MATCHH DAYY
10
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PREMIER LEAGUE CARDS!
VINI JR TO ARSENAL SAKA TO REAL
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FRAN KIRBY INTERVIEW BERNARDO SILVA Q&A ARSENAL'S TITLE CHARGE BRAIN-BUSTIN' QUIZZES snood A. . TRANSFER MESSI TO MAN. CITY
BEEP! BOP!
are yya?
ese Can you name thlle rs? ba BRRR-ILLIANT
SALAH TO BARCA
chaos!
A.I. pre predicts January’s BIG signings – and it’s bonkers!
ET BES EURROOPE'SS BE STRIKER! Who's gonna win the Golden Shoe?
EPIC UCL POSTERS!
SIGNINAGLS! SPECI
NAH, NO WAY BRLOO WA OK!
Prem's most expensive EVER! Jan's DONE DEALS!
Who would YOU sign for?
NEW YEAR, NEW
Issue 743 £4.99
14 – 27 January 2026
THE COOL EST THINGS IN FOOT Y RIGHT NOW!
S I E L TIT N5! E H T E IN V I L A
ARSENAL’S TROPHY CHARGE? IMAGINE TOPPING not one, but two leagues. That’s the level Arsenal are at – flying high in the Premier League and unbeaten in the Champions League. The Gunners are in full title-charge mode, doing whatever it takes to win – whether it’s grinding out a result, scoring another set-piece goal or a David Raya wondersave. So, with five months to go, will they finally lift a trophy – or four?!
2
WHY ARSENAL WILL WIN! 1 FIVE STATS that show Arsenal have truly activated win mode…
They don’t lose! Arsenal have only lost twice all season. Only Liverpool and Aston Villa have beaten the Gunners!
MY
How sick is Arse nal's form ?
NG! I T A R /10
Keep up to date with the latest Premier League results on bbc.co.uk/sport/football Keep up to date with all the latest footy news at bbc.co.uk/football
TROPHY GOALS! COLOUR THE ribbons of the trophies you think Arsenal will win this season!
THE PREMIER LEAGUE
THE FA CUP
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
THE EFL CUP
JAKE SAYS
Gabriel's header in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa was Arsenal’s 600th goal under boss Mikel Arteta!
2
They don’t concede! Between October and early November, David Raya didn’t concede a single goal. Arsenal’s eight-game clean-sheet streak was their best since 1903!
3
They all grab goals! They’ve had 12 different scorers in the Prem this season – from giant centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes to current top scorer Leandro Trossard!
5
They’ve got their captain back! Club captain Martin Even the Odegaard is back to oppo scores his best – no Prem for them! player ranks better for through-balls In December, four of Arsenal’s and perfect goals came from their opponents line-breaking – own goals! This isn’t just luck: it takes skill to force errors like this! passes!
4
3
KYLIAN MBAPPE Club Real Madrid Age 27 League La Liga, Spain
2025-26 SO FAR
THE COOL EST THINGS IN FOOT Y RIGHT NOW!
18 GOALS IN 18 GAMES
THE R O CE F HOE! A R THE LDEN S GO
GOAL-DEN GUYS! ALL EYES may be fixed on Europe's title races, but there’s another epic battle taking place across the continent – the battle for the Golden Shoe. Three superstars of the game – Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe – are neck-and-neck in their hunt to be crowned Europe’s top league goalscorer for the 2025-26 season. Who do YOU think will win it?
4 2
MY NG! I T A How exci ted are you R for this batt le? /10
Watch Match of the Day, Saturdays on BBC One or on BBC iPlayer
ERLING HAALAND Club Man. City Age 25 League Premier League, England
2025-26 SO FAR 20 GOALS IN 21 GAMES
EUROPEAN GOLDEN SHOE Last 5 winners
2024-25
KYLIAN MBAPPE Real Madrid
31 goals
2023-24 HARRY KANE Bayern Munich
36 goals
HARRY KANE
2022-23 ERLING HAALAND Man. City
Club Bayern Munich Age 32 League Bundesliga, Germany
36 goals
2025-26 SO FAR 19 GOALS IN 15 GAMES
2021-22 ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI Bayern Munich
The Golden Shoe winner will be... MBAPP E HAALAND KANE
35 goals 2020-21 SKI SK ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI Bayern Munich
41 goals
Stats correct as of 9 January 2026.
5
THE COOL EST THINGS IN FOOT Y RIGH T NOW!
C
ING H T Y N! E AN P P HA OULD
WHAT NEXT FOR U NITED?
SACK ED
THE RED DEVILS have hit the reset button! Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim has been given the boot as Man. United look to switch things up – including their faltering form. They’re looking at appointing a temporary manager until the summer – but who should get the job next season, and who should he sign?
YOU’RE IN WHO SHOULD BE BOSS NEXT SEASON? C H A RG E ! WHAT WOULD you do if YOU were making the decisions at Old Trafford?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Gareth Southgate
Adam Wharton
Carlos Balebaa
Oliver Glasner
Enzo Maresca
Elliot Anderson
Angelo Stiller
SOMEONE ELSE? 6
WHO SHOULD THEY SIGN?
SOMEONE ELSE?
For all the latest transfer rumours, go to bbc.co.uk/sport/football/gossip
D R O F H RAS
MARCUS
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our helP. These ballers need y 026! 2 they should rock in
Al-Nassr
I LIONEL MESS Inter Miami
HOLLYWOOD-ALDO
Bo u
Ncy
HEADBAND-ALDO
! W WO
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MESSI MOP TOP
ERLING HAALAND
Man. City
Wavy!
PERM-ALDO 8
THE SURF DUDE THE FLOPPY ONE
!
Snippy snip, lads!
R,
! R I A H Tick the hairstyle
! y tid MOHAMED SALAH
Liverpool
MAN BUN MO
DREADS MO
FLOWING MO
MESSI MOHICAN
COLE PALMER Chelsea
COLE'S BALD
COLE'S CURTAINS THE NOODLES
COLE'S JUST WOKE UP
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WN
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9
M A H G N I L L E B JUDE
REAL MADRID
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ARE YA?
1 PO for eaINchT correct answer!
Get it off me – itchy, itchy, itchy!
Can YOU name these brrrr-illiant ballers?
FREEZIN’ FORWARD! 1 Name: Club:
ORIGINAL ICE-MAN! 2 Name: Club:
DEEP-FROZEN FOREST! 4 Name: Club:
ARCTIC ITALIAN! 3 Name: Club:
A COOL KEEPER! 5 Name: Club:
A CHILLY CHERRY! 6 Name: Club:
YOUR OUR
FROZE N FOOTY F O BRAIN POWER
YOUR SCORE
n /12
11-12 GENIUS 9-10 PROFESSIONAL 7-8 SEMI-PRO 3-6 AMATEUR 1-2 SUNDAY LEAGUE 0 OH NO, DISASTER
11
1 Lamine Yamal, Barcelona 2 Cole Palmer, Chelsea 3 Gianluigi Donnarumma, Man. City 4 Morgan Gibbs-White, Nott’m Forest 5 Hannah Hampton, Chelsea 6 Evanilson, Bournemouth
ANSWERS!
R r E e F f S s N n A a R r T A. . t a
chAOS!
! S R E K N O B Y L E T U L IT'S ABSO WE ASKED ChatGPT to predict this month’s transfer window comings and goings – and THIS is what it said!
LIONEL MESSI MAN. CITY FROM INTER MIAMI
The story With the MLS season not kicking off until the end of February, Pep Guardiola phones his old Barca mate and convinces him to move to the Etihad on loan for the second half of the season. Football loses its mind! HOW IT PANS OUT... Wins, wonder-strikes and wizardry. Messi is magic in Manchester and steers City to two trophies, including the Champions League! 12
A.I. is artificial intelligence – it’s a computer program that can think, learn, make decisions, and solve problems, almost like a robot version of a human brain!
LOAN
BUKAYO SAKA REAL MADRID FROM ARSENAL
£165m
The story Arsenal may be top of the table, but you don’t say no to Real. After Saka agrees to the move, Arsenal thrash out a record Prem sale. Star Boy’s switch to Madrid sees him line up alongside England teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham at the Bernabeu! HOW IT PANS OUT... Arsenal wobble but do claim the Prem title. Saka rips it up for Real, replacing Vinicius Jr in an all-star front three with Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe!
VINICIUS JR ARSENAL FROM REAL MADRID
The story Skilful, speedy and a certified superstar. The Brazilian baller swaps the Bernabeu for life in London, joining the Gunners as Saka’s replacement. At Vini’s unveiling, Mikel Arteta drops the line: “We don’t rebuild – we upgrade!” HOW IT PANS OUT... The 25-year-old locks down the leftwing spot and takes his game up a gear. Vini runs rings around Prem defenders, scores big goals and becomes a fan favourite at the Emirates!
£110m
LAMINE YAMAL MAN. CITY FROM BARCELONA
The story It turns out that nothing is impossible. Just days after the shock signing of Messi, City go even bigger and break the world transfer record to bring Lamine Yamal to the Prem, following the youngster’s huge bust-up with Barca boss Hansi Flick!
m 0 2 2 £
HOW IT PANS OUT... After a slow start, Yamal becomes unstoppable. He finishes the season with 16 goals and 16 assists. The Premier League has a new hero, and he’s just getting started!
VICTOR OSIMHEN CHELSEA FROM GALATASARAY
The story Osimhen slaps in a transfer request at Galatasaray, claiming he needs a new challenge – and new Blues boss Liam Rosenior jumps at the chance to bring the Nigeria striker to Stamford Bridge in a club record deal! HOW IT PANS OUT... The 27-year-old frontman transforms Chelsea’s attack and scores in each of his first eight games, propelling the Blues up the table and into the Champions League spots! 14
£110m
MOHAMED SALAH BARCELONA FROM LIVERPOOL
£40m
The story Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at the Nou Camp is cut short due to injury, sending Barca back to the drawing board. After losing Yamal, a new hero is needed – enter the Egyptian King! HOW IT PANS OUT... Salah quickly returns to top form, scoring for fun and breathing new life into the Barca attack. After wrapping up La Liga, thanks to Mo’s goals, he becomes a legend at the Nou Camp!
HARRY KANE MAN. UNITED FROM BAYERN MUNICH
The story After sacking Ruben Amorim, United aren’t messing about, so they splash the cash on a man who knows the secret to scoring – Kane. Harry, who is handed the No.9 shirt, returns to the Prem with a point to prove!
m 0 6 £
HOW IT PANS OUT... Kane does what Kane does – score goals. He sets to work immediately on becoming the Premier League’s record scorer, one goal at a time. There’s a new hero at Old Trafford! 15
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WSL! A BUSY DOW WIN HAVE been some major THERE WSL moves this month!
All the latest moves and done deals!
LEA SCHULLER
Bayern Munich To Man. United
£35m SMILLA HOLMBERG Hammarby To Arsenal
BREN AN EAGLE!
BRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham’s Europa League match-winner in the final against Man. United back in May – now he’s Crystal Palace’s new No.11. The Welsh winger has struggled for game time since that night in Bilbao – so when Palace came calling, Spurs cashed in for £35 million!
TEN-SECOND GUIDE TO JOHNSON FULL NAME Brennan Price Johnson
FC 26 CARD
24
LAST SEASON HE WAS...
COUNTRY
Wales
18
FC26 CARD
Chelsea TO Tottenham
SHIRT No.
11
AGE
MAIKA HAMANO
Tottenham’s top scorer!
ALICE BERGSTROM Hacken TO Liverpool
PREM PURCHASES!
CRYSTAL PALACE weren’t the only Premier League club to loosen their purse strings and strengthen their squad this month!
BOURNEMOUTH
TO MAN. CITY
LAZIO
TO WEST HAM
Antoine Semenyo £64m Taty Castellanos £25.2m Age: 26 Position: Forward Country: Ghana Top tek: Dynamic dribbler
Age: 27 Position: Striker Country: Argentina Top tek: Team player
GIL VILCENTE
B. DORTMUND
TO WEST HAM
Pablo Felipe £18.3m Age: 22 Position: Striker Country: Portugal Top tek: Eye for goal
TO BRIGHTON
Pascal Gross £1.8m Age: 34 Position: Midfielder Country: Germany Top tek: Ground gobbler 19
TRANSFER SPECIAL
TRANSFER SPECIAL
WHO WILL YOU
SIGN FOR? THESE FIVE CLUBS want to sign you – but you can only choose one. Read all the contract offers... and then make your choice!
Before you start, work out what’s HOW TO DECIDE! important for your career. Rank these things 1-5 in the boxes:
GAMETIME I want to play! FANS I want to be a hero!
1 = Most important 5 = Least important
MONEY I want to earn! CONTRACT OFFER 1 INTER MIAMI
A TOP COACH I want to learn! TROPHIES I want titles!
CONTRACT OFFER 2 REAL MADRID
Draw yo ur se lf ino! th e of fic ia l ph ot
th 3 years length: Contract l Weekly wage: £25,000 Role: First team player Boss: Javier Mascherano Paul Teammates: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Rodrigo de Bonus: Regular BBQ invites to David Beckham’s house WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN: ✔ Sunshine and palm trees ✔ Play with Messi ✔ Pink kits = instant drip
SIGNATURE:
20
Sign here – but chec k the cont ract first !
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID: ✘ Long flights to away matches ✘ No Champions League ✘ Everyone only interested in Messi DATE:
Contract length: 2 years Weekly wage: £90,000 Role: Squad player Boss: Xabi Alonso Teammates: Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Viniciu s Jr Bonus: Your goal cele copied by kids across the world WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN: ✔ Biggest club on Earth ✔ Champions League nights ✔ Trophies guaranteed SIGNATURE:
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID: ✘ Every mistake gets whistled ✘ Huge stars = huge egos ✘ Pressure level: EXTREME DATE:
TRANSFER SPECIAL
CONTRACT OFFER 4 WREXHAM
CONTRACT OFFER 3 AL-NASSR
Contract length: 4 years Weekly wage: £350,000 Role: First team player Boss: Jorge Jesus Teammates: Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Kingsle y Coman Bonus: A golden palace for winning the league WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN: ✔ Ridiculously big wages ✔ Play alongside CR7 ✔ Luxury five-star lifestyle SIGNATURE:
TRANSFER SPECIAL
WHY H YOU SHOULD AVOID: ✘ Super-hot temperatures ✘ Poor standard of football ✘ People in Europe will forget about you DATE:
Contract length: 3 years Weekly wage: £15,000 Role: Star player Boss: Phil Parkinson Teammates: Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass, Lewis O’Brien Bonus: A small walk-on part in a US sitcom WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN: ✔ Disney TV cameras everywhere
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID: ✘ Disney TV cameras everywhere
✔ Become famous in the USA
✘ Little chance of silverware
✔ Become mates with Hollywood A-listers!
✘ Small stadium and average teammates DATE:
SIGNATURE:
MY DREAM CLUB Draw their badge here CONTRACT! CLUB NAME
CONTRACT OFFER 5 MAN. UNITED
Grab your pen and draw up your own dream contract. Add the club, players and any boss in the world you’d like!
rs ear years ngth: 4 y len t length: C t Contrac Weekly wage: £140,000 Role: Squad player Boss: Vacant Cunha Teammates: Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Bonus: Free lunch with Gary Neville and Roy Keane WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN: ✔ Huge club with global fanbase ✔ Iconic history ✔ Play at the Theatre of Dreams SIGNATURE:
Weekly wage: £ Role: First team Squad player As a: Goalkeeper Defender Midfielder Forward Striker Who would your The boss:
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID: ✘ No league title for 13 years ✘ Every mistake all over the media ✘ Unsure who long-term manager will be DATE:
three dream teammat es be?
The teammates: 1)
Draw your big unveiling ! Write the shirt number you want! The shirt:
2) 3)
Draw your dream boss Bonus:
If we win:
What bonus would motivate you? Money or something else?
21
O D E C I CA MOISES
CHELSEA
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MARTIN
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ARSENAL
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c r az y
TRANSFER RANS R GENERATOR!! Tick one answer for each question below to help create your own SPECTACULAR January transfer!
1 THE PLAYER
Tick the date your birthday is on! 1-4 Lionel Messi 5-8 Cristiano Ronaldo 9-12 You 13-16 Jude Bellingham 17-20 Harry Maguire 21-24 Harry Kane 25-27 A goat (yes, an actual goat) 28-29 Phil Foden 30-31 David Beckham (out of retirement)
24
2 THE BUYING CLUB Tick the month you were born! JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Liverpool Hearts Everton Newcastle Borussia Dortmund Shrewsbury New York Red Bulls Barcelona PSG Napoli Aston Villa Galatasaray
For all the latest transfer gossip, go to bbc.co.uk/football
3 THE TRANSFER FEE
Tick what pet you have! CAT DOG FISH REPTILE RABBIT BIRD GUINEA PIG HAMSTER OTHER NO PET
£75 million £15 million Bag of footballs £2 million A tenner FREE £150 million LOAN £250 m millio million illioonn £500,000
4 THE BIGG UUNVEILING NV
Tick your favourite snack! CRISPS CHOCOLATE POPCORN FRUIT SWEETS ICE CREAM OTHER
The club's training ground The local swimming pool The school playground A city centre landmark A big Tesco A local farmyard The stadium car park
YOUR TRANSFER REVEAL Now put all your answers together to create YOUR January transfer!
5 THE SHIRT NUMBER [
Your age is your shirt number!
PLAYER
]
has joined [ CLUB ] for [ FEE ]. The signing was unveiled at [ LOCATION ] with his new No.[ NUMBER ] shirt.
6 THE BIG DEBUTT
Roll a dice to see what happens in the first match! DRAW IT ON HERE
1 2 3 4 5 6
Forced off through injury Gets sent off Scores an own goal Grabs a 90th-minute winner Bags a hat-trick Gets locked in the toilet and misses match 25
FLORIAN
Z T R I W
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2255 top
MOST EXPENSIVE PREMIER LEAGUE SIGNINGS
ever!
Top-flight clubs aren’t scared of splashing the cash. Here we count down the biggest transfers in PREM HISTORY! 28
For all the latest transfer gossip, go to bbc.co.uk/football
2025
2020
25 22 NICK WOLTEMADE
Stuttgart to Newcastle
£65m
A BIG fee for an even bigger German. Newcastle needed a replacement for the departing Alexander Isak and so swooped for the 23-year-old after his breakout Bundesliga season. Just don’t mention the Sunderland own goal!
ALISSON BECKER
Roma to Liverpool
£66.8m
THE BRAZILIAN became the world’s most expensive keeper when he moved to Anfield eight years ago. He’s since won the Prem twice, the UCL and tons of individual awards!
2018
KAI HAVERTZ
2025
21
BRYAN MBEUMO
Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea
Brentford to Man. United
GERMAN had a slow start £71m THE at Stamford Bridge – scoring
SEASON, Big Bry got the £71m LAST third most goal contributions
just four Prem goals in his first season. All was forgotten when he netted the winner in the 2021 UCL final. He had another big move in 2023, moving to Arsenal for £65m!
in the Prem, all while playing for Brentford, so it was no surprise when his mega money move came. He’s started strong at Man. United and is just getting going!
2018
20
24
2022
233 WESLEY FOFANA
Leicester to Chelsea
HIS first year with the £70m INFoxes, Wes won the FA Cup
and the club’s Young Player of the Season – but then came the injuries. After moving to the Blues in 2022, Fofana missed all of 2023-24 and 36 matches last season!
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA
Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea
on the Spanish shot-stopper when Chelsea broke the £71.6m ALLrecordEYESforwere a keeper in 2018. After a solid first season, Kepa struggled to
hold a starting spot and is now Arsenal’s back-up goalie between the sticks!
2019
2021
17
19
NICOLAS PEPE
Lille to Arsenal
PEOPLE had only seen £72m MOST highlight reels of Pepe before
Arsenal splashed out on him. He had the speed and tricks – but never got going for the Gunners. He departed for France after three seasons and is now at Villarreal!
18
JADON SANCHO
2023 Borussia Dortmund to Man. United
STILL time for Sanch, but things haven’t gone to plan since his big move £73m THERE’S five years ago. He was the next big thing at Dortmund with his performances
prompting United to pay up. After a year at Chelsea, Sancho is now on loan at Aston Villa!
2025
16
15
2018
SESKO VIRGIL VAN DIJK RASMUS HOJLUND RB LeipzigBENJAMIN Southampton to Liverpool to Man. United
Atalanta to Man. United
WE LOVED watching the SERIE A goals in 32 £72m NINE games is what prompted United £73.7m 6ft 5in Slovenian bagging
to chuck a load of money at Atalanta for Rasmus. It hasn’t worked out at Old Trafford – so he’s back in Serie A on loan at Napoli!
30
in the Bundesliga, so we were buzzing when he landed in the Prem. It hasn’t been an easy start, but time is on his side!
OF the most successful £75m ONE signings on this list. VVD only
got his move to the Reds at 27, but was an instant hit. One UCL and two Prem titles later and the Dutchman is an all-time Prem great!
ROMELU LUKAKU
Everton to Man. United YEARS £75m TEN ago, Big Rom
was one of the league’s most lethal young strikers and gave even the top defenders nightmares. The Belgian was awesome at Everton, but struggled to find the same form at Old Trafford!
2019
14
10
11
HARRY MAGUIRE
2017
ANTONY
Leicester to Man. United
Ajax to Man. United
IS the world’s most £80m HARRY costly defender. He moved to
ANTONY… the Samba £82m OH, trickster was the marquee
United after the 2018 World Cup, dominating defensively and showing strength at set pieces. His price added pressure, but he’s played more than 250 games for United!
2023
2022
13 2022
signing when old Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag spent big on his old Ajax star. Sadly for the Brazilian, he couldn’t turn his sskills into stats. He’s now at Real Betis!
9
JOSKO GVARDIOL
RB Leipzig to Man. City
big RB Leipzig sale £77m AandSECOND the second-most expensive
defender ever. Gvards was picked up after impressing for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup and is now a key man for City at the heart of their defence!
HUGO EKITIKE
Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool
£79m STRIKERS DON’T come
much silkier than this French finisher. After failing to land Alexander Isak early in the window, the Reds signed the Frankfurt ace after he nabbed 22 goals last season!
DARWIN NUNEZ
2025
12
Benfica to Liverpool
LIVERPOOL career started strong, scoring on his debut and £85m DARWIN’S winning the Reds’ November Player of the Month. Too many missed chances
meant he dropped out of the team and he was sold to Saudi side Al-Hilal last summer!
2016
8
PAUL POGBA
Juventus to Man. United
SIX-SEVEN, there £89.3m BEFORE was #POGBACK. Pogba
was one of the top talents in 2015 and his Man. United homecoming sent shockwaves through football. His second spell in Manchester blew hot and cold, and after two-years out – he is now at Monaco!
2021
7
2021
6
JACK GREALISH
Aston Villa to Man. City
G was the main man at his boyhood club Villa, but become the Prem's £100m JACKY most expensive player five years ago when he joined City. He won three Prem
titles and one UCL at the Etihad – but he's now running the show on loan at Everton!
2023
5
ROMELU LUKAKU
Inter Milan to Chelsea
MOISES CAICEDO
Brighton to Chelsea
ON, we've already AFTER A slow start to life £97.5m HANG written about Rom! Well, he £100m in London, this 24-year-old
left United for Inter, where he smashed it and won Serie A. He returned to Chelsea for huge money but struggled big time – so he's now back in Italy, winning titles with Napoli!
32
South American menace is one of the league’s strongest stars. He'd joined Brighton for just £4m in 2021 – talk about a huge profit for the Seagulls!
2023
4
DECLAN RICE
West Ham to Arsenal
RICE, we got him £105m ‘DECLAN half price’ is what the Arsenal
fans sing, and it’s hard to disagree – the Englishman has been electric since his arrival. His stamina, strength and set pieces are game changers for the Gunners!
2023
3 ENZO FERNANDEZ
2025
2
FLORIAN WIRTZ
Benfica to Chelsea
Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool
BEAT Liverpool to the Argentina £106.8m CHELSEA ace’s signature just one month after he
GEHT’S, FLO? Liverpool’s new No.7 has had a tricky £116m WIE time on Merseyside, but there’s still time for him to get back
won Young Player of the Tournament at the 2022 World Cup. Enzo is now the Blues’ vice-captain and their key creator!
to his best this year. He lit up the Bundesliga while at Leverkusen and is way too talented for that not to shine through soon!
2025
1
ALEXANDER ISAK
Newcastle to Liverpool
HE IS. After a summer £125m HERE transfer saga of will-he,
won’t-he, will-they, won’t-they, the Sweden striker finally sealed a massive transfer to Anfield – and in doing so become the most expensive player in Premier League history!
33
S E A R A M I U G BRUNO
NEWCASTLE
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BAYERN MUNICH
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MATCH DAY OF T HE
E P I C INTERVIEW
g o d y M “s called John i – he's named after John Stones!” 36
Bernardo was speaking to Kelly Somers – for more interviews visit BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
MOTD MAG Q&A
BBERNARDO BEEERRRNNNAAARRDDOO
SSILVA SIILLVVA MATCH You’ve been at City DAY now since 2017! OF T HE
BERNARDO SAYS: “At Man. City, I’ve achieved more than I ever dreamed for. I always dreamt of winning the Premier League, but I never imagined myself winning six. Man. City gave me more than I hoped for as a young kid!”
MATCH Pep said DAY you’re one of OF T HE
the best players he’s ever coached!
BERNARDO SAYS: “Yeah, I saw that – I’m happy he feels that way because the players he’s managed are not bad players! I think I’m the player with the most games played under Pep. His influence on me is massive. In nine years, I’ve learned a lot!”
The Man. City icon talks about Pep, Portugal and his pet pooches! MATCH What are your DAY dogs called?
FA C T FILE
OF T HE
BERNARDO SAYS: “John and Charles. John is named after John Stones. I got Charles from Wales. At that time, King Charles was Prince of Wales. So, I thought Charles. I wanted an English name as well, because I had John already!”
FULL NAME Bernardo Mota Veiga de
Carvalho e Silva
AGE 31 POSITION Midfielder PLACE OF BIRTH Lisbon, Portugal PORTUGAL GAMES/GOALS 107/14
MATCH Who’s your DAY best friend OF T HE
in football?
BERNARDO SAYS: “Ruben Dias. Ruben is three years younger than me. So I remember him from the Benfica academy, but he wasn’t a friend back then. I’ve known Ruben really well on a daily basis for five-and-a-half years now!”
BEST OF PALS Silva and Dias are big mates
MATCH If you could achieve DAY one more thing, OF T HE
MATCH What is your DAY perfect day off? OF T HE
BERNARDO SAYS: “If I was in Portugal, I’d go to the beach, or the pool, so I could chill. In Manchester, when it’s too cold, it’s difficult. But on a normal day, I would walk my two dogs with my wife, go to a park and enjoy a bit of fresh air!”
what would it be?
BERNARDO SAYS: “That’s an easy one. I need a World Cup. It would be the biggest achievement of my life because Portugal have never done that. It’s the only trophy that Portugal, our country, has never won, so I would love to do that!”
37
Why me here? Me badger, not badge!
UCL BADGE
1 POINcTh for eaect corr er! answ
BAMBOOZLER! These clubs are all in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – but can you NAME THEM from their badge?
2 A Bodo/Glimt B Villarreal C Borussia Dortmund
5 A Benfica B Sporting Lisbon C Bayer Leverkusen
3 A Bayern Munich B Barcelona C Club Brugge
6 A Copenhagen B Real Madrid C Man. City
1 A Athletic Bilbao B Atletico Madrid C Olympiacos
4 A Slavia Prague B Galatasaray C Union Saint-Gilloise
7 A AC Milan B Monaco C Marseille
YOUR FOOTY BRAIN POWER
38
A Qarabag B Ajax C Eintracht Frankfurt
YOUR SCORE
n /9
1 B, 2 C, 3 B, 4 B, 5 A,
A Atalanta B Inter Milan C Bayern Munich
9
ANSWERS! 6 B, 7 C, 8 B, 9 C
8
9 GENIUS 7 PROFESSIONAL 5 SEMI-PRO 3 AMATEUR 1 SUNDAY LEAGUE 0 OH NO, DISASTER
A I L E K H H K S T A R KVA KHVICHA
Cut out & keep your fave posters!
PSG
MATCH DDAY DA AY OF T HE
ZI M AG A
NE
GUE CHAMPIONS LEA TAR SUPERS
YOUR MONTH,
KILL! YOUR TOP nS see what your top skill REALLY is!
FIND THE month you were born – and the
JANUARY Bullet headers
FEBRUARY Dazzling dribbling
MARCH Pinpoint passing
APRIL Scoring own goals
MAY Fingertip saves
JUNE Falling over
JULY Vicious volleys
AUGUST Legendary leadership
SEPTEMBER Turbo speed
OCTOBER Top bins free-kicks
NOVEMBER Rocket shots
DECEMBER Crunching tackles
MY TOP SKILL IS 40
51
D N A L A A H
ERLING
Cut out & keep your fave posters!
MAN. CITY
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
SUPERSTAR
MATCH DAY DA AY OF T HE
M AG A
ZINE
Y B R I K FRAN
When I m outside, I just ” feel eee chill!
“
’
MATCH DAY
FRAN KIRBY speaks to MOTD mag about TOHFE the seaside, spaniels and EXCLUSIVE sloths… INTERVIEW LIONESS LEGEND Fran received a special edition shirt after retiring from international footy last year
MATCH DAY OF T HE
how does getting outside help you?
FRAN: “It helps you reset. I just feel calmer, more chill – and I disconnect. I become Fran the person, not Fran the footballer!”
42
MATCH DAY OF T HE
You’re a champion WSL player and you’re a champion of nature, too!
FRAN: “Yeah! I think getting outside in the fresh air and connecting with nature is just brilliant for mental health!"
MATCH DAY OF T HE
Where’s your faVOURITE place to go?
FRAN: “Probably by the river. Sometimes I go to the seafront in Brighton. Yesterday I went with Beth England [Tottenham captain] and our dogs!”
FA C T FILE
MATCH DAY
Chips!
OF T HE
FULL UL NAME: Fran Kirby AGE: 32 POSITION: Attacking midfielder CCLUB: Brighton ENGLAND GAMES/GOALS: 77/19 HEIGHT: 1.57m / 5ft 2in
Are there Loads of Seagulls in brighton?
FRAN: “Oh, the seagulls down here are massive!”
MATCH DAY OF T HE
How has getting outside helped you through tough times, like injury?
FRAN: “It’s tough – but important. While I was injured, I’d take my dog Cody to the park – sit on the bench and throw the ball for him!”
Fetch, Codes!
MATCH DAY OF T HE
FRAN: “Ha! Probably a sloth – when I’m at home, I’m always sleeping. On the pitch, I’m different ’cos I’m manic – so I’d be a dog with a ball!”
Throw da ball, human!
MATCH DAY OF T HE
WHat animal are you most like, fran?
What type of dog is cody?
FRAN: ANN “He’s a Spaniel! He has masses of energy and wants to chase the ball – all the time!”
MATCH finally, what’s the DAY silliest thing OF T HE
that’s happened to you outdoors?
FRAN: “Once when I was about ten, I was followed home by a whole load of ducks. So random!”
3
FRESH AIR FOOTY CHALLENGES
Try these in a park near you! Tree / lamppost slalom Practise quick turns by zig-zagging around trees or lampposts
Cone keepy-uppies
Use a pine cone instead of a ball
Tree touch
Stay safe!
Always check with an adult before you start
Sprint and jump to touch ten different height branches
43
9 -second Think you’ve got the best ball knowledge about? It’s time to PUT IT TO THE TEST!
1 POINcTh for ea ct corre r! answe
have 4 Who adidas made these wicked BOOTs for?
1 Eli Junior Kroupi CELEBRATES IN STYLE – BUT Which PremIER LEAGUE CLUB does the FRENCH youngster play for?
A Lamine Yamal
A Chelsea
B Bournemouth
B Mohamed Salah
C Brighton
D Newcastle
C Bukayo Saka D Kylian Mbappe
did PSG beat in the FIFA 2 Who Intercontinental Cup LAST MONTH?
of these 5 Which shooting stars is WSL top scorer this season?
A Kaizer Chiefs
B River Plate
C Flamengo
D Inter Miami
3 Which A Senegal country HAS hosted this year’s Africa Cup of Nations? C Morocco 44
A Melvine Malard
B Aggie Beever-Jones ver
C Stina Blackstenius
D Khadija Shaw
B Angola
D Egypt
You can listen to live games on BBC Radio 5 Live
quiz! ?
shirt 9 Which number does
Man. City forward Phil Foden wear?
6
The Riverside Stadium is home to which high-flying Championship club? A Stoke
A 10
B 21
C 47
D 66
B Middlesbrough C Ipswich
random 10 Which object is the
D Millwall
nickname of Eredivisie league leaders, PSV Eindhoven?
number do these players 7 Which all wear for their WSL clubs? A7 B 17 C 27 Nikita Parris
Ebony Salmon
Dominique Janssen
Martha Thomas
D 37
A Lightbulbs
B Telephones hon
C Alarm clocks
D Vacuum cleaners
YOUR FOOTY BRAIN POWER
8 B Man. United
C West Ham
D Everton
n /10
1 B, 2 C, 3 C, 4 B, 5 D,
A Nott'm Forest
YOUR SCORE
ANSWERS! 6 B, 7 B, 8 C, 9 C, 10 A
wolves' first premier league win of the season was a 3-0 victory earlier this month against which team?
10 GENIUS 8 PROFESSIONAL 6 SEMI-PRO 4 AMATEUR 2 SUNDAY LEAGUE 0 OH NO, DISASTER
45
N E H M I S O
VICTOR
GALATASARAY Cut out & keep your fave posters!
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
SUPERSTAR
MATCH DAY DA AY OF T HE
M AG A
ZINE
ES T
MOTD MAG
! D A U SQ
JOIN THE MOTD MAG SQUAD! S end y our sketches a
Email inbo
nd snaps to
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g.com F or a c issue, phleaance to feature in a fu guardians’se ask for your parenture sending. Do permission before t or n your nam’t eforget to include and a g e!
Welcome to the greatest team IN THE WORLD!
STAR SNAP! Every issue, our favourite snap will be named captain of the MOTD mag squad and receive a mini Europa League replica ball by Decathlon!
CARD CREATOR!
Rawdon has been busy using MOTD mag as the inspiration for his family’s Christmas card designs – he even sent one to us. W What h a legend!
SHOOTING STAR!
Five-year-old Jude is kicking off 2026 in style – he recently started reading MOTD mag and is training with his new pop-up goal!
DOUBLE TROUBLE!
WINNING WISH!
Chelsea fan Jake took his MOTD mag all the way to Stamford Bridge. We’re wondering if he asked Santa for a new manager for Christmas!
Brothers Ben and Lachie have put their brains together to tackle the 90 Second Quiz after school. They’re on track for a 10/10!
DRAWING DUDE!
After reading his first ever MOTD mag, Taran tried making his own. We think his issue is epic!
47
Y A N I M O T c M SCOTT
NAPOLI
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MATCH DAY DA AY OF T HE
ZI M AG A
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Wednesday 28 January
MATCH ATTAXX
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Z I IY LD
KENAN
JUVENTUS Cut out & keep your fave posters!
MATCH DAY DA AY OF T HE
ZI M AG A
NE
GUE CHAMPIONS LEA TAR SUPERS
! L L E T S R SUB A ST For each position, decide which of these UCL STARS is in your starting line-up, who's on the bench and who you are gonna get rid of!
GK
DF
Start Sub Sell
Start Sub Sell
JOAN GARCIA
YAnN SOMMER
Start Sub Sell
Start Sub Sell
JURRIEN TIMBER
mF
Start Sub Sell
MOISES CAICEDO
fw
Start Sub Sell
nico williams
st
NICO SCHLOTTERBECK
Start Sub Sell
JAN OBLAK Start Sub Sell
MICKY VAN DE VEN
Start Sub Sell
JOAO NEVES
Start Sub Sell
MANUEL LOCATELLI
Start Sub Sell
FLORIAN WIRTZ
Start Sub Sell
LUIS DIAZ
Start Sub Sell
Start Sub Sell
Start Sub Sell
KYLIAN MBAPPE
ERLING HAALAND
VICTOR OSIMHEN
51
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