"He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher. As well, he has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. "He is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season." Lacazette, who has won 11 caps for France, has scored at least 20 league goals in each of the last three seasons and managed 37 in 45 games last season as Lyon finished fourth in Ligue 1 and reached the Europa League semi-finals.#LacaNewSigning ? pic.twitter.com/FTNYLqx9RX
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 5, 2017
#LacaNewSigning ? pic.twitter.com/bo3qoZFCAU— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 5, 2017He becomes Arsenal's second major signing of the close season, following the arrival of Bosnia defender Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer from Schalke 04. The arrival of Lacazette will be a boost for the Gunners, who won the FA Cup last season but only finished fifth in the Premier League, meaning that this season they will miss out on the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.Real Madrid defender Coentrao joins Sporting on loanReal Madrid's full back Fabio Coentrao has joined Sporting in his native Portugal on a one-year loan from the Spanish club. "I’m very happy to have the chance to play at this great club," he said on Twitter. Coentrao signed for Madrid from Benfica in 2011 for 30 million euros ($34 million). He will be looking to resurrect a career that has been blighted with injury in his second loan spell away from the Spanish capital following a year at Monaco in 2015/16.
Coentrao has played 106 games in five full seasons for Real, spending the 2015-16 campaign on loan at Monaco. He has never played more than 20 league games in a single season. In that time he has won two La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and a King's Cup. He has made 51 appearances for Portugal, although a thigh injury prevented him from taking part in his country's victorious Euro 2016 campaign. Following an injury-ravaged season at Monaco, where he played 15 league games, Coentrao returned to Madrid last summer. He made six appearances in all competitions last season but was left out of the squad for the Champions League final victory over Juventus.Torres extends Atletico contractAtletico Madrid forward Fernando Torres has signed a one-year contract keeping him in the Spanish capital through to June 2018, the La Liga club said on Wednesday. “I’m delighted to stay here for another year,” the 33-year-old Torres, who joined Atletico aged 11 and has made 294 appearances for them, told the club website.Tão bem que o @Fabio_Coentrao fica de verde e branco! ?⚪️ #FeitoDeSporting pic.twitter.com/UO2FOmigx6
— Sporting CP (@Sporting_CP) July 5, 2017
Happy to stay one more year with all of you. Thanks for joining me for so many years ... and the remaining ones#forzaatleti pic.twitter.com/GYRHhVgAoj— Fernando Torres (@Torres) July 5, 2017After making his first-team debut in 2001, the striker went on to become captain before joining Liverpool in 2007. Spells with Chelsea and AC Milan followed before the twice European Championship and 2010 World Cup winner returned to Atletico in 2015.Pienaar joins South African champions WitsJohannesburg-born former Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland midfielder Steven Pienaar joined South African Premiership champions Wits Wednesday on a one-year contract. "I am officially a Clever Boy," tweeted Pienaar, referring to the nickname of his new club whose home ground is on the University of the Witwatersrand campus in Johannesburg. The former South Africa captain made 61 international appearances and scored three goals. He moved from Ajax Cape Town to Ajax Amsterdam in 2001, setting in motion a European career that spanned three countries and 16 years.
Pienaar left Ajax for German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, then played for Everton, Tottenham, Everton again and Sunderland. His contract with relegated Sunderland ended last month and the 35-year-old had been linked with several South African clubs before signing for Wits. The Johannesburg club became national champions last season for the first time in their 96-year history.Olympiakos sign Nigerian striker EmenikeNigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike has joined Olympiakos from Fenerbahce, the Greek champions announced on Wednesday. While the club did not confirm details of the deal, local media reported the contract is for two years with an option for an additional 12 months and that the transfer fee was 2.5 million euros ($2.84m).I'm officially a Clever Boy
— Steven Pienaar (@therealstevenpi) July 5, 2017
Emenike is unveiled as Thrylos' new targetman, signing an initial 2 year deal. #Transfershttps://t.co/Yk2nhNl03c— Olympiakos (Eng) (@Olympiakos_eng) July 5, 2017Emenike, 30, scored nine goals for the Nigerian national team in 37 matches. While at Fenerbahce he spent spells on loan at Abu Dhabi-based club Al Ain and English Premier League side West Ham United.Real buy French teenager Hernandez from AtleticoFrench left-back Theo Hernandez, 19, completed a cross-city transfer from Atletico to Real Madrid for a reported fee of 30 million euros ($34 million) on Wednesday. The announcement ends a drawn out struggle for one of Europe's up-and-coming talents, with the European and Spanish champions Real prising the youngster away from their city rivals. "Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid have agreed the transfer of Theo Hernandez, who will be contracted to the club for the next six seasons," said a statement on the Real website.
"At only 19 years of age, Theo was one of the most outstanding players in the league last season." Atletico had been keen to extend his contract that had been due to expire in a year, but eventually decided to cash in after the player refused all their offers.Atalanta sign Slovenia midfielder Ilicic from FiorentinaSlovenia midfielder Josip Ilicic has made a permanent move to Atalanta from Serie A rivals Fiorentina, the Bergamo-based club said on Wednesday (www.atalanta.it). The 29-year-old, who has won 44 caps for Slovenia, joined the Florentine club in 2013 after a three-year stint at Palermo, who were relegated from Serie A last season.⚽??? #WelcomeTheo? @theo3_theo #RealMadrid #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/1sJLp2OQWV
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 5, 2017
Benvenuto Josip #Iličić https://t.co/CiVovBzt1A #AtalantaLife ??#GoAtalantaGo ⚫? #EuAtalanta pic.twitter.com/E6FIDRkGkS— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) July 5, 2017Ilicic, who made 30 league appearances and scored five goals last season, will help Atalanta, who qualified for the Europa League after ending fourth in the standings, with their return to Europe for the first time in 26 years.Huddersfield sign winger Tom Ince from Derby CountyHuddersfield Town has signed Tom Ince from English Championship side Derby County on a three-year contract, the Premier League newcomers said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old winger, who joined Derby in 2015 after a successful loan spell, previously played in the top-flight for Crystal Palace and Hull City. "Everybody in England knows that Tom has high quality; he has been one of the best players in the Sky Bet Championship for many years now," Huddersfield manager David Wagner said in a statement.
"He scores goals, creates them for others and is always a threat when he's on the pitch, so I’m very happy to welcome him to the Club today." Ince had either scored or assisted 55 goals in his 115 appearances for Derby ahead of his move to the West Yorkshire club. Huddersfield, who return to the top division after a 45-year absence, will visit Crystal Palace in their opening league fixture on Aug. 12.Chelsea's Abraham joins Swansea on a season-long loanChelsea striker Tammy Abraham has joined Swansea City on a season-long loan deal, the Welsh club said on Tuesday. Abraham, who also signed a new five-year contract with his parent club, scored 26 goals in 48 games on loan at English Championship side Bristol City last season.CONFIRMED: Tom Ince joins #htafc from @dcfcofficial for an undisclosed fee, signing a three year contract! ? https://t.co/3SiKUF8iyv (DTS) pic.twitter.com/gNc0gzhlJP
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) July 4, 2017
? We today confirmed our second signing of the summer... Welcome, @tammyabraham... ? He's keen to impress ? https://t.co/qvNq3Spd5V pic.twitter.com/weHwwymXpX— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) July 4, 2017He also scored once in four games as England's under-21 side reached the semi-finals of the European Championship last month. The 19-year-old will join Swansea boss Paul Clement, who worked as a coach at Chelsea between 2007 and 2011. Swansea, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, open their 2017-18 campaign at Southampton on Aug. 12.Vitolo to join Las Palmas on loan as part of Atletico moveSpain international Vitolo has an agreement to spend the first half of next season on loan at Las Palmas if his move from Sevilla to Atletico Madrid is finalised, the Canary Island club said on Tuesday. According to reports in the Spanish media Atletico are close to agreeing a 40 million euro ($45 million) move for the forward, who began his career at Las Palmas before joining Sevilla in 2013. Atletico are unable to register new players until January while they serve a transfer ban for the illegal transfer of minors. Las Palmas sporting director Toni Cruz told reporters on Tuesday at the presentation of new coach Manolo Marquez that the club's president Miguel Angel Ramirez had met Atletico director general Miguel Angel Gil Marin in the Spanish capital to discuss the arrangement. Vitolo, 27, has scored 27 goals in 171 games for Sevilla, winning the Europa League three times, although defender Nico Pareja said on Monday the team respected the forward's desire to leave.
