Georginio Rutter was thrilled to get his dream move to Leeds United as the Premier League club brought in the striker from Hoffenheim on a club-record deal.
Leeds confirmed the 20-year-old French player has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Elland Road, committing to the end of the 2027-28 season.
Former Rennes forward Rutter spent two years at Hoffenheim, who signed him as a hot prospect and have now cashed in on a player who scored 11 goals in 57 Bundesliga games.
The France Under-21 international could make his debut against Brentford next weekend, Leeds said.
His signing shows the club's support for American coach Jesse Marsch, who has also been able to bring in Max Wober from his former club Salzburg during this transfer window.
Leeds are precariously placed in the Premier League, sitting 14th in the 20-team division after 18 games but just two points ahead of bottom-placed Southampton.
Neither club has announced the fee involved, but it is widely reported the deal could eventually cost Leeds around £35million.
As well as posting a goodbye note to Hoffenheim, Rutter wrote on Instagram: "Happy to join @leedsunited, I am excited to play in such a great club."
Hoffenheim director of football Alexander Rosen explained the rationale for the sale, saying on the club's website: "Transfers like Georginio Rutter's to TSG Hoffenheim are only possible because of transfers like Georginio Rutter's to Leeds United."
Rosen said Hoffenheim "regret" choosing to sell but added: "In light of the third-highest transfer fee in the club's history, as well as the clearly communicated desire to move, it would not have made sense to block a young player like Georgi from the path he is pursuing. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will miss him."
Seattle Sounders v Real Salt Lake: Mastroeni lauds visitors' 'magic' mentality
Pablo Mastroeni believes Real Salt Lake's "magic" mentality has helped them earn a reputation as comeback kings, though he is hoping for a more routine outing against the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.
RSL fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with FC Dallas last Saturday, having recovered from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to beat the Colorado Rapids 5-3 one week earlier.
Mastroeni's men are now unbeaten in 11 league games and sit four points clear at the top of the Western Conference standings ahead of their midweek visit to the improving Sounders.
"It's not a surprise to me that the guys, given the scoreline, stay in there and fight," said Mastroeni. "It's a testament to the group.
"Everyone that's a part of this club has the same mindset, and I think when you're aligned in that way, magic like that happens.
"Obviously, we don't want it to happen too often, but I think it just shows the mental fortitude of the group."
Seattle have recorded back-to-back 2-1 wins over Phoenix Rising in the U.S. Open Cup and St. Louis City in MLS, moving within reach of the playoff places after a tough start to the year.
Boss Brian Schmetzer knows they will have to be at their very best to get anything against RSL, though.
Speaking after Saturday's win in St. Louis, Schmetzer said: "They were a little unlucky not to get a goal at the end. Our luck is changing.
"There is some momentum building but Real Salt Lake are a good team. We have to back up a good performance with another good performance against Real Salt Lake."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris
Morris has scored in consecutive regular-season games for the first time since early last season.
He only has one streak of more than two straight games with a goal in MLS, finding the net in four appearances in a row between April and May 2016.
Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango
Arango's 13 goals in MLS this season put him out on his own at the top of the goalscoring charts, two clear of Christian Benteke and Luis Suarez.
Four of those goals have come in RSL's last four games, with the team netting 12 times in that span.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Real Salt Lake extended their league-best unbeaten run to 11 regular-season games (seven wins, four draws) with their 3-3 draw at Dallas last Saturday.
This is their longest single-season unbeaten run since a 12-match streak to begin the 2014 campaign, though that streak ended with a loss in Seattle in late May.
The Sounders have improved of late, winning consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time this year. An entertaining draw could be on the cards.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 35.6%
Real Salt Lake – 36.6%
Draw – 27.8%
Bournemouth make Unal deal permanent
Bournemouth have made Enes Unal's stay at the Vitality Stadium permanent, with the striker signing a four-year contract after a productive loan spell with the club.
Unal arrived on loan from Getafe in January and made 16 Premier League appearances throughout the second half of 2023-24.
While he largely served as a deputy to star striker Dominic Solanke, Unal did manage two goals as Bournemouth finished 12th, just one point adrift of a top-half finish.
Unal's first Premier League goal was a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United in March, while he was also on target in a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in late April.
Bournemouth set a new top-flight club record by earning 48 points in their first season under Andoni Iraola, enjoying a dramatic upturn after failing to win any of the Spaniard's first nine league games at the helm.
Unal – who missed the first half of 2023-24 with a cruciate ligament tear – told the Cherries' website: "I enjoyed testing myself in the Premier League while regaining my fitness. I am really excited for the years ahead."
LA Galaxy v FC Dallas: Estevez hails visitors' improvement
Nico Estevez feels FC Dallas have made big strides as they prepare to embark on a tough three-game road stretch, starting with Wednesday's visit to the LA Galaxy.
Dallas are unbeaten in five games in all competitions (three wins, two draws) after only winning one of their previous nine (two draws, five defeats).
They visit Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday before going to Los Angeles FC and Minnesota United for their next two games in MLS.
Though Estevez was furious to see his team squander a 3-0 lead in a 3-3 draw with Real Salt Lake last Saturday, he is convinced things are moving in the right direction overall.
"We have to recover because we have three away games in a row. It's going to be challenging, we go to LA and then we go to Minnesota," Estevez said.
"It's going to be hard, but there's been improvement of the team against Austin, Houston, and now, against RSL. We're going in the right direction.
"We'll review things, we'll try to find the things we have to improve, but also it's about the mentality. Some of the mistakes we made were too much like youth players, we cannot do that at the pro level."
The Galaxy, meanwhile, ended a run of four straight draws by beating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 last time out, with Gabriel Pec scoring as they went within four points of the Western Conference summit.
"The team is getting better little by little. After three ties in a row, getting back home and getting a result, the feeling is very good," Pec said.
"The team has been doing great. Also, myself. I hope I can help my team moving forward."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
La Galaxy – Gabriel Pec
Pec has scored in his last four home games for the Galaxy, becoming the first player to do so since Javier Hernandez in 2022.
Only six players in club history have scored in five consecutive regular-season home appearances, with only three (Dejan Joveljic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robbie Keane) doing so in the last 20 years.
FC Dallas – Asier Illarramendi
As well as being one of just three Dallas players with more than one goal to his name in MLS this year (two), Illarramendi has played 15 key passes, a tally only bettered by Paul Arriola (16). That is despite the Spaniard only making six league starts this season.
MATCH PREDICTION – LA GALAXY WIN
Dallas have collected just two points on the road this season (two draws, four defeats), tied for the fewest in MLS alongside Nashville SC.
They have just two wins in their last 17 regular-season road games, though one of those two victories came at the Galaxy last October.
A repeat is not expected on Wednesday, though, with the Galaxy unbeaten in six straight home matches (three wins, three draws). They have lost only one of their last 16 regular-season games at Dignity Health Sports Park (seven wins, eight draws).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
LA Galaxy – 47.5%
FC Dallas – 26.3%
Draw – 26.2%
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