Philippa Kaur

CHELSEA have announced a new front-of-shirt sponsor with DAMAC for the rest of the season after 50 games without one – but only for a maximum of seven matches.The Blues had spent most of the season without a sponsor but on Wednesday afternoon announced on their social media channels their partnership with the firm.Chelsea have operated all season without a front-of-shirt sponsorThe sponsor with DAMAC will last until the end of the season.In a statement released on the club website, it read: “Chelsea Football Club today announces a new, long-term global partnership with Dubai-headquartered DAMAC Properties which becomes our Official Property Development Partner. “DAMAC will also feature on Chelsea FC’s front of shirt for the rest of the season.”Amira Sajwani, managing director of sales & development of DAMAC Properties, said: “This launch marks the first of an elite collection that celebrates not just the passion of Chelsea FC but its enduring legacy, innovative spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence. “This initiative goes beyond celebrating the beautiful game; it sets a new benchmark for those who expect nothing less than the exceptional, every time.”READ MORE IN CHELSEAThe West Londoners have dabbled with rumours of a potential long-term sponsor since leaving Three in 2023, with Jordan brand – the sponsors of Paris Saint-Germain – the last name touted for a collaboration.The DAMAC logo will make its first appearance on Chelsea shirts during Thursday’s Conference League semi-final first leg against Djurgarden and for the women’s team starting at Tottenham on May 4.However, it’s expected that the sponsor won’t be a permanent addition as the club will continue their search for one ahead of the Club World Cup. Why didn’t Chelsea have a shirt sponsor?As stated, Chelsea had a sponsorship with sports technology brand Infinite Athlete from October 2023 until the start of this season, but failed to agree on an extension. Most read in FootballThat left the club rocking shirts without a front-of-shirt-sponsor for much of this season as the only side in the division not to be attached. The main reason regarding the absence of a sponsor was the lack of elite continental football being offered at Stamford Bridge.The Blues have found themselves in the Conference League – Europe’s third-tier club competition – and with that have been significantly shifted outside from the elite status of European football. The credibility of a sponsor for the Conference League wouldn’t command the fee that Chelsea would want and vice versa.However, the reward of having a shirt sponsor regardless of the mega wealth available to the club as showcased in under the ownership group led by Clearlake Capital and US billionaire Todd Boehly remains imperative.Profit and Sustainability and Financial Fair Play rules can be pretty dense, but essentially ask clubs to function more as businesses, which puts the onus on club’s revenue streams. What is DAMAC?As stated on the company website, DAMAC was established in 1982 with its origins in catering and logistics. The DAMAC Group of Companies has expanded to encompass a diverse portfolio across various industries, including property development and real estate, data centres, retail and fashion, hospitality, capital markets, and logistics.Read More on The SunIn short, Chelsea’s new shirt sponsor are one of the Middle East’s largest real estate developers.The most high-profile involvement the company has had in football is their eight-year long relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr FC. More

ADAM COLLARD supported fiancee Laura Woods from his hospital bed as she made her TNT Sports return.The presenter was back on our screens for Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan after giving birth to the pair’s first child.Laura Woods returned to TNT Sports for Barcelona vs Inter Milan after her maternity leaveCredit: TNT SportsAdam Collard showed support for his fiance from his hospital bedCredit: Instagram @adamcollardCollard underwent back surgeryCredit: Instagram @adamcollardHe thanked Woods for the support she has given him during his health strugglesCredit: InstagramThe pair welcomed baby Leo into the world in JanuaryCredit: https://www.instagram.com/laurawoodsy/Woods, 37, had spent the previous 13 weeks on maternity leave since welcoming baby Leo in January as she settled into life as a mum.She has also been busy supporting Collard, who has struggled with a back problem in the last few months.The former Love Island star underwent surgery on Wednesday before offering support to his partner after watching Woods on TNT Sports.He shared a photo from his hospital bed of him watching Woods in action.READ MORE ON LAURA WOODSHe wrote: “Now watching my girl from the bed on her first day back.”Proud of her after only 13 weeks getting back into the mix and I can’t tell you how much she’s been my rock throughout this whole injury, process and the last six months in general on all fronts.”Collard, 29, also shared some pre and post-surgery snaps of himself in a hospital gown.He captioned the two Instagram stories: “Back surgery…completed it mate.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSWoods watched her beloved Arsenal in action against PSG on Tuesday with Collard and Leo.She kicked off her return with a pre-recorded monologue setting the scene for the semi-final clash.Laura Woods gives birth to first child with Adam Collard as couple reveal sweet name in adorable post And later quipped that every English person is an Arsenal fan because they are the only Premier League team left in the Champions League – prompting sniggers from her colleagues.Close pal Ally McCoist could not resist a cheeky dig at Woods’ expense by referencing PSG’s victory over the Gunners with a wry smile. More

IT’S crucial that Dream Team managers don’t get caught out by the Gameweek 34 deadline.Gaffers must confirm their transfers before 6:30pm on Friday – those who leave it until Saturday morning will miss the boat!How it feels to miss a Gameweek deadlineCredit: GettyGameweek 34 has a similar feel to Gameweek 33 in that the European semi-finals will once again take centre stage after a full round of Premier League fixtures.Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea are therefore the four teams set to pull double duty.Dream Team bosses should wait until tonight’s fixtures have played out before finalising their next moves but it’s probably wise to keep faith in the likes of Bukayo Saka (£6.1m), Bruno Fernandes (£6.8m) and Cole Palmer (£4.9m) for at least another week.Now allow us to propose some other transfer targets…Vitalyi Mykolenko (£3.5m)Current ownership: 0.4%Credit: RexIt’s always worth checking which teams have the luxury of facing Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich as the three relegated sides have given up plenty of points this season.This weekend, Saints travel to the King Power while the Tractor Boys are due to face Everton at Goodison Park.This makes Mykolenko a viable option as the Toffees’ defender with the most points to his name.David Moyes’ side boast the fifth-best defensive record in the top flight this season.Most read in FootballLooking further ahead, Everton will host Southampton in Gameweek 36 – another excellent clean sheet opportunity.The Merseysiders will be highly motivated to give their famous old ground a proper send-off and there could be some cheap points on offer against demoralised opposition.Jordan Pickford (£3.9m), Jarrad Branthwaite (£3.2m) and Jake O’Brien (£2.6m) are all decent selections for the same reasons.Dominic Solanke (£3.5m)Solanke has 23 goal involvements in Dream Team this seasonCredit: GettyRefocusing on the double headers, the most inviting of the lot seems to be Spurs against West Ham and Bodo/Glimt.In the grand scheme of things, Ange Postecoglou’s side have underwhelmed throughout 2024/25 but they actually rank highly for total Dream Team points.Solanke averages a goal or assist every 133 minutes this season and his expertly-guided header against Liverpool last weekend showed that he is capable of healthy returns even when everything else falls apart for the North Londoners.Gaffers would be wise to wait and see how the first leg of the Europa League semi-final plays out before fully committing but, as Spurs’ first-choice striker, Solanke has to be considered an appealing selection for Gameweek 34.Bryan Mbeumo (£4.8m)A class actCredit: ReutersBrentford don’t have the benefit of a second fixture this coming Gameweek but this weekend’s home game against Manchester United comes at a good time.One suspects the Red Devils will be distracted by their two-legged Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao and if that’s the case they could easily come unstuck at the Gtech, especially if Ruben Amorim rests his key players.Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle have scored more home league goals than the Bees at this stage, a testament to the formidable duo of Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa (£3.8m).Read More on The SunThe Cameroon international has made a mockery of his fixture deficit all season long to rack up 303 points – Fernandes is the only midfielder above him in the rankings at the time of writing.Recruiting Mbeumo now would also be a smart move for Gameweek 35, when Brentford travel to Ipswich.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

THIERRY HENRY has claimed he’d like to see the away goals rule return after Barcelona and Inter Milan’s goal-laden Champions League semi-final.Inter Milan were millimetres away from securing an historic win in the first leg after former Arsenal and Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was flagged offside after scoring late in the second half.Thierry Henry has called for the away goal rule to be reinstatedThuram’s clever flick gave Inter Milan the lead after just 30 secondsCredit: GettyThe semi-automated offside showed just how close Mkhitaryan came to giving the visitors the lead going into the second leg at the San Siro next week. Barcelona twice fought back to restore parity in the match and were behind within the first minute after Marcus Thuram’s clever back-heeled flick left Wojciech Szczesny rooted.Then Denzel Dumfries doubled the visitor’s lead with an acrobatic overhead kick following a corner. But only minutes later Lamine Yamal came to life and pulled one back for Barcelona. Read more football newsThe 17-year-old Yamal was electric all match, and Ferran Torres pulled Barcelona level before half-time. Against the run of play, Dumfries scored his second to put Inter ahead once more, but a thunderous strike from Raphinha pegged back the visitors once more.After a breathless display from both sides, Henry suggested that Inter Milan should have perhaps deserved more for their effort.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSpeaking about the away goals rule, Henry said: “I know it’s been like that for a very [long] time, and we have to accept it.Most read in Football”But off air I was talking to Jamie [Carragher], and I was like, ‘how can you score three goals away from home and you don’t have an advantage?”Absolute cinema’ – Kate Abdo dubbed ‘real talent’ after showing off incredible Spanish in Lamine Yamal interviewBut Yamal’s strike brought the hosts back into the gameCredit: Alamy”Away goals for me were massive, you score three goals away and you still don’t have an advantage 0-0 at home.”The rule was scrapped by Uefa in 2021, but gave added weight to goals scored by visiting teams, acting as a tiebreaker in the case that knockout ties ended level on aggregate.During his time as Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger argued that the away goals rule had too much weight and it encouraged the home team to take fewer risks.Without the rule, this semi-final will go to extra-time and penalties if the teams cannot be separated, meaning Inter’s three away goals go unrewarded. The winner will proceed to the Champions League final, with Henry admitting he was surprised by this Inter Milan performance.The French icon said: “I didn’t think that Inter Milan was going to perform how they did for how they played recently.”You have to give them a lot of credit for matching up what Barcelona gave them, coming strong in the game. To be honest, I didn’t expect that.” More

ALISHA LEHMANN has reportedly split from Douglas Luiz.The pair met at Aston Villa and began dating in 2021.Alisha Lehmann and Douglas Luiz have reportedly splitCredit: instagram @alishalehmann7The pair made a double transfer to Juventus last summerCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7Lehmann wants to stay in Turin and is under contract until 2027Credit: Instagram @tezenisofficialShe helped Juventus Women win the Serie A titleCredit: instagramThey both completed transfers to Juventus last summer, with Lehmann helping the women’s side win Serie A this season.Lehmann, who is known as the ‘world’s sexiest footballer’, celebrated wildly with her team-mates on the pitch but Luiz was not present at the match.Reports in Italy suggest the couple have split up.It has been claimed by Gazzetta dello Sport that they have not been together for some time.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe report adds Luiz is keen to quit Juventus, while Lehmann wants to remain in Turin.The midfielder is contracted at the club until 2027 and is aiming to nail down a regular spot in the team after an injury-hit season.Lehmann, 27, has completed 90 minutes in a match just once since her arrival from Villa.The win over Fiorentina, which clinched the title, was Lehmann’s first start since she completed the match against Sassuolo in November.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSFans baffled as Mark Goldbridge ‘chats up Alisha Lehmann’ on Baller League live watchalongLuiz, 26, has also struggled for game time with injuries limiting him to just three league starts.Reports claim he is now expected to leave in the summer with Manchester United interested in signing the Brazilian.Lehmann has been keeping busy while she battles injuries with Juventus by joining KSI’s Baller League in London.She has teamed up with TV host Maya Jama to take charge of MVPs United.Lehmann has plenty of Baller League experience having managed Lehmann’s Streets United in Germany – where the inaugural tournament took place after being founded by ex-Arsenal star Lukas Podolski and Mats Hummels.SunSport has contacted Lehmann’s representatives for comment.Alisha has teamed up with Maya Jama for the Baller League in LondonCredit: Getty More

ARSENAL midfield machine Thomas Partey could’ve saved the club from a Champions League disasterclass.That’s according to the man who discovered him, Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer.Thomas Partey picked up a needless second yellow card against MadridCredit: ReutersPartey was on his way out but his form could prompt a new dealCredit: GettyArsenal will hope Partey can inspire a win next weekCredit: GettyPalmer, who owns Tema Youth football club in Ghana, gave a young Partey his first opportunity in football, long before the former Atletico Madrid star was tearing up La Liga and the Premier League.The Gunners paid dearly for his absence in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to PSG in their semi-final first leg, after his needless yellow card against Real Madrid.The talent-spotter and club owner believes the Ghanaian midfielder would’ve prevented PSG from dismantling Arsenal at the Emirates.Speaking to The Sun from his base in Ghana, Palmer said: “He does things nobody else does. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”If you look at the goal Arsenal conceded against PSG that’s normally where he dominates. “His importance is quite clear, he does things in that team that nobody else does.”Partey was expected to leave Arsenal at the end of this season, but a rich vein of form has prompted the Gunners to consider offering him a new two-year deal.There are also reports linking him with a move back to Spain to join Barcelona.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBut Palmer says Partey should seize the opportunity to become an Arsenal legend.He added: “This is probably his best season since he went there, and if there’s a chance for him to stay, then that should be his home.How PSG tricked Arsenal to gain Champions League semi-final advantage”The fans love him, and I know he could make more money elsewhere, but I know him and he’s got it in him to play at the highest level for the next five years. “So why not do that at one of the best clubs in the world?”Partey has featured in 31 league games for the Gunners this season, scoring four goals. But it’s his overall impact, breaking lines with his passing and press resistance that has made him such a key member of the team. More