Real Madrid
Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez has agreed to extend his contract with the Champions League winners through 2020.
The 24-year-old Fernandez came up through Madrid’s youth program and debuted with the first team in 2011.
Last season he played in 19 matches, including three Champions League appearances.
The Spanish club did not elaborate on the new contract.
Swansea City
Swansea City captain Ashley Williams has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at the Welsh side until 2018, the Premier League club said on Friday.
The 29-year-old defender, who also captains Wales, had been linked with a move away from the Liberty Stadium but will remain at the club he joined in 2008 and helped gain promotion to the top-flight three seasons later.
“I’m delighted to sign a new contract at Swansea City,” Williams told the club website.
“I’ve enjoyed fantastic success at this club and I want to keep helping Swansea City progress.”
Valencia
Valencia say they have hired Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager.
Espirito Santo replaces Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi, who was let go this week.
Valencia say Espirito Santo’s contract is for one season, but can be extended for an additional season if “goals” are met.
Espirito Santo coached Portuguese club Rio Ave for the past two seasons.
He is Valencia’s fifth manager since Unai Emery left in 2012.
Valencia failed to qualify for European competition this season. The club is undergoing a drawn-out sale to Singaporean investor Peter Lim.
Ukraine
Ukrainian football bosses have cut the country’s top flight to 14 teams next season as the ongoing conflict in the country has hit some of the top Premiership clubs.
“The situation in the country and within the country’s football is very complicated,” Ukraine’s Football Federation (FFU) chief Anatoly Konkov told a press conference on Friday.
“We were hoping to the bitter end that Sevastopol and Stal Alchevsk would be able to play in the Premiership next season but they withdrew for various reasons leaving us no alternative but to reduce the league to 14 teams.
“But we (FFU) are ready for any surprises. Football in Ukraine is not dead. There are certain difficulties but we will surely overcome all of them.”
Last season Arsenal Kiev withdrew from the 16-team championship midway through the season because of financial difficulties.
Another top flight club, Sevastopol, were disbanded at season’s end after owner Vadim Novinksy pulled the plug on the Crimean-based outfit.
Hamburg
Hamburg have signed forward Pierre-Michel Lasogga on a five-year contract from Bundesliga rivals Hertha Berlin after he spent a season on loan at the club.
The club announced on Friday it made Lasogga’s move permanent but gave no details of the transfer deal.
The 22-year-old player’s goal in the second leg of a relegation play-off in May salvaged the top-flight status of the club, the only one never to have been relegated in the Bundesliga’s 51-year history.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE