John Obi Mikel has spoken with Club América and Cruz Azul

After refusing to play with Trabanzspor due to Turkey’s original decision to continue playing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, John Obi Mikel is currently a free agent looking for his next club.

According to football data provider iSports API, the 33-year-old two-time Premier League champion and one-time Champions League winner with Chelsea has spent time in China, Turkey, and a short stint at Middlesbrough since leaving Stamford Bridge in 2016.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Now, he has his sights set on continuing his career in Mexico and his agent has been on the phone with several clubs to offer the Nigerian international’s services.

However, it appears he won’t be bringing his talents to the Estadio Azteca as there appears to be no interest from the Clásico Joven rivals, as per iSports football livescore API.

“We are looking at options. We have spoken with América and Cruz Azul, but I am telling you at the moment there is no interest.”

It’s believed that Mikel’s representatives will now get in touch with Tigres and Rayados to try to secure his next deal.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football API provider, click iSports API)

Chelsea prepared to replace N'Golo Kanté with West Ham's Declan Rice

Chelsea are ready to make a move for West Ham’s Declan Rice this summer, but only if they lose N’Golo Kanté to Real Madrid.

The La Liga giants had been expected to try and tempt Paul Pogba from Manchester United, but have seemingly decided to alter course.

Instead, according to iSports football API, Real appear to want to raid Stamford Bridge again and reunite Kanté with Eden Hazard, who joined Los Blancos from the Blues last year.

In that event, Chelsea see Declan Rice as the perfect replacement for Kanté’s all-action style in midfield.

The 21-year-old had been on Chelsea’s books as a youth player until he was released at the age of 14.

（iSports lives data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

He subsequently switched the West End of London for the East End and blossomed in the Hammers’ academy.

West Ham are aware of Chelsea’s interest in Rice, and are determined not to sell on the cheap by demanding £70m for his services, as per football data provider iSports API.

Eyebrows were raised recently when Rice referred to his old friend and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount by telling Copa 90: “I’d love to play with him at club level again.”

Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the England international, but Chelsea would appear to be in box seat should they opt to pursue Rice when the transfer window opens.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football API provider, click iSports API)

A comprehensive and cost-effective data API to realize your Esports dream

EVERYONE plays video games now. The gaming industry (PC, console, mobile, etc) has become a global behemoth and it’s breaking records right now.

While Esports are played virtually they are real competitions, with real storylines, and games sports fans can relate to because they already play them.

Esports does have some advantages over sports right now, and the biggest being that games can be played online. While the esports experience is even greater in-person at a major event, our competitions can be played and watched online.

Up until recently, esports hasn’t been taken as seriously as it should be by the industry. With the development of sports, fans will turn to professional esports competitions especially for the games they already know. Sports media will increase their coverage of esports because there’s nothing else to cover and esports competitions have the same competitive spirit that you’d expect out of traditional sports.

Using artificial intelligence and editors APIs, we collect and normalize data from the safest sources to make it available into one single API.

Get insights from the widest esports database.

Normalized API: Clean and standardized API about players or teams, matches and tournaments for every supported game.

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The esports data API, stop worrying about collecting data and start building your esports project. A quality esports product is similar to a good sports offering. We are providing data on the most active esports scenes.

League of Legends

Get all the necessary data on League of Legends esport leagues, like the World Championship, NA LCS, LCK, LPL, EU LCS and more, with a live data stream, the latest static data (champions, items), match history.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Get live data from CS:GO tournaments, and access to the match planning, past games details, static data, esports teams, players, matches.

Dota 2

Get a real time, high accuracy data streams from The International, Major and Minor leagues, matches, and access to a huge pool of historic data, static data (items, heroes...), esports teams, players, matches.

Other Games

Get live data like Rainbow SiX,Overwatch,Rocket League, StarCraft2, Heroes of Storm,Heartstone League matches, and access to the match planning, past games details, static data, esports teams, players, matches.

At iSports API we recognize there’s a window of opportunity for esports. Now is the right time to start taking esports seriously.

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Manchester United prepared to make an offer to Jack Grealish

According to English media, Manchester United are prepared to step up their interest in signing Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish after monitoring his progress over the past 18 months.

The 24-year-old has been one of the Villains’ top-performing players on their Premier League comeback and he has contributed seven goals and six assists from 26 top-flight outings, according to iSports football live data API.

While he has preferred to play in an attacking midfield role for most of his career, Grealish has regularly featured on the left wing this term and that has brought the best out of him.

The Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on his development over the past few years and they are prepared to make a formal move for his signature in the near future.

（iSports football API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

It is added that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains a keen admirer of Grealish’s ability and has no concerns with the player’s off-the-field antics which has led to criticism from the public.

Villa are currently understood to demand £70m for their prized asset but it is reported that he could be available for £50m, should the west Midlands outfit get relegated from the top-flight this term.

Solskjaer has placed the emphasis on signing young and prime-age players since taking charge of the club and Grealish would fit into the latter category.

Elsewhere, the former England youth international would have caught Solskjaer’s eye with his ability to play anywhere in the attack as well as drop into the central midfield position, as per football data provider iSports API.

As such, he appears as an ideal signing for United, who will want another creative midfield presence despite the purchase of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon in January.

United do have Paul Pogba in their squad but there are still doubts whether the midfielder is committed to the club amid interest from former club Juventus and Real Madrid.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football API provider, click iSports API)

Patrick Ewing says his two Olympic gold medals were stolen

Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing revealed Tuesday that his two Olympic gold medals and NCAA championship ring were stolen.

Ewing discussed the loss of his 1984 and 1992 medals on "The Dan Patrick Show."

He had played 17 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the New York Knicks, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, according to basketball data provider iSports API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

The 11-time All-Star said Tuesday was the first time he's talked about the theft.

"My house got broken into in New York, and at one point they stole my medals," Ewing said. "So I called Jerry Colangelo [former USA Basketball chairman], and he was great to be able to get me two replacement medals."

Ewing won the 1992 medal as part of the Dream Team, the United States' first roster of primarily professional players, as per iSports baksetball API.

"He took care of me," Ewing said of Colangelo. "He's a great guy."

Ewing, 57, said the 1984 national championship ring he won with Georgetown was also taken.

"They did take my college championship ring, but someone tried to sell it on eBay and I was able to get that back," said Ewing, who is now the head coach at his alma mater.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

André Onana confirms he wants to leave Ajax this summer

Ajax goalkeeper André Onana confirmed he is ready to leave this summer, claiming he is ready ‘to take a step’.

The 24-year-old arrived from Barcelona in 2015 for a nominal fee, according to football data provider iSports API, but has now become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

The Yashin Trophy nominee has been linked with a Barcelona return, in addition to a Premier League move to Chelsea or Tottenham, recorded by iSports football data API.

（iSports football API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

With just two years left on his contract, Onana feels that it’s the right time to move on.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with Ajax and I am very grateful to the club,” he told AD on Tuesday.

“It was five great years here, but now my time has come to take a step. We made that appointment last year.

“I don’t yet know what will happen, but my ambitions and agreements are clear.”

As per iSports football live data API，during Onana’s five years at Ajax, he made 178 appearances, allowing just 158 goals and earning a whopping 74 clean sheets.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Texas Tech's Jahmi'us Ramsey declares for NBA draft

Texas Tech freshman Jahmi'us Ramsey declared for the 2020 NBA draft on Saturday.

Ramsey emerged as one of the top freshman guards in this year's class with a strong season in the Big 12. Acording to basketball data provider iSports API, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Red Raiders, shooting 43% from 3-point range. He was named Big 12 freshman of the year and awarded a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Ramsey has not hired an agent and said in his statement on Twitter that he will maintain his college eligibility.Ramsey took a circuitous route to Texas Tech, starting his high school career at Duncanville in Dallas before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, then transferring again to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before finishing up back at Duncanville. 

He was managed to exceed those lofty expectations with a strong freshman season that entered him into the one-and-done conversation.The appeal around Ramsey is readily apparent on first glance, as he stands 6-foot-4, as per iSports basketball API, with a strong frame, solid athletic ability and terrific scoring instincts. He's a gifted isolation scorer who can bully weaker guards and shows terrific shot-making prowess from all over the floor thanks to his unlimited confidence and excellent mechanics pulling up off the dribble from long vantage points.

Not turning 19 until June, he is one of the youngest players currently projected to be drafted, according to basketball stats API.

The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, but following worldwide suspension of basketball activities, NBA teams are lobbying the league office to push it to August in order to salvage the pre-draft process.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

Newcastle United want to sign Rennes star and Manchester United target

Newcastle United are interested in signing Rennes’ Faitout Maouassa this summer and will look to beat Manchester United to his signature.

The English Premier League duo have both been tracking the progress of the 21-year-old in recent months, and the Magpies even made move to sign him in January.

However, their £7 million bid was knocked back, but they remain in contact with the representatives of the French winger.

Maouassa’s current contract with Rennes runs out in the summer of 2021, and he is yet to enter into talks about a renewal.

The France youth international has predominantly played at left-back this term, scoring thrice and assisting twice in 32 games across all competition, according to football livecore provider iSports API, but he can also play comfortably on the wings.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Maouassa is hoping to play Champions League football with Rennes, but the chance to play in the Premier League could be too tempting to turn down, especially if he will be able to play in the European elite competition.

The Red Devils might be able to offer that next season as they are strongly in contention to finish in top-four this term, as per iSports football data API while Newcastle could become a Champions League club post-takeover.

However, it remains to be seen if the club will still retain interest in the Ligue 1 star by the time the summer transfer window opens with Steve Bruce likely not to be in charge of the Magpies next season once the new owners come in, and that could give Man Utd a chance in the race.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Robin Van Persie blasts Louis Van Gaal

Former Manchester United star Robin Van Persie has been opening up on how his time at the club came to an end.

In an interview, the Dutchman reveals the brutal manner in which his compatriot Louis Van Gaal ended his United career.

Van Persie sensationally moved from Arsenal to United in 2012 to fulfil his dream of playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. He hit the ground running, bagging 30 goals in his first season and helping the Red Devils to bring home the Premier League trophy, as per iSports football data API.

However, Sir Alex retired at the end of that season and Van Persie could not reach the same heights under David Moyes and Ryan Giggs the following term, although he still netted 18 times in an injury-ridden year.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

He then spent a season under Van Gaal but struggled to adapt to the new manager’s more possession-oriented playing style. He scored just 12 goals in 31 games in 2014/15, according to football livedata provider iSports API and it was at the end of that season when Van Gaal wielded the axe.

‘I had this chat with Louis van Gaal and he told me: “Ok Robin, our ways will part. I’m the coach, you’re the player – you have to go, your time is up” the striker recalled.

‘I was like: “Yeah but I still have a contract?” He said: “I don’t care”.’

‘Ruthless. Towards the end of it, I saw something coming but not this ruthless. And the way he said it as well. My kids are going to school, they have their friends and everything. So in like a split second, all these things come across. How do you react to that?

‘I said: “We will see what happens. That’s your opinion. But I have a contract and I’m happy in England at Manchester United. So we will see what happens”. And I stood up, shook his hand and left it.’

‘That ruthless, that hard, that direct. And then loads of things came through my mind and we started pre-season. I wasn’t allowed to play in the 11 vs 11 and I was given a ball and told to do my own stuff. So you try to stay calm, stay cool but there’s loads of things happening. You’re playing the macho card “It doesn’t affect me”, but it does. It does affect me, my family and my career. Big time.’

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

World-Class Defender to Reject PSG in Favor of Premier League

After Paris Saint-Germain was named as one of the clubs that could realistically sign Kalidou Koulibaly, the Napoli defender reportedly prefers to play in England or remain in Italy, as per iSports football livescore API.

According to French media, Koulibaly is reluctant to join PSG this summer even if the club submits a significant offer for his services.

（iSports football data API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Koulibaly instead prefers a move to the Premier League with Manchester City and Manchester United the two clubs thought to have the best chance of landing the Senegal international. Also ahead of PSG is the chance of Napoli retaining the 28-year-old.

Accoding to football data provider iSports API, with Thiago Silva expected to leave PSG at the end of the season when his contract expires, PSG could use an upgrade at the center-back position but not signing Koulibaly isn’t the end of the world.

Against Borussia Dortmund, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos proved they can combine to silence one of the most potent attacks and I feel most supporters are comfortable with that duo at center-back moving forward.

As I outline in my preview of the 2020-21 squad, the money that would be spent on Koulibaly could be instead used to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Real Madrid Planning a Move For English Superstar

Real Madrid could make a big-money move for Tottenham Hotspurstriker Harry Kane in the summer transfer window. The Englishman has come through the ranks at the North London club to become one of their most important players.

According to local news media, the Spanish side’s President Florentino Perez wants to bring Harry Kane to Santiago Bernabéu in the summer. But, the report states that it will be difficult to prise the English international from Spurs as manager Jose Mourinho is a big fan of him, while Chairman Daniel Levy will not let him leave easily.

Harry Kane’s current deal with the club expires only in 2024 which puts Spurs in the driving seat if Kane does want to leave. The Englishman is third in the list of all-time topscorers for the club, having scored 181 goals in 278 appearances for the club in all competitions, as per iSports football livescore API.

（iSports livescore API covers a wide range of football games with score, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Then, will Harry Kane be a good fit for Real Madrid?

Real Madrid made a big move last summer when they signed young Luka Jovic for around €60 million from Eintracht Frankfurt. But, the Serbian international has been poor for the Spanish giants, scoring just twice in 24 appearances for the club. Madrid are a club that does not offer too many opportunities, and the 22-year-old could be on his way out in the summer.

Manager Zinedine Zidane has had to rely heavily on experienced striker Karim Benzema throughout the season, who has scored 19 times in 36 appearances in all competitions for the club. But, Madrid can’t depend only on Benzema to score the goals and will need to bring in a player who can score 20+ goals apart from the Frenchman, as per football data provider iSports livescore API.

Harry Kane would be a great addition to the Real Madrid squad, which has lacked goals since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season, Benzema was the top scorer for Madrid with 30 goals, 21 of those which came in the league, followed by Gareth Bale, who scored 14 goals, 8 of which came in the league, according to football livescore provider iSports API. Those numbers aren’t good enough for a side like Real Madrid, who need at least 2-3 players to score 10-15+ league goals every season.

The only problem that Zidane may have is how both Benzema and Kane can play in the same team as the Madrid manager currently plays with just one central striker. He could perhaps move to a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Eden Hazard playing behind the two central strikers, i.e. Kane and Benzema. This would be a lethal strikeforce that could torment most defences in Europe.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Chinese Basketball Association postpones restart until at least July

The Chinese Basketball Association is facing another setback in its efforts to resume play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is reported that league officials met overnight to discuss the fate of its season, which has been on hold since Jan. 24 according to basketball data provider iSports APPI, and elected to postpone its schedule again, this time until at least July.

The CBA had been scheduled to resume play on April 15, and teams had taken steps to call back American players. But on March 30, the General Administration of Sports -- an arm of the Chinese government -- issued a wide-ranging ban on large-scale sporting gatherings due to concerns with containment of the virus, as pei iSport basketball API.

（iSports API covers a wide range of basketball games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Further complicating matters is the entry ban that was implemented by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in late March on all non-citizens, including residents and foreigners with previously issued visas. Several players were unable to enter China, leaving many CBA rosters without one or both of the allotted import players.

No final decision on the CBA's season can be made without government clearance, which won't happen until mid-May at the earliest. The possibility of canceling the remainder of the season is still in play.

The CBA's ability to return to normalcy will be closely monitored by sporting leagues across the globe, including the NBA and EuroLeague, which are both postponed indefinitely.

According to Chinese media outlet Xinhua, CBA CEO Wang Dawei will take a 35% pay cut, and other executives will also reduce salary to help ease financial pressure.

Caught in limbo are more than a dozen Americans who returned to China and have finished their 14-day quarantine period. CBA teams have been conducting basketball activities in varying formats, some with full-contact practices and others through social distancing methods. Several player representatives told they've been informed that teams will look to extend contracts and put players on retainer in hopes of resuming play in July, while others may send foreign players home while waiting to see if reopening is likely.

CBA contracts are considered some of the most lucrative in professional basketball, which can make for a difficult decision for Americans. Considering the Foreign Ministry's ban on incoming travel from non-citizens, returning to China in June may prove impossible for those now leaving the country. Some of the top players in the CBA told they intend to stay in China as long as they are receiving salaries, rather than conducting two additional 14-day quarantines.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable basketball data provider, click iSports API)

Man United's Sanchez won't take pay-cut to leave

Alexis Sanchez will stick it out at Manchester United rather than leave in a cut-price deal in the next transfer window. Sanchez is spending the season on loan at Inter Milan with United paying a portion of the 31-year-old's salary, according to iSports API football data.

（iSports API covers a wide range of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

He would be open to making the move permanent but the Italian side have reservations because of the cost of any potential deal.

Sanchez still has two years remaining on his £500,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford and is reluctant to accept reduced terms, even if it helped to facilitate a move away.

United are aware that the terms of the deal -- agreed when Sanchez arrived in January 2018 -- will make it hard to find a buyer in the summer and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been told he may have to include him in the squad for next season.

Sanchez's preference is to leave United after a disastrous spell during which he only managed just five goals in 45 appearances but accepts he may have to see out his contract, which runs until June 2022, as per football live data provider iSports API.

Sanchez joined Inter in August but injury has seen him restricted to 15 appearances in all competitions, scoring once, as per iSports football API.

If he is forced to stay at United, the former Barcelona and Arsenal star is likely to find first team opportunities even harder to come by.

Solskjaer is determined to revamp his forward line ahead of the new season, with priority placed on securing a right winger, centre forward and an attacking midfielder. Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Kane are among the names in the frame.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Man United renew interest in Juventus defender De Ligt

Manchester United are prepared to make a renewed bid to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer if the Italian club are ready to listen to offers for the Netherlands international.

De Ligt rejected interest from United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain last summer before completing a €75 million move from Ajax to Juventus as per iSports API, after he captained the Dutch champions during their run to the Champions League semifinals last season.

（iSports API covers a wide range of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

But, after signing a five-year deal at Juventus, the 20-year-old has been in and out of the team under coach Maurizio Sarri. According to football data provider iSports API, the defender has started 17 of the club's 26 games in Serie A prior to the shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis in Italy earlier this month.

It's said that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to recruit a centre-back this summer, and the club have already drawn up a list of potential targets, including Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.

De Ligt, who earns a £210,000-a-week at Juventus as per iSports football API, is regarded as having the perfect profile for Solskjkaer's United in terms of his age, versatility and character.

There is an acceptance, however, that Juventus are unlikely to sanction the sale of De Ligt after just one year in Turin unless the player seeks a move after a frustrating campaign at the club.

But, should the Italian outfit be prepared to sell the defender, United are ready to make a second attempt to sign the player.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football live data provider, click iSports API)

Garay first positive La Liga player, Valencia confirm five Coronavirus cases

Valencia's Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay is the first La Liga player to test positive for the coronavirus, as the Spanish club confirmed they have five positive cases.

Garay, 33, who underwent surgery to repair an ACL injury last month, according to football data provider iSports API, announced on Sunday on social media he is in isolation. 

He posted a photograph on Instagram, smiling and giving a thumbs-up with the message: "It's clear that I started 2020 on the wrong foot.

（iSports API covers a wide range of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

"I've tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and it's now a case of following what the health authorities recommend, for the time being to be isolated."

Valencia later wrote a statement, which explained the club had five confirmed cases of club members having tested positive for COVID-19.

La Liga declared last week that Spain's first and second divisions had been suspended for at least the next two rounds because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Real Madrid players have been in quarantine since Thursday after one of the club's basketball players tested positive.

Spain, the European country with the second-highest number of cases after Italy, called a state of emergency on Saturday.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Barcelona complete surprise Martin Braithwaite signing from Leganes

Barcelona have completed the surprise signing of Leganes' Martin Braithwaite after being given permission to bring in a forward outside the transfer window.

Braithwaite, 28, has signed until 2024 and could make his debut on Saturday against Eibar after Barcelona paid his €18 million release clause, according to iSports . His new release clause at Barcelona is €300m, while Leganes, battling to avoid relegation in La Liga, will not be able to sign a replacement.

（iSports API, which covers almost all ranges of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）

Speaking about the transfer, Leganes sporting director Martin Ortega said: "We understood the 'emergency' rule was only used in cases where both clubs agreed. This goes against the idea of all clubs being equal. We'll try everything in a situation where we've been damaged irreparably.

"Barca have acted in correct manner. They contacted us Monday, and the only option was to pay the clause. We cannot hold it against them as they used the rules which currently exist. But we don't think the rules are fair.

"We hope that the federation will allow us to sign a player. We will try everything to be able to do this."

Barca were given permission to turn to the transfer market by La Liga after losing Ousmane Dembele to injury for the rest of the season, but the same rule does not exist for clubs who see a player leave through their release clause.

Barca had previously explored the possibility of signing Real Sociedad's Willian Jose, Real Betis' Loren Moron, Alaves' Lucas Perez and Getafe's Angel Rodriguez, but, for different reasons, did not push forward with their interest in any of the quartet.

Braithwaite first joined Leganes in January 2019 on loan from English side Middlesbrough before making the move permanent during the summer for €5m. He has scored 13 goals in 41 appearances for the club, as per football data provider iSports API.

He has also had two spells in France, first with Toulouse, who he joined from Esbjerg FB, and later with Bordeaux on loan. Braithwaite has been capped 39 times by Denmark, scoring seven goals, according to iSports football livescore API.

Barca are also without striker Luis Suarez for the next two to three months due to a knee problem.

(Start free trail with you long-term sports data partner with reliable football livescore data provider, click iSports API)

Rating the five most expensive U21 transfers in football history

Football is big business, with transfer fees seemingly on a never ending upward trajectory and record deals broken with increasing regularity.

The stratospheric fees once restricted to top-end, proven talent are no more, major clubs now often prepared to spend big on emerging youngsters in a gamble to secure the next superstar of the game.

We’ve decided to look back at some of the priciest prospects of years gone by, here are our ratings of the most expensive U21 transfers in football history, according to iSports API football data.

（iSports API, which covers almost all ranges of football games with livescore, standings, events, line-ups, pre-match odds, statistics）



Frenkie de Jong – Ajax to Barcelona, €75m, 2019

The midfield metronome at the heart of Ajax’s surprise run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, De Jong’s talents had long been admired from afar and it would be Barcelona who would win the race to secure his signature, securing the young Dutchman on a pre-contract agreement in January 2019 before he headed to the Camp Nou last summer, as per iSports football historical data.

At surface level rarely has a player looked more suited to his future destination, De Jong following in a long line of players built in the style of former Ajax and Barcelona great Johan Cruyff.

A versatile playmaker, De Jong’s ability to retain and recycle possession makes him a superb fit in the heart of the Catalan side, the now 22-year-old quickly establishing himself in Ernesto Valverde’s side and drawing comparisons with Barca greats Xavi and current teammate Sergio Busquets.

De Jong’s career in La Liga may be less than a year old, but he has already shown signs of being a key component of the side for seasons to come.

Rating: 7/10

Neymar – Santos to Barcelona, €86m, 2013

One of a long list of South American talents to emerge from the continent amongst much hype, Neymar would be chased by almost all of Europe’s leading clubs before opting for Barcelona in 2013.

The effortlessly talented forward had scored prolifically in his homeland and had long been tipped for the very top of the game, twice being named as South America’s Footballer of the Year.

His move to Europe and Spain would prove a huge success, following a season of adaptation in which he scored 15 goals with a haul of 39 in all competitions the following year, as per iSports football livescore API, forming a devastating forward partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as Barcelona completed a continental treble.

In four seasons at the Camp Nou he would score 105 goals in just 186 appearances, winning a series of major honours including two La Liga titles and the Champions League. He would ultimately depart under a cloud for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the Brazilian the most expensive footballer in football history.

Rating: 9/10

Ousmane Dembele – Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, €105m, 2017

The third big-money Barcelona signing to make this list, Ousmane Dembele would head to Spain as part of the knock-on effect of the aforementioned Neymar’s move to PSG.

Left with a Neymar-shaped hole in their forward line and pockets stashed with cash, the Catalan side chose to part with an eye-watering €105m to sign the talented French winger from Borussia Dortmund, Dembele having joined from Rennes a year earlier and enjoyed a meteoric rise in his single season in German football.

Dembele had made the Bundesliga Team of the Year after providing 12 assists during that campaign, with Barcelona believing the Frenchman possessed the creativity from wide that would be absent following Neymar’s departure.

It has proven to be a frustrating time for Dembele since the move, however, the winger failing to truly establish himself as a key figure with injuries and inconsistency hampering his progress. Team success has come in the form of back-to-back league titles, but he continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou having failed to make a significant impact.

Rating: 4/10

Joao Felix – Benfica to Atletico Madrid, €126m, 2019

The most recent inclusion to this feature of expensive youngsters, Felix would join Atletico Madrid last summer as the most expensive acquisition in the club’s illustrious history.

The teenage forward had thrived since being handed his opportunity in the Benfica first-team last season, scoring 20 times in all competitions as the club secured the Portuguese league title, according to iSports football result.

His performances had not gone unnoticed amongst the elite of European football, though it would be Atletico who somewhat uncharacteristically took the plunge and activated his hefty release clause.

It’s been a slow adaptation to life in the Spanish captial, Felix scoring four goals in all competitions thus far, though he has shown glimpses of the talent that saw him secure the Golden Boy award ahead of the likes of Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz last year.

The jury still remains out on whether his huge fee will be justified, but he certainly possesses the potential and promise to become a leading star in the near future.

Rating: 5/10

Kylian Mbappe – Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain, €180m, 2017

The French phenomenon would burst onto the scene with an exciting, young Monaco side, winning the league title and reaching the Champions League semi-finals with the Ligue 1 outfit just over two years ago before a mega-move came calling.

Mbappe would choose to remain in his homeland and sign for PSG, initially on loan before joining for a staggering €180m, making him the second most expensive player in football history.

Since arriving in the capital the sublime talents of the forward have continued to flourish, Mbappe scoring 78 goals in just 106 appearances, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and being named as the division’s Player of the Season last year in addition to winning the Golden Boot, as per iSports livescore football data.

Remarkably still just 20-years-old, the youngster’s impressive haul already includes three league titles in addition to World Cup success with France, Mbappe becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in the final against Croatia in 2018.

Delivering a maiden Champions League success would give Mbappe full marks in our ratings, and he will undoubtedly have one eye on achieving that feat this season.

Rating: 9/10

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Jürgen Klopp makes Premier League managerial history

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has broken the record for most Premier League Manager of the Month awards in a single season.

The German has now won the award an unprecedented five times this term, surpassing the record set by Pep Guardiola in 2017/18, as per iSports football API.

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He wins the January prize after overseeing the Reds victories over the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United and his side ended the month 19 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Guardiola, Ralph Hasenhüttl and Nigel Pearson were the other three nominees.

Klopp has now won a total of eight Premier League Manager of the Month awards in his career, moving him level with Martin O’Neill and Harry Redknapp.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes have now won more than the 52-year-old former Borussia Dortmund manager.

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Borussia Dortmund looking to make Achraf Hakimi move permanent

There’s no doubt that Achraf Hakimi has taken advantage of his two-year loan to Borussia Dortmund, winning back-to-back CAF Young Player of the Year awards while becoming one of their star performers.

The 21-year-old has delivered 9 goals and 13 assists in 58 matches for the club, as per iSports API and was absolutely clinical in helping BVB reach the Champions League knockout round.

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With the Moroccan’s loan spell coming to an end this summer, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has revealed the German giants will look to retain his services for years to come.

“We will have talks with Real Madrid in the next few weeks,” Zorc told media.

“The decision is not up to us, but Achraf’s great development has, of course, not been hidden from anyone in Spain either.

“He feels very comfortable with us. They [Real Madrid] know that we would like to keep him.”

Hakimi, who came up through the Real Madrid youth system, is currently valued at €45m on Transfermarkt.

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Chiellini named in Juventus' Champions League squad

Giorgio Chiellini has been named in Juventus' squad for the Champions League knockout stage as he nears a return from a knee injury.

Chiellini, 35, has made just one appearance for Juve this season and underwent surgery on his knee in September, as per iSports football API.

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The Juve captain was targeting a return this month or in March and was included in Juve's 22-man squad for the Champions League knockout stage.

Juventus will face Lyon in the last 16, with the first leg to be played in France on February 26.

They are top of Serie A by three points ahead of a trip to Hellas Verona on Saturday.

According to iSports football data, Juventus latest squad: Gianluigi Buffon, Carlo Pinsoglio, Wojciech Szczesny; Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Danilo, Matthijs de Ligt, Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani, Alex Sandro; Rodrigo Bentancur, Juan Cuadrado, Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi, Miralem Pjanic, Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey; Federico Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo.

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