Sports
Jorginho is a Gunner After His Transfer From Chelsea in January Transfer Window
After Mohamed Elneny was ruled out with a “serious” injury and Albert Sambi Lokonga was loaned to Crystal Palace, Arsenal needed further midfield help. However, Arsenal was unable to acquire Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
Who had Jorginho’s move to Arsenal on their bingo card on the final day of the transfer window? The Gunners had been attempting to pry Moises Caicedo away from Brighton, but Chelsea’s acquisition of the playmaker demonstrated that they had given up, at least for the time being, as fans explore sports betting.
The January transfer window is over. If Arsenal wants to make history and become significant in the Premier League by winning it, they will have to depend on their bunch of players.
They are the best-performing and most consistent squad this season and lead the league by five points with one game remaining. However, the final few days were a complete shambles. In the end, Mikel Arteta did receive what he desired.
Jorginho was acquired from Chelsea on the last day of the transfer window for £12 million by Arsenal. This improves their midfield as they prepare to compete for the title.
The 31-year-old Italian midfielder has agreed to a contract for 18 months, with an additional year potential.
Arsenal Lands Jorginho on Deadline Day
The Italian international arrived from Chelsea on the final day of the transfer window to offer them more alternatives in the middle of the field for the second half of the season and to add more experience to our youthful squad.
After losing Mohamed Elneny to a knee injury, the Premier League’s top team has been searching for midfield reinforcements. After two unsuccessful Caicedo offers, they launched a play for Jorginho.
The discussions with Chelsea were swift, and it was reported less than three hours before the deadline that the Italy international, whose contract was up at the end of the season, would be joining Arsenal. The charge is £10 million, with the remainder paid as further compensation.
The 31-year-old joined Chelsea in 2018. He was a member of the teams that won the Champions League and Europa League in 2021 and 2019, respectively.
He was also an integral component of Italy’s Euro 2020 victory.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta noted on the club’s website that Jorginho is a cerebral midfielder with good leadership qualities and a wealth of Premier League and international experience. Jorginho has received numerous accolades throughout his career, but he remains hungry and eager to contribute here.
The Blues are receiving compensation for a player who could have departed for free in the summer. Arsenal believes that Jorginho’s experience will help them win the championship.
Arteta Finally Gets Him
Arsenal attempted to acquire Jorginho from Chelsea in the summer of 2020, immediately after he won the Champions League with the Blues and a year before he won the European Championships with Italy.
In 2018, when Manchester City attempted to recruit Jorginho, Arteta was also an assistant coach. However, Jorginho opted to join Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea instead.
“Off the pitch, Jorginho is a kind and humorous individual. He departs Chelsea with 213 games and four winners’ trophies, but he is most happy of the 2021 Champions League victory, in which he played a significant role”, according to Chelsea. “Good luck in the future, Jorgi!”
Jorginho stated on Arteta: “He was a big issue because I knew he attempted to get me in the past, but it didn’t work out for reasons other than what I want.
I am enthusiastic about this new challenge and cannot wait to take the field! Everything happened so quickly. I couldn’t believe it, but I seized this incredible opportunity.”
“Jorginho is a tenacious professional with a wealth of experience who contributes quality and expertise to our club,” stated Edu, the sports director. “He is a player who complements our style of play, and he joins us at a crucial time when he can assist us in a key position. Jorginho is now with Arsenal.”
The £12 million could prove to be a wise investment, despite going against what the Gunners have done in the past.
Everything has been prepared for the long term, but it is a good idea to bring in experienced players like Jorginho and Leandro Trossard as soon as possible. The benefits of recruiting winners cannot be overstated, and Jorginho is a winner who has won numerous trophies with Chelsea.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals when they face Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday at 9:00 pm at the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
The defending champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia and will now be aiming to finish the group stage strongly. All the matches of the tournament air live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv.
The final matchday of Group A saw hosts Morocco play out a goalless draw with Senegal, a result that was enough to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals in first position in their group. Algeria also secured their place in the knockout stages after a 2-0 victory over Kenya, bringing their group-stage campaign to a strong close.
Tuesday, Group B will conclude with Burkina Faso facing South Africa before Tanzania takes on Ivory Coast. South Africa and Ivory Coast played out a 2-2 draw in their previous match, while Burkina Faso bounced back from their opening defeat with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania. With the group still to be decided, the final results will determine which teams join the quarter-final line-up.
All eyes will then turn to Group C on Wednesday, where Egypt will face Nigeria, and Malawi will take on Zambia, with both matches kicking off at 9:00 pm. The Super Falcons will be hoping to build on their victory over Zambia and secure the result they need to advance to the knockout stages, while Egypt will be looking to end their campaign on a positive note after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Malawi in their previous game.
Nigeria’s final group match comes after a difficult start to their title defence. The Super Falcons were stunned 3-2 by Malawi in their opening game but responded with a 1-0 victory over Zambia to revive their campaign. The ten-time champions will now need to complete the job against Egypt as they look to keep their hopes of retaining the continental crown alive.
The final group-stage fixtures on Thursday will see Ghana take on Mali, and Cape Verde face Cameroon on Thursday, with both matches also scheduled for 9:00 pm. Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing, while Mali secured a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde. The final results will determine which teams progress to the knockout stages from Group D.
Matchday 3 Fixtures
Tuesday, August 4
Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 9:00 pm
Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 5
Egypt vs Nigeria – 9:00 pm
Malawi vs Zambia – 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 6
Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9:00 pm
Mali vs Ghana – 9:00 pm
SuperSport Brings All the Live Action
Catch every match of WAFCON Morocco 2026 live on SS Football (Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS Football Plus (DStv Ch. 202) on DStv and GOtv. Fans can also stream every match live on DStv Stream from ₦6,000, with no decoder or dish required.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
The start of a football season always tricks people a little. Everything looks fresh. New shirts, new signings, clean tables, confident managers, fans talking themselves into hope again. Then the first few matches arrive, and half the predictions start wobbling. That is what makes early-season betting interesting. It is not tidy yet. Manchester City may still be Manchester City, but that does not mean they are sharp from the first whistle. Arsenal might look strong on paper and still need time to settle. Chelsea can have another summer full of noise and still leave bettors guessing. Real Madrid might have the stars, but even stars need minutes together. The first weeks are not about certainty. They are about spotting who is ready before the market fully catches up.
New Signings Need Time
Transfer excitement can make people rush. A new striker arrives at Arsenal and suddenly every goals market feels tempting. Manchester United sign a defender and people start talking about clean sheets. Chelsea add another expensive player and the same old question comes back: does this actually fix the team, or just add another name? Sometimes a signing changes everything quickly. More often, there is an awkward stage first. A forward needs to learn where the passes come from. A midfielder needs to understand the press. A centre-back needs to build trust with the goalkeeper and full-backs. That is why early-season betting after the Betway app download should not treat a new signing like a finished answer. The name matters, but the fit matters more.
World Cup Legs Will Matter
This season also carries the weight of the World Cup. Some players will come back flying. Some will come back flat. Some may start the season with managed minutes because their clubs cannot afford to burn them out early. That can change player markets fast. A bettor looking through the betway app before a weekend card should not only check the famous names in the lineup. Look at who played deep into the World Cup, who missed pre-season, who came back late, and who is being protected by the manager. A star on the pitch is not always a star at full speed.
Early Tables Can Lie
The first league table always looks more dramatic than it is. One big club drops points, and everyone starts asking if there is a crisis. One promoted side wins at home, and suddenly people talk about momentum. A striker scores twice, and the golden boot conversations begin before anyone has really learned anything. That noise can be useful, but only if bettors do not get swallowed by it. Early results need context. Did the team actually play well, or just finish two chances? Did they control the game, or survive pressure? Was the opponent missing key players? Did the manager rotate because of fitness?
Patience Beats The Big Prediction
The new season will settle. The strong teams will usually rise, the weaker squads will get exposed, and the table will start to make more sense. But the opening weeks are different. They are full of strange fitness levels, overhyped signings, tired stars and teams that are still trying to remember what they are meant to be. That is why betting on the upcoming season should start slowly. Do not fall in love with last season’s form. Do not trust every transfer story. Do not assume every World Cup star is ready to carry club football straight away. The value is often hiding in the messy part, before everyone else agrees what the season really looks like.
