Bournemouth

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Bournemouth have confirmed the signing of midfielder Alex Toth on a five-and-a-half-year deal from Ferencvaros.

The 20-year-old came through the academy at the Hungarian champions, making 52 appearances and scoring four goals during his time with the first team.

"It feels amazing to be a part of this club and I am excited to achieve good things," Toth said on the move.

"The whole club, the whole structure is great. When I was speaking to the directors, it was quite obvious for me because they were such good guys. I am really looking forward to achieving great things and making good results with this team."

Bournemouth's head of football operations, Tiago Pinto, added: "I'm really pleased to bring such a young talent in Alex to the club and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"He has come from a club that is used to competing at the highest level in Hungary, while also featuring in Europe, so we're excited about what he can bring to us in Bournemouth as he continues to develop further under the coaching of Andoni."

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Brighton and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Jon: Another poor home performance. Not starting Minteh and Baleba was a huge error, which we paid for. Gruda is not up to the task - everyone appears to see that, apart from Hurzeler. We can forget European aspirations; at this rate, we will struggle to achieve mid-table mediocrity.

David: Unfortunately, back to slow, laborious, side-to-side play with the ball, giving the opposition time to organise their defence, and we do not have the players able to walk through defences. Bournemouth only had one thought with the ball: attack at speed. We needed to do that, couldn't and deserved no more than a point.

Anon: Brighton showed the urgency of a tortoise who is past its bedtime - until Minteh came on. But too often that is the case. They need to dwell less and hurry more.

Alfie: Very frustrating, but it seems to be the Brighton way at the moment. Let the opponent take the lead in the first half and then work hard in the second and get a lucky last-minute equaliser! Tony Bloom always talks about sustainability, but attempting to play matches like this is anything but that!

Bournemouth fans

Jools: Cherries have punched above their weight for so long that it has become expected. Many of our closest rivals have got bigger, and now we are gasping for breath!

Peter: A gutsy away performance by AFCB. Adli's best start, and Evanilson was unlucky not to score. We did have to hang on, but it is clear that the players were worn out, and we desperately need reinforcements. Bravo Jimenez, excellent again!

Anon: If only we had managed to stay on our feet then we might have got more from the game.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Clear and obvious? That is the question Brighton will probably be asking after Bournemouth's VAR penalty.

Had referee Paul Tierney identified the contact by Bart Verbruggen on Amine Adli and simply said 'no penalty', then a pitchside review was unlikely. His description would have been a justifiable interpretation.

The intervention from the VAR was based around Tierney getting that wrong. Tierney booked the Bournemouth attacker for simulation. That was incorrect and it opened the door for a review.

The VAR still had to feel this reached the threshold for a penalty, though. There was an argument that the contact was slight and not enough to make Adli go down.

A key factor was that Verbruggen's challenge made in an irregular way, with a high boot catching the thigh of Adli after he had gone past.

That Adli may not have been able to keep the ball in play does not matter, only that it was still in when the foul contact happened.

Read the full piece here

Bournemouth plan to resist any bids for Marcos Senesi this month even though the 28-year-old Argentine has turned down multiple offers to extend his contract, which expires in the summer. Juventus and Barcelona have shown interest in the defender. (Talksport), external

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is very harsh, very harsh for us because we were so close to getting the three points. We played a really good first half and had our chances, we scored one and we were controlling the game.

"In the second half we didn't have the energy to keep these intensity levels and we had to defend a little bit lower, especially after the Brighton subs, but we were doing well. At the end it is an incredible goal from Kostoulas.

"We had to defend deep and compact, and as we did in the first half you have to come together a bit more. You know you are probably going to concede some set pieces and you have to do the basics and defend your box.

"I have seen the [Brighton] goal, and it is very difficult to blame the players. We had Senesi in front of him but it is a bicycle kick, outside top corner, it's incredible. Looking at the replay I was trying to see what we could do better but it is impossible.

"Lately we have been very close to winning, and in difficult stadiums, for example against Newcastle in the cup, lose on penalties. Maybe before the game you say one point is good, Brighton away is a difficult place, but seeing how the game has evolved we might not think it is good for us."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth have lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

• Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier has netted six goals in all competitions this season, his best-ever return in single campaign.

Listen to Iraola on BBC Sounds

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

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If there were Bournemouth fans fearing the worst when talisman Antoine Semenyo left the club to join Manchester City earlier this month, this performance from the Cherries is proof that there is still a lot to be optimistic about on the south coast.

In his side's first Premier League outing since the forward's £65m transfer to Etihad Stadium, Andoni Iraola handed Amine Adli only his fourth Premier League start since joining from Bayer Leverkusen last August.

The Morocco international was lively throughout the night and was able to earn his side a penalty with his speed and willingness to break into the box during the first half.

On the other flank, the skill and trickery of Eli Junior Kroupi, one of the breakout stars of the Premier League season, although far from his scintillating best, served as another reminded that Bournemouth still possess plenty of quality in attack.

But the sight of goalscorer Tavernier being replaced by veteran full-back Adam Smith in the 71st minute was a sobering reminder that Bournemouth are short on quantity - and are in urgent need of attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes on 2 February.

Tavernier departed the pitch at the same time as Kroupi and from there, only Brighton looked like scoring.

It was a disappointing way for Bournemouth's night to end after an impressive performance on the road.

But after Iraola called for more players to be added to his squad this month, he could use this match as evidence to present to the club's board to back up his point.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies

Fabian Hurzeler makes four changes to the Brighton side that beat Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend, with Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke and Mitoma returning to the starting XI.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Gross, Gomez, Gruda, Mitoma, Welbeck. Subs: Steele, Rutter, Minteh, Baleba, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Ayari, Coppola.

The visitors, meanwhile, hand forward Amine Adli only a fourth start of the league campaign as they begin life without Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League.

AFC Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Cook, Scott, Adli, Tavernier, Junior Kroupi, Evanilson. Subs: Forster, Christie, Smith, Diakite, Milosavljevic, Rees-Dottin, DaCosta, Sadi, Stevens.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Bournemouth are in advanced talks to sign Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas on a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy.

The value of the clause is expected to be under £21m, and understood to be difficult to trigger, with a high number of appearances and an unlikely European finish among the conditions being discussed.

Mandas has played 33 times for the Italian top flight club and is a two-time Greece international.

The Cherries negotiated a similar structure when they signed Alex Jimenez from AC Milan in the summer, and he now looks set to meet the targets required for a permanent move.

Dorde Petrovic is Bournemouth's first-choice keeper, while Fraser Forster recently joined as back-up.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton are bidding to continue a good run of home form this season against a Bournemouth side aiming for back-to-back league wins for the first time since August.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into Monday's meeting at Amex Stadium.

Brighton return to home comforts

Brighton return to the Premier League and the familiar surroundings of the Amex following an impressive FA Cup win at Manchester United.

The Seagulls have generally been strong at home this season, with their solitary defeat coming in a chaotic seven-goal contest against Aston Villa in December - and while Fabian Hurzeler's side have since been held by West Ham United and Sunderland, they got back to winning ways against Burnley in their most recent Amex outing.

Part of Brighton's consistent home record so far has been down to an ability to bounce back when going behind, including the 1-1 draw with West Ham on 7 December, during which Georginio Rutter scored a 91st-minute equaliser, along with home wins over Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season.

Brighton have conceded the opening goal on 12 occasions in 2025-26 and gone on to avoid defeat in seven matches (W3, D4) – the most of any Premier League side.

Affairs were slightly more straightforward when Brighton switched competitions last weekend, triumphing at Old Trafford in the FA Cup courtesy of a virtuoso performance by Danny Welbeck.

The 42-cap England international has been used sparingly in his 16th campaign of top-flight football, although he has still managed to score eight goals – tying his career-best tally after 21 league matches, despite starting just 12.

Welbeck is only two goals away from equalling the best total league tally of his career with 17 games remaining, and if the former Arsenal and Manchester United forward can stay fit and in form, he may yet make a compelling case to be on England's plane to the World Cup later this summer.

Bournemouth searching for away win

Bournemouth rediscovered winning ways of their own last time out in the Premier League, ending an unwanted club record of 11 top-flight fixtures without a victory by beating Tottenham at Vitality Stadium.

Junior Kroupi was again a key performer, scoring his seventh goal of the season in the 3-2 triumph. The 19-year-old has impressed in his first campaign of Premier League football, with only four non-British teenagers - Romelu Lukaku, Nclas Anelka, Robbie Keane and Kelechi Iheanacho - having scored more in a season in the competition.

The Cherries did not enjoy the FA Cup weekend as much as Monday's opponents, again failing to find a way to win away from home and being eliminated on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.

Bournemouth have not won on the road in any competition since a 1-0 victory at Tottenham on 30 August - a run of nine matches, with only Leeds, Burnley and Wolves picking up fewer Premier League points than Bournemouth's seven away from home.

Andoni Iraola's side have also lost on their past four visits to the Amex, although they may take confidence from beating Brighton at home earlier this season as they target just a second Premier League double in this fixture and first since 2019.

Bournemouth and West Ham are interested in Real Betis' Spanish winger Pablo Garcia, 19, and are prepared to pay his £26m buyout clause. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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Antoine Semenyo is a huge miss for Bournemouth now he has joined Manchester City, but they are still an attack-minded team and I always fancy them to score.

Brighton are the same, in that they look dangerous when they come forward but can also appear very open.

So this should be a very entertaining game and we should see a few goals too. I just can't pick a winner.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say

Chelsea want to bring in a defender this window with Bournemouth's Argentina international Marcos Senesi, 28, among several targets. (Talksport), external

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Left-back Ade Solanke says he is "over the moon" to have signed for Bournemouth on a long-term deal from Ligue 1 side FC Lorient.

The 18-year-old signed the contract on his birthday this month and will go straight into the Cherries' academy set-up.

Solanke has featured for Lorient's under-19s and reserve sides and has represented the Republic of Ireland 31 times from under-15 to under-18 level, most recently appearing at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

"I am over the moon. I feel it's been a long time coming but I'm delighted to be here, and I can't wait to get started," the former Shamrock Rovers youth player said.

"With AFC Bournemouth being a Premier League club, a move like this is something I've dreamt of. I am grateful and I thank God, I am really happy.

"The vision of where everyone wants this club to go and where the club is going, it played a big part in my decision to come to AFC Bournemouth."

Solanke follows in the steps of a number of players to have come from Bournemouth's partner club Lorient, including summer signing Eli Junior Kroupi, who has scored seven goals since his debut in August.

Sam Gisborne, head of academy at Bournemouth, added: "We're really pleased to welcome Ade Solanke to the academy.

"He's someone we've been monitoring for a period of time, and we believe this is a great environment for him to continue his development."

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his chat with BBC Radio Solent:

• Iraola says his squad will "continue be thin" for Monday's match, adding: "David Brooks has some issues with his ankle, I don't know if he will be available. Ryan Christie is on the positive side, we could recover him."

• He added that Enes Unal's injury is not major, and hopes he will only be out for two or three weeks.

• On how he can replace the output of Antoine Semenyo: "We need players in his position and the club is working on it. We also need players already here to step up. It is not going to be just one; it will be a collective."

• Iraola was reluctant to say much about the club's links to Hungarian midfielder Alex Toth, but said on the window in general: "We are open to a lot of situations in January. You are not going to find the perfect player but you have to be open-minded."

• When asked how many players could arrive at Vitality Stadium this month: "We could sign two, three, four. In our heads, three is probably the number we have because we need to replace three positions."

• On why Brighton are "so difficult to prepare for", Iraola said: "They have so many different routes to goal. They like to change their starting 11. In the last 30 minutes of games they have a plus-10 goal difference which is massive. It says a lot about the subs, who keep or even increase their level."

• He was asked if he enjoys the Monday night slot of Premier League football: "I love to play late at night because I think proper football is played at night. But I get more nervous when we are not playing [over the weekend] when you are looking at the other results."

Hear more from Iraola on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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AFC Bournemouth midfielder Romain Faivre has returned from a loan spell in Saudi Arabia to join French side Auxerre on loan until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old was previously on loan with Al Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League, making five league appearances and scoring one goal.

Faivre joined Bournemouth in July 2023 for a fee of £12.8m, before immediately moving on loan to FC Lorient.

However, in January 2024 he joined back up with the Cherries squad after his loan spell was cut short.

He spent last season on loan with Stade Brest where he made 32 appearances across all competitions, but has made just six appearances for Bournemouth since joining,

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Bournemouth's exit from the FA Cup on penalties at Newcastle United completed a circle of sorts, as the two sides had contested the first televised FA Cup penalty shootout in January 1992.

Before the 1991-92 season, drawn FA Cup ties were replayed, again and again, until a winner was found. The record was set by non-league duo Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971-72, when five replays were needed to settle their fourth qualifying round tie.

Second replays onward were often played at neutral venues, in front of much-reduced crowds. For Bournemouth's part, they played Torquay at Bristol City's Ashton Gate (1932), Ipswich at Arsenal's Highbury (1952), Watford at Swindon's County Ground (1967), Blackpool at Aston Villa's Villa Park (1972), Gillingham at Brentford's Griffin Park (1974) and Colchester at Watford's Vicarage Road (1977) in cup competitions.

Fast forward to 1991-92 when penalties were imposed after one replay. Having beaten Bromsgrove Rovers and Brentford in the first two rounds, Bournemouth were handed a third successive home tie against Newcastle. A goalless draw at Dean Court was followed by a replay at St James' Park which was abandoned after 17 minutes because of (literally) fog on the Tyne.

So eight days later, the sides tried again and as it was the only Cup tie on that night, it was naturally chosen for live broadcast by Sky Sports, with extended highlights on BBC One's Sportsnight.

1992's viewers were treated to an entertaining 2-2 draw and, as in 2025-26, one of Newcastle's first five penalties in 1992 was blazed too high, while another was saved by the Cherries goalkeeper diving to his right.

However, Bournemouth's 2026 penalty takers were not able to match the success from 12 yards enjoyed by their counterparts from 1992 (who scored four spot-kicks out of four to complete a 4-3 win) and the Magpies booked their place in the next round.

It ends a run of five successful penalty competitions for the Cherries, whose previous loss in a shootout was to Portsmouth in the Football League Trophy in 2012.

Since then, they had overcome Preston (2015), Forest Green (2019), Crystal Palace (2020) and Norwich (2022) in the League Cup, as well as Wolves in last season's FA Cup fifth round.

Bournemouth are continuing talks with Ferencvaros over a deal for Hungary midfielder Alex Toth, 20, after their initial £8.6m offer was rejected. (Sky Sports), external

Nottingham Forest have made an enquiry for winger Marcus Tavernier, but the Cherries do not plan to sell. (Mail), external

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Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Bournemouth should have been awarded a penalty at Chelsea for handball by Malo Gusto, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.

Marcus Tavernier played a ball into the penalty area in the 54th minute. It hit the raised arm of Gusto as it dropped over his head but referee Sam Barrott waved away the penalty claims.

The game at Stamford Bridge on 30 December was 2-2 at the time, with no further goals scored.

The KMI Panel voted 4-1 that Barrott should have given the spot-kick and 3-2 that the video assistant referee (VAR), Craig Pawson, was wrong not to intervene.

The panel felt that "the ball hit the 'red zone' of his arm that was raised in an unjustifiable position".

The 'red zone' relates to a part of the arm which is considered a handball offence.

Yet Chelsea were denied a penalty against Aston Villa in similar circumstances just three days earlier. The KMI Panel unanimously voted it was correct not to give a spot-kick against Ian Maatsen. It happened in the 75th minute with the score 1-1, with Chelsea falling to a late Chelsea falling to a late 2-1 defeat.

It is the second time this season that Gusto has incorrectly escaped a VAR penalty. He caught the head of Brighton's Yankuba Minteh with his boot on 27 September.

Chelsea have benefited most from VAR errors this season, with three of the 13 which have been logged. The third is Fulham's wrongly disallowed goal at 0-0 in a game Chelsea went on to win 2-0.

Bournemouth have suffered two mistakes. The second was a missed red card for West Ham's Max Kilman in the 66th minute of the 2-2 draw on 22 November.

But Bournemouth have also gained, as Marcos Senesi should twice have received red cards for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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Following defeat in the FA Cup at the first round of asking, the Cherries have to park any dream of cup glory, having also failed at the first hurdle in this season's Carabao Cup.

This will therefore be one of the club's fewest games in a full season, which is probably not too concerning considering Andoni Iraola's side's current lack of squad availability.

It remains to be seen how active the club will be in this month's transfer window but following key departures and a significant number of injuries, the squad is looking thin and in need of some fresh bodies.

So how do Bournemouth ensure this season is still seen in a positive light and that they're continuing to show clear progression?

Last campaign's ninth-placed finish and record points tally of 56 feels tough to beat but definitely feasible.

Iraola's men sit on a respectable 26 points, meaning a slightly improved second half of the season could well put the Cherries on track to still show a clear upward trajectory on the pitch.

This season was always going to be a demanding one. On Saturday, the side performed admirably at Newcastle in a game that was almost a year to the day of that special 4-1 Premier League win at St James' Park.

Cherries had only three players that played both this weekend and in January 2025, one of them being an academy player - so the squad turnover has been high, perhaps underlining that adaptation and patience has always been required by supporters as Bournemouth aim to stay consistent amid high churn.

So what is possible? A top half and pushing towards last season's points tally? It may be a tall order, but it's one which Bournemouth are more than capable of delivering on.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Bournemouth have emerged as a serious contender alongside Lazio in the pursuit of Ferencvaros and Hungary midfielder Alex Toth, 20. (Teamtalk), external

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