Chelsea sign Brazilian striker Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal worth a reported £60 million ($79 million) on Wednesday.

Pedro jetted to the United States, where Chelsea are playing in the Club World Cup, on Sunday after the terms of his eight-year contract were agreed.

With the transfer now confirmed following a medical, Pedro is available to play for Enzo Maresca’s side in their Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia.

FIFA has given clubs involved in the Club World Cup knockout phase until July 3 to register new players for the tournament.

“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” Pedro said.

“They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing – win.”

Pedro, who joined Brighton for £30 million from Watford two years ago, scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for the Seagulls and has been capped three times by Brazil.

The 23-year-old missed Brighton’s final two matches of the season after being dropped due to a training ground altercation with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Pedro is the fourth player Chelsea have signed from Brighton in recent years after Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea, who qualified for next season’s Champions League, have already splashed out on striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo and defender Mamadou Sarr since the end of last term.

Brazilian rising star Estevao Willian, 18, will join the Blues after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras.

Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, has admitted that he had the chance of playing at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup, but he turned down the opportunity because he wanted to enjoy the summer break ahead of next season.

Before Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr on Thursday, there were strong speculations that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was wanted by a Club World Cup side, Al Hilal.

The Middle Eastern giants were aiming to bring in Ronaldo ahead of the tournament but the 40-year-old Portuguese football icon reportedly turned down the offer.

Also, before the Club World Cup kicked off, FIFA President Gianni Infantino told reporters that there were ongoing efforts to make Ronaldo play at the tournament even though his current club, Al Nassr were not qualified for it.

Amid the speculations, Ronaldo who is aiming to hit a record-setting 1,000 career goals, signed a contract extension with his current club.

“I had some offers to play in the World Cup but I think it didn’t make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long as it is the World Cup season at the end of the year,” Ronaldo said in a video Al Nassr shared on 𝕏.

“I want to be ready not only for Al Nassr but also for the national team. So, this is why I decided to play the last game for the Nations League and not listen to anything.

“And of course, to be in this club, which I love”.

On why he decided to remain at Al Nassr, where he has been playing since January 2023, Ronaldo, who has won at least a trophy for his previous clubs, said he aims to do the same for the Saudi side.

“My goal is always to win something important for Al Nassr. And of course I still believe in that” Ronaldo added.

“This is why I renewed for two more years because I believe that I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia”.

Note that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for Al Nassr in all competitions. He currently has a record 932 career goals.

Newcastle United delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Manchester United in a Premier League clash that highlighted the Red Devils’ significant defensive shortcomings, especially in the absence of their first-choice goalkeeper, Andre Onana.

Newcastle United came out of the gates with intensity, and their efforts were rewarded when Sandro Tonali opened the scoring in the 24th minute against a disorganized Manchester United’s side.

Tonali found himself in the right place at the right time, converting a well-placed cross with a deft touch that left Manchester United’s defense scrambling.

Although United’s Alejandro Garnacho briefly reignited hopes for the visitors with an equalizer in the 37th minute, his strike was quickly overshadowed by Newcastle’s commanding presence in the second half.

Harvey Barnes emerged as the standout performer of the match, netting a brace with goals in the 49th and 64th minutes.

His first goal showcased his blistering pace as he outmaneuvered the United defense before finding the back of the net with a low, powerful shot.

Just fifteen minutes later, he struck again, capitalizing on a defensive error to extend Newcastle’s lead further. The relentless pressure from the home side kept emerging and left coach Ruben Amorim’s side struggling to regain their composure.

To cap off an impressive team performance, Bruno Guimarães added a fourth goal in the 77th minute. He received the ball just outside the box, showing exceptional composure as he curled a beautifully placed shot into the bottom corner, sealing the victory and sending the St. James’ Park crowd into ecstatic celebration.

The absence of Onana was acutely felt, with Manchester United’s defense appearing disorganized and vulnerable throughout the match. The goalkeeping duties fell to a less experienced player who struggled to instill confidence in a backline that has faced criticism for its frailty.

This defeat exacerbates existing concerns about Manchester United’s current form and invites scrutiny of their tactical setup and defensive organization.

With this emphatic win, Newcastle United have pushed themselves to the 4th spot on the league table with 56 points in 31 games. On the other hand, the defeat has dropped Manchester United to the 14th spot on the league table with 38 points in 32 games.