Everton sign Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich on a four-year deal

Everton have completed the transfer of left-back Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich. The 19-year-old defender has signed a four-year deal with the Blues until the end of June 2029. Aznou – a senior international with Morocco – is a youth product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, spending three years as a teenager with the Spanish giants, before heading to Munich in the summer of 2023.

While in Germany, the highly-rated Aznou earned appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League, followed by the Club World Cup this summer.

“I'm so happy to be here. I'm so proud to be part of this team. The project they gave me is really good. The Premier League is the best league in the world, so I'm really excited to start,” said Aznou to evertontv.

Following conversations with Everton manager David Moyes, Aznou was swiftly convinced to sign and become the Blues’ fourth summer arrival after midfielder Charly Alcaraz, striker Thierno Barry, and goalkeeper Mark Travers.

Aznou explained, “[Moyes] talked with me, he spoke with me about the team and how he wants me. So I decided directly when I spoke with him. I decided really quickly because of the words he gave me. He gave me confidence, so I decided to sign.”

Still early into his fledgling career, Aznou arrives at Everton having already gained a wealth of valuable experience at the top levels of European football. The Barcelona-born teenager lived in the city for 16 years, and following his switch to Germany, he returned to Spain last season, completing a short-term loan at Real Valladolid. Aznou made 13 LaLiga appearances during the second half of 2024/25 – a total which included 10 starts.

On his latest signing, Moyes said, “We are pleased to bring Adam to Everton. He’s a young, talented player with a lot of potential. “Left-backs are not easy to get and we’ve brought in a young player who we hope will grow in his time at Everton.”

Ter Stegen undergoes back surgery as Barcelona face registration dilemma

FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen on Tuesday had an operation on his back to try and solve the problems that have affected him in the lumbar region. FC Barcelona confirmed the operation in a statement, explaining that the operation took place in Bordeaux and explaining that the "evolution" of the injury would "mark his availability."

The operation has stirred controversy not only over Ter Stegen's fitness, but also because of Barcelona's fragile financial situation, which has so far prevented the club from registering summer signings Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford for La Liga due to financial fair play restrictions.

The club either needs to find new income or lower its wage bill to include Rashford and Garcia in the squad, and if Ter Stegen is out of action for over four months, Barca will be able to use 80 percent of his salary to cover the wages of the new arrivals - as the club did last season when Thomas Christensen suffered an ankle injury, reports Xinhua.

The 33-year-old appeared to challenge the club last week when he announced the operation, adding that he expected to be out of action for just three months, which would mean Barcelona would be unable to use this option to inscribe its new signings.

The situation could lead to Barcelona passing Ter Stegen's medical report to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which has a committee of experts that would decide the time of the goalkeeper's probable absence. Ter Stegen, the 33-year-old German, joined Barcelona in 2014 after spending a couple of years with Borussia Mönchengladbach from 2010 to 2014, and has been with them since then, winning six La Liga titles. And an equal number of Copa del Rey: