Former Netherlands defender Johnny Heitinga has been appointed as the new coach at Ajax, the Dutch club announced on Saturday. The 41-year-old Heitinga returns to the club where he started his career as a player, replacing Francesco Farioli who resigned last week after Ajax‘s spectacular title collapse. He has signed a two-year contract and will be assisted by Marcel Kaizer, who had a brief spell in charge of Ajax in 2017. Heitinga spent the past season working under Arne Slot at Premier League champions Liverpool. He also had a stint on David Moyes’ coaching staff at West Ham. “I am incredibly excited to start. The last years in England have done me a lot of good,” Heitinga said in a club statement. “I’ve been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs. “I’m ready to continue as a head coach and I’m honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax.” Ajax suffered a painful end to the season after blowing a nine-point lead with five matches to play, allowing PSV Eindhoven to snatch the league title on the final day. Farioli revived the fortunes of a team coming off a dismal fifth-place finish in the 2023-24 campaign, but he decided to leave due to “different visions” with the club board. Former Atletico Madrid, Everton and Fulham centre-back Heitinga retired in 2016 after a brief second spell with boyhood club Ajax. He played 87 times for the Netherlands but was sent off in extra time in the 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. The deal was made after triggering his €35m (£29.5m) release clause. The Dutch international joins on a five-year deal and is set to battle Conor Bradley for the right-back role. This comes after following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid. “Liverpool came and said they had interest, and obviously for me it was a no-brainer,” Frimpong told the club’s official website. “For me, it was like, ‘Whatever you guys do, just get this done’, (speaking to) my agents: ‘Just get this done’.” Frimpong added: “Liverpool fans, I’m going to give my all, my energy, my work-rate and hopefully we can win together, we celebrate together, get everything together.” The 24-year-old starred for Leverkusen during their unbeaten Bundesliga-winning campaign. He contributed 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances. Celtic, his former club, are due a reported £5m from the deal. Liverpool are also pursuing Frimpong’s former teammate Florian Wirtz. After submitting a €130m (£109.4m) offer.

Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed on Saturday he will leave Atalanta. This is after nine hugely successful years ahead of an expected move to rivals Roma. Gasperini, 67, departs after turning the Bergamo club from provincial also-rans in the shadow of the Milan giants down the road to one of Italy’s best teams and even Europa League winners last year. “In the last few hours I have decided to put an end to a wonderful nine-year-long story… I’m ending my experience in Bergamo as head coach of Atalanta,”Gasperini said in an open letter written to newspaper L’Eco di Bergamo. “I decided to end my relationship with the club, and no responsibility should be put upon the club or its directors. I’ve simply come to understand that the time has come to take this step.” Atalanta finished third in Serie A this past season and secured Champions League football. They have two matches left to play after falling short with an ambitious bid for the club’s first league title. Gasperini is set to join Roma on a three-year contract with a net salary of five million euros (£4.2m). Roma last qualified for the Champions League in 2017. They missed out in a spot in Europe’s top club competition on the final day of the campaign last weekend. Ranieri came out of retirement in November to save Roma from sliding into relegation. He also guided them to fifth and a place in the Europa League.

Erik Ten Hag was officially unveiled as Bayer Leverkusen  new manager on Monday.  He quickly dismissed any speculation of a return to Ajax, saying the Dutch giants “were never an option.” “I had very good conversations here,” said Ten Hag, who returns to Germany after coaching Bayern Munich’s reserves from 2013 to 2015. “I already knew a lot about the club and the Bundesliga. I think it’s a nice project to build something with good players.” On choosing Leverkusen, he added: “The Premier League and Bundesliga have similarities and differences, that’s clear. German football and the Bundesliga mean a lot in world football… When people ask what football is, it is, as they say, a game of 11 against 11, and ultimately the Germans win.”

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of completing the signing of Botafogo striker Igor Jesus in a deal worth €20 million (£16.9m) plus performance-related bonuses, according to Brazilian outlet ge.globo. The clubs have reportedly reached an agreement, and negotiations are progressing toward a “favourable outcome”, paving the way for Jesus to become Forest’s latest addition ahead of the new Premier League season. The 23-year-old forward has impressed for Botafogo across domestic and continental competitions, earning a Brazil national team call-up last season. He has tallied 15 goals and 6 assists in 54 games across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. His latest strike came in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Universidad de Chile in the Copa Libertadores. Jesus is expected to provide Forest with a much-needed boost in attack. If the deal is finalised, He will become one of the club’s most expensive signings.