Sports
The Transfer Radar 2025: The Athletic’s ultimate guide to players who could be on the move
Florian Wirtz is a jewel of German football and was central to Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic double last season, winning the Bundesliga’s player of the year award. Alongside Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, he has become the great hope of Julian Nagelsmann’s national team, too, and will be fundamental to Germany’s challenge at the 2026 World Cup.
His contract runs until 2027, so there is no obligation to sell but considering his close relationship with in-demand head coach Xabi Alonso, there will come a point when Wirtz, who joined Leverkusen from Koln in 2020, may also look elsewhere.
He belongs at the top of the game but his path depends on which club is willing to meet Leverkusen’s €150million (£125m; $159m) asking price. They will not get that, but the figure represents how highly Wirtz is valued.
Fernando Carro, the club’s CEO, believes he might stay beyond this season.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
What else do I need to know about him?
There’s an enigmatic quiet to him. He is understandably laconic, given the attention he receives in the German media, but is also extremely popular within the Leverkusen dressing room and fashion-conscious off the pitch, too, looking like someone on the way back from a Stone Roses gig.
Wirtz has been a star for a long time. In his early teens, there were stories of a tiny boy at Koln who might be the country’s finest talent in years. The hype was justified. What happened next, however, created acrimony that lasts to this day.
When he was progressing through Koln’s youth teams, a gentlemen’s agreement existed between several clubs in the area — Koln, Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach and Fortuna Dusseldorf among them — stipulating that, for the betterment of the region, they would not poach each other’s youth players.
After he turned 17, Wirtz’s youth contract at Koln expired. The player’s parents wanted him to finish his schooling and stay close to home, so he joined Leverkusen for €300,000. His new club felt he was fair game — a senior, rather than a youth player. Koln believed differently, claiming their local rivals had violated the agreement.
Max Eberl, Gladbach’s sporting director at the time (and now Bayern’s board member for sport), was critical of Leverkusen’s conduct but Carro, who remains Leverkusen’s CEO, defended his club.
Old news, perhaps, but among Bayern’s transfer targets is — inevitably — Wirtz, which would involve a prickly negotiation.
Will he go there? Most likely not. Musiala’s contract extension is Bayern’s priority. Given the strength of his relationship with Alonso and how good his form has been under him, the smart money might be on them taking their next steps together.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Tell me about how he plays…
On the pitch, his control, dribbling ability and creative prowess make him one of the world’s most exciting players. He can weave his way past defenders but also find team-mates with one-twos, precise passes and through balls while his off-the-ball movement and positioning regularly put him in areas to score and create.
Across his short senior career, he has featured across the front line and as a No 10. This versatility allowed Nagelsmann to successfully play him and Musiala together at Euro 2024.
Under Alonso, Wirtz’s defensive work has improved too, and he has been willing to put the hard yards in to lead Leverkusen’s press. Wirtz has lifted the floor for playing behind the striker but arguably has not reached his ceiling — that, more than anything, is a frightening prospect.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Midnight Mode, indeed.
On the day the Rams donned black uniforms for the only time this season, the offense largely went dark.
Red-hot quarterback Matthew Stafford cooled. Star receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua struggled to consistently make the clutch plays that they often make look routine.
But safety Kamren Kinchens and the Rams’ defense managed to keep the Seattle Seahawks at bay — just barely.
-
Share via
Gary Klein breaks down what went right for the Rams in a 21-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Darious Williams also picked off passes as the Rams held off the Seahawks for a 21-19 victory on Sunday at SoFi Stadium that was not secured until Seattle’s Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
“I’m proud of our football team,” coach Sean McVay said. “We’re not going to apologize for finding different ways to win.”
No apologies necessary. Despite some struggles Sunday, the Rams are living up to expectations as a Super Bowl contender.
Stafford continues to play without major errors, the defensive front continues to pressure quarterbacks into mistakes, and kicking-game issues appear to be solved.
And now the secondary, regarded as a potential liability before the season, is stepping up.
Stafford tossed touchdown passes to Adams and tight end Colby Parkinson, and Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown as the Rams improved to 8-2, extended their winning streak to five games and assumed sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
Rams coach Sean McVay tries to rev up his players before Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We found a way to win without playing perfect football against a really good football team,” Stafford said. “So I’ll take it.”
So will Adams, whose lone catch marked the 1,000 of his career and his league-leading 10th touchdown reception this season.
“It wasn’t like it was the worst of all time,” he said of the offense’s performance, “but to our standard it definitely was not there.
“But, I mean, it makes you feel even better knowing you can play like crap … and still come out with a victory against a really good team.”
The Rams can thank Kinchens, a second-year safety who has six career interceptions, including four against the Seahawks. His interceptions set up Williams’ one-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Parkinson’s six-yard score in the fourth.
Rams safety Kamren Kinchens celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the second half against Seattle on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Man, they want to throw the ball,” a chuckling Kinchens said in explaining his success against the Seahawks. “People that want to kind of put it down the field or give us a shot — big mistake.”
Or, as Durant put it: “Preaching what we do every day, man — take the ball away.”
The Rams went into the game having scored at least 34 points in each of their last three games. But that production was absent against a Seahawks team that fell to 7-3 and had its four-game winning streak end.
Stafford increased his league-leading total of touchdown passes to 27 and did not have a pass intercepted for the seventh consecutive game. But the 17th-year pro was not as sharp as he had been during a stretch that put him in the conversation for NFL most valuable player.
“I’m obviously excited that we got the win,” said Stafford, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. “Don’t get it twisted on me here, but at the same time I know I can be better too.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford slings a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson in the first half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Stafford enjoyed a banner day compared to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Rams’ front did not sack Darnold but it pressured him into poor decisions, and Kinchens, Durant and Williams made him pay. Darnold completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with four interceptions.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on pace to set an NFL record for yards receiving in a season, caught nine passes for 105 yards. But he did not score.
Cooper Kupp, the former Rams star making his return to SoFi Stadium, did not have a catch in the first three quarters but had three during a late scoring drive that trimmed the Rams’ lead to two points.
With 1 minute 41 seconds left, Rams punter Ethan Evans kicked the ball 50 yards to the Seahawks’ one-yard line. The Seahawks drove past midfield, but Myers could not match his career-best 61-yard field goal against the Rams in 2020.
This time it went wide right, generating a roar from the crowd, a sigh of relief from the Rams and a joyous locker room celebration.
“It’s a lot of fun in there,” McVay said.
With more, seemingly, to come.
Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (55) and linebacker Byron Young (0) pressure Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Sports
Texas state trooper scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A Texas state trooper was “relieved of his game-day assignment” Saturday after exchanging words with South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor after a long touchdown.
After Harbor caught a pass and ran for the 80-yard score, he grabbed his right hamstring and continued walking into a tunnel at Kyle Field.
Several of his teammates joined him, and Harbor walked out of the tunnel gingerly.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor runs with the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies Oct. 28, 2023, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As he walked back, an officer walked in between, and made contact with, Harbor and running back Oscar Adaway III.
The officer then scolded Harbor, who turned back but kept walking toward the field.
The police department announced on X that the officer was relieved of his game-day assignment and sent home.
NBA star LeBron James called for the officer to be suspended.
“That A&M cop needs to suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some s—. Do better man,” he posted to X.
The touchdown put the Gamecocks up 27-3, and that lead would increase to 30-3, but the third-ranked Aggies stormed all the way back for a wild 31-30 victory.
South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor celebrates a play against Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. (Dustin Safranek/USA Today Sports)
JAMES FRANKLIN IN ‘EARLY TALKS’ TO BECOME VIRGINIA TECH’S NEXT HEAD COACH: REPORT
Texas A&M outscored South Carolina 28-0 in the second half to complete its biggest comeback ever.
Marcel Reed threw for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns to move the Aggies to 10-0 on the season.
The comeback eclipsed a 21-point rally by a Johnny Manziel-led team in a 52-48 win in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl over Duke. Entering Saturday, teams were 0-286 in Southeastern Conference play since 2004 when trailing by 27 points or more.
Reed bounced back from an awful first half, when he was intercepted twice and had a fumble returned for a score to put the Aggies in a 30-3 hole. He had a dazzling second half to keep Texas A&M on track for its first trip to the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies took the lead for the first time on a 4-yard run by EJ Smith with about 11 minutes left.
Texas A&M had a first down at the 1 after that, but Jamarion Morrow fumbled on a trick play, and the Gamecocks recovered with about three minutes to go.
Texas A&M Aggies running back EJ Smith celebrates with wide receiver Izaiah Williams after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Dalton Brooks and Cashius Howell sacked LaNorris Sellers on consecutive plays to bring up fourth-and-16 with about 90 seconds to go. Sellers scrambled on fourth down, and he was stopped short of the first down marker to seal the victory.
Sellers threw for 246 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for South Carolina (3-7, 1-7), which lost a fifth straight game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)
CITY SECTION
Semifinals
OPEN DIVISION
#5 Garfield at #1 Carson
#6 Crenshaw at #2 Birmingham
DIVISION I
#5 Marquez at #1 Venice
#11 Dorsey or #3 Eagle Rock at #2 South Gate
DIVISION II
#4 Fairfax at #1 Cleveland
#6 L.A. Marshall at #2 San Fernando
DIVISION III
#5 Contreras at #1 Santee
#3 L.A. Wilson at #2 Hawkins
SOUTHERN SECTION
Semifinals
DIVISION I
Santa Margarita vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College
Mater Dei at Corona Centennial
DIVISION 2
Los Alamitos at Murrieta Valley
San Clemente at Leuzinger
DIVISION 3
Oxnard Pacifica at Chino Hills
Edison at Palos Verdes
DIVISION 4
San Jacinto vs. Villa Park at El Modena
La Habra at Oaks Christian
DIVISION 5
Redondo Union at Loyola
La Serna at Rio Hondo Prep
DIVISION 6
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy at Eastvale Roosevelt
Ventura at Agoura
DIVISION 7
Palm Springs at Barstow
Saugus at Apple Valley
DIVISION 8
Palm Desert at Beckman
Irvine at Brea Olinda
DIVISION 9
Hesperia at Ramona
Cerritos Valley Christian at San Dimas
DIVISION 10
Santa Monica at Tahquitz
Garden Grove Pacifica at Hillcrest
DIVISION 11
Baldwin Park at Western Christian
South Pasadena at Valley View
DIVISION 12
Grace at Coachella Valley
Bellflower at Santa Paula
DIVISION 13
Woodbridge at Saddleback
Montebello at La Puente
DIVISION 14
Miller at South El Monte
Pioneer at Anaheim
8-MAN
Semifinals
DIVISION 1
Chadwick at Flintridge Prep
Faith Baptist at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian
DIVISION 2
Calvary Baptist at Cate
Hesperia Christian at Lancaster Baptist
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
8-MAN
CITY SECTION
At Birmingham High
Finals
#2 Animo Robinson vs. #4 East Valley or #1 Sherman Oaks CES, 5 p.m.
Indictment of ex-Newsom aide hints at feds’ probe into state’s earlier investigation of video game giant
CDC warns of dramatic rise in dangerous drug-resistant bacteria. How you can protect yourself
Rams edge Seahawks in a thriller to take sole possession of first in the NFC West
Baby or ballot? Members of the EU Parliament won’t have to choose
FAA to lift all restrictions on commercial flights
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Baby or ballot? Members of the EU Parliament won’t have to choose
FAA to lift all restrictions on commercial flights
New Videos, Data and Reporting Give a Detailed Account of the Camp Mystic Disaster
Zelenskyy moves to ‘clean up’ Ukraine’s energy sector as corruption scandal rocks leadership
Photos: Thousands march in Brazil town hosting COP30 for climate justice
-
Nebraska1 week agoWhere to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game
-
Hawaii1 week agoMissing Kapolei man found in Waipio, attorney says
-
Vermont5 days agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
Southwest1 week agoTexas launches effort to install TPUSA in every high school and college
-
New Jersey1 week agoPolice investigate car collision, shooting in Orange, New Jersey
-
West Virginia6 days ago
Search for coal miner trapped in flooded West Virginia mine continues for third day
-
Seattle, WA1 week agoSoundgarden Enlist Jim Carrey and Seattle All-Stars for Rock Hall 2025 Ceremony
-
Detroit, MI1 week agoHere’s the snow forecast for Metro Detroit heading into next week
