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Man United announce signing of Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The striker will join on a five-year deal and become Ruben Amorim’s fourth summer signing. The 22-year-old Slovenia international scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last season.
Sesko passed his medical at Old Trafford on Saturday morning and was set to be unveiled as a new United player at the lunchtime before the pre-season friendly against Fiorentina. Sesko’s arrival takes United’s spending to around £214m after the signings of Matheus Cunha, Diego León and Bryan Mbeumo. Sesko is expected to be the fulcrum of Amorim’s attacking trident, along with Cunha and Mbeumo.
The new signing said:
The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future. When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon. From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my teammates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.
More details to follow.
Manchester United’s newest signing alongside Jason Wilcox, the club’s director of football. Photograph: Manchester UnitedShare
Updated at 05.32 EDT
Lots of eyes will be on Wrexham today in their season debut. In November 2020, the American actor Rob McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, through their RR McReynolds Company LLC, bought the Welsh club. From there it has been a steady rise. From a television series to a boost on all platforms on social media, the club has received unprecedented attention and a massive financial boost due to their Hollywood owners.
And as mentioned earlier back-to-back-to-back promotions, the first club in the history of England’s top five football divisions, means they are back in the second division for the first time since 2003–04.
But how will they fare this season? Is it true the Championship is a whole other ballgame? Here is Dominic Booth’s verdict from a few months ago.
Will we see a similar photo at the end of this season? Photograph: Paul Currie/Colorsport/REX/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 05.12 EDT
Some of your early predictions:
Sheffield Utd v Bristol City. City were screwed by a sending off early in the play-off first leg.
City never do well at Sheffield Utd anyway – so pools panel verdict: home win.
I am tipping Bristol City for relegation. They over-achieved last year and that was due to Manning.
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Football Weekly. You know it, you love it. But what is better than Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and a host of your regular Football Weekly favourites in your ears wherever you get your podcasts? Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and a host of your regular Football Weekly favourites live on stage.
After almost two years since Football Weekly’s last live show, they are returning for one night only to Troxy in east London on 11 September. You can find more information and buy tickets in-person or for the livestream below.
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Just another reminder that Ben Fisher will be online soon for a Q&A on all things Football League. Send him in your questions below the line or via the email at the top of the blog.
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Our 12.30pm kick-offs in League One are Peterborough v Luton and Reading v Huddersfield.
Peterborough United v Luton Town
Peterborough have won just one of their last nine league games against Luton (D4 L4), a 3-1 home victory in August 2018.
Peterborough have failed to win any of their last eight league games (D3 L5), losing each of their last three in succession.
Luton have won three of their last five away league games (D1 L1), as many as across their prior 39 matches on the road combined (W3 D8 L28).
Luton Town’s new signing Jerry Yates applauds the fans after victory against AFC Wimbledon. Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock
Reading v Huddersfield Town
Reading have won each of their last two home league games against Huddersfield and will be looking to claim victory in three in succession for the first time since April 1989.
Huddersfield have won three of their last six league games against Reading (D1 L2), although they were winless in both games last season (D1 L1).
Huddersfield have lost each of their last six away league games in a row, last losing more in succession between February and April 2019 (seven).
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Updated at 04.35 EDT
Just over three hours to go until the 12.30pm kick-offs around the grounds. In League Two that is Notts County v Salford City and Tranmere Rovers v Shrewsbury Town. Let’s crunch some numbers with the help of Opta.
Notts County v Salford City
Notts County have won just one of their last 15 Football League games against sides from Greater Manchester (D5 L9), losing their last five in succession.
Salford City have won each of their last three Football League games against Notts County, scoring three goals in both of their victories last term.
Notts County lost all of their final three home matches of the 2024-25 league season and could lose four on the bounce at home for the first time since March 2024 – a run of five.
Salford City are unbeaten when playing their first away match of a league season in each of their last three campaigns (W1 D2), all without conceding a single goal
Tranmere Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Tranmere have won four of their last six league games against Shrewsbury (L2), with each victory during that time coming via a one-goal margin.
Shrewsbury have won two of their last four away league games against Tranmere (L1), as many victories as across their prior 15 visits to Prenton Park in the EFL beforehand combined (D3 L10).
Shrewsbury Town won their last league away match, a 2-1 win over Barnsley on MD45 last season, and could win back-to-back league matches on the road for the first time since February 2023 – a run of three.
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Updated at 04.31 EDT
Man City’s Rodri may not be ‘really fit’ until mid-September
Manchester City’s Rodri, who missed most of last season after rupturing anterior cruciate ligament injury last September, is unlikely to be “really fit” until after this September’s international break, says manager Pep Guardiola.
The midfielder’s fitful comeback was interrupted at the Club World Cup in the United States when a substitute appearance at the last-16 stage against Al-Hilal was curtailed in extra time by an unspecified injury. “Rodri is getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al-Hilal,” said Guardiola. “He has trained better in the last few days. Hopefully after the international break, he will be really fit.”
City travel to Wolves on 16 August and then face Tottenham and Brighton before the September break. Guardiola added: “Hopefully in these games, he can play some minutes, but what is important is that he doesn’t have pain because we don’t want Rodri coming back injured. We will try desperately to avoid that.” Guardian Sport
Rodri has been training with Manchester City but may not be at his best until mid-September. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PAShare
Updated at 04.33 EDT
See that there is a bit of discussion below the line on my use of football being back in the preamble. That it never went away especially with Euro 2025, that the league season started last weekend, etc. All points I agree with but the saying felt right to use given that this is our first matchday live of the season, which I mentioned in the first sentence in my preamble. “Football … you never left us” certainly does not have that same je nais se quois. But I digress, for who am I to not listen to the masses.
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Updated at 04.12 EDT
Q&A? Q&A! We have spoiled you rotten with our very first matchday live Q&A of the season, if I do say so myself. Our Midlands, south-west England and Wales football correspondent Ben Fisher will be around later today to answer some of your Football League questions. Send them in below the line or via email which you can find at the top of this blog. Go, go, go!
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And, of course, the rest of the EFL continues to storm on. It was a good start for Luton in League One last weekend as Wimbledon’s Ryan Johnson became one of the first victims of the own goal this season.
Wimbledon will hope to bounce back against Lincoln today. Also in action: Reading v Huddersfield, Leyton Orient v Wigan.
And in League Two it was a opener to forget for Plymouth while Cardiff and Huddersfield made hay under new managers Brian Barry-Murphy and Lee Grant.
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Away from the Championship, the second week of the Scottish Premiership makes way with Livingston v Falkirk, St Mirren v Motherwell and Rangers v Dundee. It is, of course, too early to call a title winner but if the opening weekend was anything to go by …
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Leicester – also relegated from the top-flight last season – face Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow. Dejphon Chansiri’s reign at Wednesday is facing a boiling point. Protests and a fly-over are planned and the chair of the supporters’ trust, Ian Bennett, says the feeling around the club is ‘despair’. He speaks to Will Unwin and what could be a pivotal moment for the 158-year-old club.
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So what are the big Championship matches to look out for today then? Southampton, who finished bottom of last season’s Premier League by quite are in action at 12.30pm. They host Wrexham, a small Welsh club became the first team in EFL history to be promoted in three straight seasons and have been on quite a journey since their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came in. Will they make an appearance tonight?
The 5.30pm kick-off sees Bristol City take on Sheffield United. Two sides that made the playoffs last season but could not quite get over the line. Which of the two will put aside their hurt first tonight?
You can see all of today’s upcoming fixtures here and stay tuned here as we bring you team news and updates as they come.
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Updated at 03.42 EDT
Today 10 more Championship matches kick-off. Anyone a shoo-in for promotion? Play-off contenders? Youngsters to look out for? Ben Fisher has you covered.
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Updated at 03.27 EDT
In last night’s Championship opener Ipswich, relegated from the Premier League last season, left it late for a 1-1 draw at Birmingham. George Hirst’s 94th minute penalty did was the visitors’ only shot on target in a tricky night for Kieran McKenna’s men. Read Ben Bloom’s report from St Andrew’s.
The very first goal of the Championship season. Photograph: Nick Potts/PAShare
Updated at 03.27 EDT
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to our very first matchday live of 2025-26! Here you can get all the latest news and updates from me and our correspondents as we countdown to the start of the Football League season.
We want you to get involved too so get in touch either below the line or via email and let me know what your football plans are for the day, your hopes and dreams for the season (and how realistic they may or may not be) and any personal pre-season rituals.
Football … we are so back.
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