Charlotte FC have bolstered their defensive ranks with the arrival of Fulham defender Tim Ream on a free transfer.
Ream, who spent nine years at Craven Cottage, has signed a two-year deal and returns to the United States 13 years after joining Bolton from the New York Red Bulls.
The 36-year-old made 312 appearances for Fulham, more than any other player in the 21st century apart from captain Tom Cairney (325), ranking 25th on the all-time list.
During his time with the Cottagers, Ream won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions, twice via the play-offs, with the other seeing Fulham crowned as champions during the 2021-22 season.
Ream helped Fulham to a 13th place finish last year, keeping three clean sheets in his 18 outings.
“I’m really excited to join Charlotte FC and return to the US for this next chapter of my career,” said Ream.
“In all my conversations with the people around the club, it was clear this organisation and city were the right places for my family and I to continue our journey.
"I’m here to win, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the team as we prepare for a key stretch of matches that will propel us toward the playoffs as we fight for our first trophy.”
Ream will link up with former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith in Charlotte and will be eligible for the club's next MLS fixture against former side NYRB on August 24.
Feliz joins Espanyol on loan from Tottenham
Alejo Veliz has completed a loan move from Tottenham to Espanyol, the La Liga club confirmed on Wednesday.
Veliz, who has made eight appearances for Spurs since signing from Rosario Central in 2023, joins Espanyol on a season-long deal.
The 20-year-old was limited to 45 minutes of action under Ange Postecoglou last campaign, scoring his first goal in a 4-2 defeat to Brighton in December.
Veliz joined Sevilla for the second half of the 2023-24 season, but again struggled for game time and played six times in La Liga, totalling to 31 minutes.
Espanyol won promotion from the Segunda Division last season after beating Real Oviedo in the promotion play-offs.
Manolo Gonzalez is aiming to bolster his attacking options following the loss of top scorer Martin Braithwaite, who completed a permanent move to Brazilian side Gremio last month.
'We have so much potential', says USWNT semi-final hero Smith
Sophia Smith believes the United States have "so much potential" after her extra-time winner sent them through to their first Olympics final since 2012.
The 23-year-old's 95th-minute strike proved the decisive goal of the USWNT’s 1-0 semi-final victory against an injury-stricken Germany.
The result means new coach Emma Hayes will have the chance to go for gold in her first major tournament at the helm.
Smith dedicated her goal to the effort of the whole US squad under the ex-Chelsea boss.
"I just saw an open net in front of me and knew I had to step up in the big moment," Smith told NBC. "I felt I had to do that for this team, we've been working so hard.”
Earps targets a 'few more trophies' at PSG after Man Utd exit
Mary Earps says she hopes to add "a few more trophies to the cabinet" with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Manchester United.
The goalkeeper was at United for five years, helping them to lift their first-ever FA Cup in May.
However, they failed to challenge for the Women's Super League title last season, finishing fifth, 20 points behind winners Chelsea.
Earps' biggest successes have come in an England shirt, with their European Championship victory in 2022, while she was also awarded the Golden Glove at the 2023 World Cup, in which the Lionesses reached the final.
She joined PSG as a free agent in July, signing a two-year deal with the club, who finished as runners-up in the Premiere League last season and are set to play for a sixth-straight season in the Women's Champions League.
Earps admitted that while it was a difficult decision to leave Manchester, she is hungry for even more success.
"I cannot wait. I'm so excited to get going," Earps told the Tooney & Russo show.
"It was a tough decision to make because I was there [at United] for so long and I have great relationships with people, so you don't just pick your life up and move on a whim.
"But equally, the opportunity to play for a great team in top competitions, being in a position to win silverware, I've been fortunate enough to have a really good few years and win a few trophies, and it's just a feeling that's hard to explain because people think she's won some silverware, she's done.
"But it's like an itch you can never scratch enough. I'm looking forward to doing that and hopefully adding a few trophies to the cabinet."
Earps started all 22 of United's WSL matches last season, keeping seven clean sheets and making 60 saves.
She was one of three players to leave the Red Devils on a free transfer at the end of last season, with captain Katie Zelem and forward Lucia Garcia also leaving the club.
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