Player Profile

A well-oiled defense can be the difference between going out in the group stage and winning a tournament. Scoring four goals in a game is well and good until you turn around are realize the other team scored five. Every successful team needs to be able to keep the ball out of its own net. Defending is an art, and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, many artists will be on display, putting their bodies on the line to ensure their team advances to the next round. But not all defenders are created equal.

Crystal Palace have signed American international defender Chris Richards from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract, both clubs said on Wednesday.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. BBC reported Palace will pay an initial $10.33 million for the 22-year-old center back, with the fee rising to $13.35 million with add-ons.

Every lock has a key, but not every key fits in every lock. Even the best have their limits. This summer, Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from Manchester United following the club’s dismal 2021-22 Premier League campaign that saw the club finish sixth with its fewest points total ever. The Red Devils will be playing Europa League soccer in the fall, and reportedly Ronaldo is less than happy and wants a move away, but where can he go?

Juventus and FC Barcelona squared off in Dallas on Wednesday night for another preseason friendly. The teams displayed their attacking prowess for 90 minutes with the spoils ultimately shared finishing 2-2, but Weston McKennie, a Dallas-area native, was strangely kept on the bench.

Are they just not gonna play McKennie in Texas?

— Matt Cocco (@MattCocco) July 27, 2022

Seven seasons after joining the club, Paulo Dybala has completed his move away from Juventus. He will be playing for AS Roma following months of speculation and near guarantees that he would be moving to Inter Milan. But what happened? How did this beautiful marriage fall apart and crumble so quickly and so catastrophically?

MLS Golden Boot winner Taty Castellanos will be making a move to Europe to join LaLiga side Girona FC, according to reports. 

More on Castellanos. Expectation internally at City Football Group is for Taty to play his final MLS game this weekend and then join La Liga side Girona from NY. #MLS

Contract details are being discussed in order to complete the deal soon. pic.twitter.com/lZ2BEtYglE

A fairly unassuming weeknight MLS match between the cellar-dwelling Chicago Fire and Toronto FC proved to be anything but on Wednesday night. Chicago took care of business at home thanks to a pair of goals by 18-year-old Colombian Jhon Durán, the second of which has garnered much attention thanks to a spectacular assist. 

THIS FLICK TO SET UP THE GOAL pic.twitter.com/HC9dKYo7gi

Last month, MLS club LAFC completed the signing of Giorgio Chiellini on a free transfer from Juventus. He's the league's second major Italian signing this summer after Lorenzo Insigne joined Toronto FC on a free transfer.

Ghana's long and winding road to inevitably playing the USMNT at the semifinal stage of the 2022 World Cup took another surprising turn Tuesday as 28-year-old Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams declared himself open to selection after previously turning down Ghana's overtures.