World Cup in North America, setting up a highly anticipated ‘group of death’ that features a rematch of the iconic 2002 tournament opener.

A historic rivalry renewed

The draw immediately evokes memories of Seoul 24 years ago, where the African nation stunned the reigning champions in a famous opening-game upset.

That fixture will be repeated at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 16 June to kick off the group schedule.

The Lions of Teranga enter the expanded 48-team tournament boasting a golden generation that has claimed two recent Africa Cup of Nations titles.

Haaland leads Nordic return

The presence of the Scandinavian side elevates the quartet into genuine blockbuster territory.

They are making their first appearance on the global stage since 1998.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will spearhead their attack, hoping to inspire a talented crop of players to unprecedented heights.

Iraq complete the incredibly challenging four-team group, beginning their campaign against the Norwegians in Foxborough.

Deschamps begins final farewell

For Les Bleus, the campaign represents the end of an era under manager Didier Deschamps.

The 56-year-old will step down after the tournament, having previously guided his country to glory in 2018 and another final appearance four years later in Qatar.

He will have to navigate the tournament without the retired Antoine Griezmann, while Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is a notable omission from the squad.

Instead, a 35-year-old N’Golo Kante will be trusted to anchor the midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni.

Attacking firepower

The two-time world champions boast an incredibly gifted frontline, eager to improve on a surprisingly blunt showing at Euro 2024.

Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele will be supported by a new wave of creative talent including Desire Doue and Michael Olise.

If the French setup can find the right balance, their formidable attack could prove irresistible to their group rivals.

Thomas Tuchel will lead England against Croatia, Panama and Ghana in Group L of the 2026 World Cup across North America as they look to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy.

The Three Lions begin their campaign with a crucial opening fixture against 2018 runners-up Croatia in Arlington on 17 June.

Winning the group is heavily incentivised to avoid a potential round-of-16 clash with tournament favourites Spain.

A rematch of the heartbreaking semi-final defeat in Russia eight years ago offers the European Championship finalists an immediate opportunity for early redemption.

Familiar foes and a 60-year burden

The newly appointed German manager is tasked with finally completing the foundational work established by his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

It has been six decades since the national team’s solitary global triumph, a statistic that looms large over the current generation.

Despite an impeccable qualification record featuring eight consecutive clean sheets, questions remain regarding their ability to handle the intense North American heat.

Captain Harry Kane arrives at the tournament as Europe’s most prolific forward over the preceding 12 months to lead the attacking line.

Testing fixtures against Panama and Ghana

Following their opening test, the squad travels to Foxborough to face the Black Stars on 23 June.

The West African nation are currently in a transitional phase and have struggled to replicate the formidable form that saw them reach the 2010 quarter-finals.

The group stage concludes against Los Canaleros in East Rutherford on 27 June.

While the Central American side present a more resilient tactical setup than previous iterations, memories of a comprehensive 6-1 victory at the 2018 tournament will provide significant encouragement.

Group L schedule

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has shaken off a concerning tackle to score in Sweden’s 2-2 pre-World Cup friendly draw with Greece.

The recent Premier League champion went down under a clumsy second-half challenge from Panagiotis Retsos.

Replays showed his right foot caught awkwardly between the Greek defender’s legs, prompting immediate fears of a serious tournament-ending setback.

Scare quickly put to rest

However, the Gunners talisman recovered to play on and subsequently netted a 30-yard deflected free-kick shortly after the interval.

His equaliser cancelled out an opening strike from former Liverpool full-back Kostas Tsimikas.

Gustaf Nilsson briefly gave Graham Potter’s side the lead, before a 95th-minute Giorgos Masouras goal denied the Scandinavians a morale-boosting victory.

World Cup campaign beckons

Surviving the friendly unscathed is a significant relief for a Swedish team heavily reliant on their attacking talent.

The prolific frontman is expected to form a potent partnership with Liverpool forward Alexander Isak at the upcoming tournament in North America.

They begin their Group F campaign against Tunisia on 15 June, before facing pivotal clashes with the Netherlands and Japan.

The forward heads into his first major international tournament boasting an impressive record of 20 goals in 33 international caps.