Image source, Getty ImagesBoston United have signed goalkeeper Luke Faxon on loan from Championship club Sheffield United until January.
The 21-year-old moves to the National League side to compete with Louis Chadwick for the number one shirt at the Jakemans Community Stadium.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe TV schedule for the opening two months of the English Football League's 2026-27 season have been announced and with that, there are a few games getting a headline slot.
Here are the new dates to jot into your calendars across the EFL in August and September:
Thursday, 20 August - Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 23 August - West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (12:00 BST)
Friday, 28 August - Wrexham v Birmingham City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 6 September - Birmingham City v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Monday, 7 September - Bromley v AFC Wimbledon (20:00 BST)
Thursday, 10 September - Stevenage v Luton Town (20:00 BST)
Friday, 11 September - West Ham United v Wrexham (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 13 September - Sheffield United v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Thursday, 17 September - AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons (20:00 BST)
Friday, 18 September - Bristol City v Watford (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 20 September - Wolves v West Bromwich Albion (12:00 BST)
The above matches are the single-game choices whose dates have been moved for TV coverage - there are also a number of Saturday lunchtime, evening and multi-game midweek matches also being televised. The full list is available here., external
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentaries of all the above fixtures and you can also tune in to games via your local BBC Radio station.
Image source, ShutterstockAlex Matos started his career with Chelsea and made two appearances for the Blues
Sheffield United midfielder Alex Matos has joined Turkish Super Lig side Goztepe on a season-long loan deal.
The 21-year-old joined the Blades from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee last summer during Ruben Selles' brief spell in charge.
However, Matos made just eight appearances and none after 29 December.
Goztepe finished sixth in the Turkish top flight last season.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong's history-making World Cup has come to an end after Curacao were knocked out of the competition following a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast on Thursday.
The 26-year-old played all 90 minutes of the game against the African nation but the defeat left Curacao bottom of Group E with one point - their first in a World Cup - in three games.
Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was an unused substitute.
This year's event marked Curacao's debut in the competition.
The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.
Here are some key dates to put in your diary:
15 August 2026 - Birmingham City (H)
22 August 2026 - Swansea City (A)
26 December 2026 - Middlesbrough (H)
1 January 2027 - Burnley (A)
1 May 2027 - Southampton (A)
See Sheffield United's full fixture list here.
The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.
Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.
The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.
So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheffield United's Tahith Chong helped earn Curacao their first point in a World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on Sunday.
The midfielder played 76 minutes during the stalemate, while Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was on the bench for the Caribbean side.
Curacao will next play Ivory Coast on Thursday (21:00 BST) for a chance to progress through the group stages with a first tournament win.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday's Yan Valery, Ben Slimane of Norwich City and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri all started for Tunisia as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat by Japan which saw them knocked out of the tournament.
Tunisia's last group match will be against the Netherlands on Friday at 00:00 BST.
Sheffield United are keen on signing Leeds United's 17-year-old forward Harry Gray, who is the younger brother of Tottenham's Archie Gray and spent last season on loan at Rotherham United. (The Leeds Press), external
For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong and Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen will be team-mates for the World Cup.
The pair will represent Curacao - the smallest nation to ever participate in the competition.
Both Chong and Hansen played the second half of Curacao's 4-0 friendly win over Aruba on Sunday, with all four goals coming while they were on the pitch.
Chong had given his country the lead against Scotland at Hampden Park last weekend before they went on to lose 4-1.
Rotherham defender Ar'Jany Martha, who was relegated to League Two in the 2025-26 season with the Millers, is also in the squad managed by ex-Netherlands, Rangers and Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat.
Elsewhere for Boro, Alfie Jones is in the Canada squad.
Here is a reminder who Curacao and Canada will face in the group stage, so you can keep an eye out once the World Cup begins on 11 June:
Canada, Group B: Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland
Curacao, Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador
Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChris WIlder (left) says Stephen Bettis (right) deserves to be celebrated
A fairly significant anniversary is passing relatively unnoticed this week as Stephen Bettis, the chief executive of Sheffield United, celebrates 10 years with the club.
To outsiders, the Sheffield United story probably appears relatively straightforward. They've had two recent spells in the Premier League, appeared in an FA Cup semi-final and they've helped produce England stalwarts such as Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire through their academy.
Anyone who has monitored the club closely, however, will know there have also been some challenges along the way for Bettis, failed takeovers, managing situations that were out of his control, points deductions.
Despite this, he has been described by one Bramall Lane source as a leader and culture-carrier at the top of the club.
It's worth highlighting some of his and United's achievements over the past decade.
He's overseen two separate takeovers. Both new owners, Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and COH Sports, retained Bettis as CEO.
Prince Abdullah was glowing in his praise, saying: "The thing that comes to my mind first is his amazing people skills and the fun I had working with him. We went through some great times and some tough times, but nevertheless, we always managed to have a good laugh here and he is very dear to me."
Perhaps more importantly for United, Bettis was also involved in the due diligence of two highly-publicised failed takeover bids. It's uncomfortable to think where the club would be had either deal been passed.
United have won three promotions, starting with the initial revolution under Chris Wilder from League One, before two further successes to move into the top flight.
Bettis runs all elements of the football club. He's responsible for ticketing, commercial, corporate, retail and marketing.
He's also tasked with overseeing the first team budget and takes a hands-on involvement in negotiating player contracts and transfer dealings, alongside the Head of Recruitment and Head of Football Administration.
Image source, Getty ImagesChris Wilder led Sheffield United to the Premier League during his first spell in charge in 2019
The Blades were one of only four clubs in the Championship to make a profit in the last financial year. This isn't a one-off – they've achieved this in four of the past six seasons, but it isn't typical in the modern game.
United have broken their transfer record seven times and also purchased their stadium, land for a new training ground and bought the adjoining hotel with funds created through the successes of the past 10 years.
One of the key elements of United's production on and off the pitch is the club's outstanding academy.
Bettis has ensured that it remains a focal point – with several players becoming key assets, including Iliman Ndiaye and Will Osula, or developing into current starters, such as Sydie Peck, Oliver Arblaster, Andre Brooks and Femi Seriki.
His efforts are certainly appreciated by manager Wilder.
"It's fair to say that without Stephen we would not have enjoyed the good times that we have had, behind the scenes he has been a major part in what has been achieved and where the club stands, his role should not be underestimated in where we are, specifically being a go-between the boards that have been in place and the football operations," he said.
"On a personal level, Stephen has been huge advocate of what I've wanted to achieve at Bramall Lane and whilst it has not been plain sailing, like me, he has the best interests of the club at heart and he deserves to be celebrated."
A club shouldn't be solely judged on a Saturday result or a balance sheet. Fan consultation and engagement matters. Bettis chairs all meetings with the club's Fan Advisory Board and is known to maintain relationships with key supporters groups.
He's also improved supporter and hospitality experiences, including having a big influence in the introduction of safe-standing at Bramall Lane.
As we've become fully aware in recent times, strong connections to the EFL and Premier League are also important for clubs.
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch, who previously held the same role at Sheffield United, is another to speak highly of Bettis.
He said: "He understands what the club means to the city and the local community and has also made an important contribution to the development of the League on behalf of Sheffield United. Reaching this milestone reflects his resilience, leadership and service, and he should be very proud of the past decade."
Bettis hasn't always received the credit he deserves. On more than one occasion he's had to come into the studio at BBC Sheffield and address concerns from fans. He's always been willing to front up.
There will no doubt be further challenges in the future. Yet with Bettis as CEO, Blades' fans can feel reassured they've got a man who's up to the task.
Wilder: 'That one was for the supporters'
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield following their 2-1 final day victory at Derby County.
"We had to weather a tough start because they [Derby] came absolutely roaring out of the traps," he said.
"We got through that period and got a foothold in the game, and in the second half we were really good- we defended really well, broke the game up and created good chances.
"That one was for the supporters, 100%.
"It was a sellout here today, and I said that to the players - 'they [fans] have followed you up and down the country, and if any group of supporters deserve that after an incredibly challenging season, it's them'.
"And we've got through it with a reasonable points tally of 60. We wanted to get off the bottom of the division [where the Blades were when Wilder was reappointed], and we did that, then we wanted to get the club up the table, and we did that.
"We just stalled and fell a little bit short, and we have to take that.
"I've known what we have to do, and we are well on our way to doing it. And we will be better for it and we will hopefully be playing in games like this towards the back end of next year as Derby County have today."
Parry: 'I feel pretty down about it' Audio, 13 minutes
Sam Parry from The Pinch on Andre Brooks' move to Norwich City and the transfer window.
Fleck: 'The best time in my career' Audio, 24 minutes
Ex Blade John Fleck on his Bramall Lane years, Scotland, the World Cup and his future.
Murphy: 'Probably my favourite spell in my career' Audio, 21 minutes
Former Scotland and Sheffield United winger Jamie Murphy on the Blades and World Cup.
Veart: 'They always remind me of that one night ' Audio, 16 minutes
Ex Blades and Australia striker Carl Veart on his time at Bramall Lane and the World Cup.
