#ACLElite - Facts & Figures

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

#ACLElite - Facts & Figures

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 returns next week with Matchday 7 of the West Zone.

With just two rounds remaining, the action promises to be hot and the-AFC.com takes a look at how the statistics stood after Matchday 6.

Battle lines to be drawn for #WACFutsal2025

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Battle lines to be drawn for #WACFutsal2025

Kuala Lumpur: The 12 contenders for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 crown will discover their Group Stage fate on Thursday, February 6 when the Final Draw ceremony takes place at the Juva Grand Hotel in the host city of Hohhot at 3pm.

Nine teams emerged from the first ever Qualifiers – held last month – to progress to the Finals, where they will be joined by hosts China PR and 2018’s top two, Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan.

#ACLElite - How the groups stand

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

#ACLElite - How the groups stand

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 returns with Matchday Seven of the West Zone to be played on February 3-4.

The East Zone's Matchday Seven fixtures will be contested on February 11-12 with the League Stage to reach its conclusion the following week.
 
The-AFC.com takes a look at how the East and West Zones stand ahead of the action resuming.

Rennes sign Furuhashi from Celtic; Talisca moves to Fenerbahce

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Rennes sign Furuhashi from Celtic; Talisca moves to Fenerbahce

Paris: Ligue 1 side Rennes signed Japanese international Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic on Monday, with Portuguese forward Jota rejoining the Scottish champions.

"After some great years with Celtic, I was looking for a new challenge in a recognised league. Physically and technically, the league is very competitive," Kyogo said in statement on Rennes' website.

Europe Wrap: Taremi gets his first; Nakamura, Kim star

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Europe Wrap: Taremi gets his first; Nakamura, Kim star

Kuala Lumpur: Japan’s Keito Nakamura saved the day for Reims in their 1-1 draw with Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain while Korea Republic’s Kim Min-jae nabbed the winner in Bundesliga table-toppers' Bayern Munich’s 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg.

IR Iran international Mehdi Taremi, Japan’s Ayase Ueda and Shunsuke Mito and Korea Republic’s Son Heung-min also kept the Asian flag flying high with fine performances elsewhere in European competitions.
 
Follow the-AFC.com as we look at what the Asian contingent has been up to in Europe this past week.

Al Hilal part ways with Neymar

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

Al Hilal part ways with Neymar

Riyadh: Brazilian star Neymar on Monday ended his injury-plagued 18 month stay in Saudi Arabia as his club, Al Hilal SFC said they had "agreed to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent".

"The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al Hilal, and wish the player success in his career," said a club statement posted on social media.

Gauci joins Barnsley on loan from Villa; Gerrard leaves Al Ettifaq

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Gauci joins Barnsley on loan from Villa; Gerrard leaves Al Ettifaq

Kuala Lumpur: Australia goalkeeper Joe Gauci has joined Barnsley on loan from Aston Villa, the English Premier League club announced on Thursday.

Gauci, who made his debut for the Socceroos against Ecuador in March 2023 and played against Saudi Arabia in November in the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26, will feature for the League One club until the end of the season.

Ali's effort recognised as best goal of Matchday Six (West)

Wed, 29 Jan, 2025

Ali's effort recognised as best goal of Matchday Six (West)

Kuala Lumpur: Mohanad Ali's strike for Al Shorta in their AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 tie has been voted as the best goal of Matchday Six (West).

Ali's audacious lob earned him 46 percent of the votes and takes him into the semi-finals, with voting now open for the best goal of Matchday Six (East).

Taarabt boost for Sharjah

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

Taarabt boost for Sharjah

Dubai: Adel Taarabt has secured a move to Sharjah FC following his departure from UAE Pro League rivals Al Nasr SC.

Al Nasr announced the termination of the Moroccan midfielder’s contract by mutual consent, leaving the door open for Sharjah to secure the player on a free transfer.

#ACLElite - Asani tops best goal of MD5 (East) poll

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

#ACLElite - Asani tops best goal of MD5 (East) poll

Kuala Lumpur: Jasir Asani's goal against Shanghai Shenhua has been picked as the best goal of Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 (East).

Asani, who leads the scorers' chart with seven goals, netted in the 58th minute as Korea Republic's Gwangju FC edged China PR's Shenhua 1-0.

Albania's Asani, who amassed almost 45 percent of the votes, advances to the semi-finals with voting now open for the best goal of Matchday Six (West) here.

West Asia Wrap: Top duo stunned in Saudi Arabia; Al Duhail held

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

West Asia Wrap: Top duo stunned in Saudi Arabia; Al Duhail held

Doha: Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad suffered shock defeats on Monday as they remained locked in a dead heat for the Saudi Pro League title.

In Qatar, Al Duhail SC's lead was reduced to two points following their 0-0 draw with Al Rayyan while the President's Cup is reaching the semi-final stage in the UAE.

There were also matches in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman so join the-AFC.com as we review the past week's domestic action across West Asia.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Sepahan take over leaderboard

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

Central & South Asia Wrap: Sepahan take over leaderboard

Tehran: Sepahan took advantage of a slip-up by Tractor FC to move to the top of the Iran Pro League while Mohun Bagan Super Giant saw their lead in the Indian Super League reduced to four points.

Mohammedan Sporting Club, meanwhile, fell to their first defeat of the season in the Bangladesh Football Premier League.

The-AFC.com gives you a wrap of the domestic league action played across Central and South Asia this past week.

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Persib Bandung stay top; Svay Rieng beat Phnom Penh

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Persib Bandung stay top; Svay Rieng beat Phnom Penh

Kuala Lumpur: Persib Bandung stayed top in Indonesia while Johor Darul Ta’zim edged closer to the title in Malaysia.

In Cambodia, league leaders Phnom Penh Crown lost to Svay Rieng in a top-of-the-table clash while there were also matches in Australia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we review the past week’s domestic action across ASEAN & EAST Asia.