Annual European club competition since 2021
Everton’s McNeil moves to Crystal Palace in a four-year swap deal with Wales winger Johnson joining Palace from Tottenham for £35m. The swap follows a near-miss in February when a loan-to-buy collapsed due to paperwork issues; Johnson’s performance and injuries shaped the transfer window drama.
Scottish clubs Hearts, Rangers, Hibernian and Motherwell will learn their European paths after the draws in Nyon. Rangers face Jagellonia Bialystok in the Europa League third qualifying round; Hearts could meet Benfica if they advance from Sturm Graz; Hibs and Motherwell discover potential third-round opponents in the Conference League. The fixtures are two-legged and scheduled in August, with seedings shaping seeds and matchups.
Hibs have secured a 2-1 victory over Shkendija in Edinburgh, with O’Hora’s stoppage-time strike giving them a narrow win ahead of the second leg in Skopje. The match was laboured for long spells, with both sides failing to find fluency, but substitutions and late drama changed the outcome. The win leaves Hibs with work to do in the return leg.
Chelsea have completed the seven-year signing of Valentin Barco from Strasbourg, adding a versatile left-back/midfielder to the squad. Barco, 21, has progressed from Brighton to Strasbourg, and is joining Chelsea ahead of the 2026-27 season as part of a busy summer of recruitment under manager Xabi Alonso.