Yan Diomande has opened up on his decision to reject Chelsea and believes it was the right decision.

The RB Leipzig winger turned down a move to Chelsea in 2024, instead favouring a switch to Spanish side Leganes. He made 10 La Liga appearances for Leganes last season, but could not help the club avoid relegation, before signing for Leipzig in the summer.

This season, the 19-year-old has had a breakout season to emerge as one of Europe’s most coveted talents.

Diomande has scored eight goals in the Bundesliga and added five assists, with top clubs around Europe considering big bids in the summer. Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester United have all been heavily linked.

He also made his Ivory Coast debut last year and has since scored three goals in nine caps for the national team.

Speaking to RBLive, Diomande discussed his decision to reject Chelsea and said the pursuit of immediate first-team football has helped his rapid rise.

“A lot of people told me I absolutely had to play for Chelsea. Then I stopped everything and made a decision for myself,” he said.

“I knew the president of Leganes; he had helped with my move to the USA. Suddenly, I was faced with a choice: Leganes or Chelsea? It was risky, but luckily, it was the right decision. I think patience is very important in football. It’s not always just about money.

“If you play well, it will come naturally. I’m young; I need to play to increase my sporting value, to improve. And I wouldn’t get that on the bench.”

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Stach, O’Reilly, Gyokeres

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It's a brand-new day for MLB teams, players and fans: The ABS challenge system -- which was tested in spring training and the All-Star Game last year -- is coming full-time to the game in 2026!

That's right! Hitters and pitchers will be able to challenge umpires' ball and strike calls with replays starting this year, so we've already seen some use in early spring training games.

That included what might already be the best challenge of the year, courtesy of Willy Adames. The San Francisco Giants shortstop challenged a third strike call... and replay showed he was right by LESS THAN 0.1 INCHES!

Willy Adames won a challenge by 0.1 of an inch pic.twitter.com/2wq2WKmf4D

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 22, 2026

Willy Adames might have already locked up Challenge of the Year 😳 pic.twitter.com/2B1AugjBzd

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) February 22, 2026

How did he do that? WILD. Further proof that the ABS challenge system is going to be awesome.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Willy Adames wins ABS challenge by less than 0.1 inch

The long awaited debut of England international Raheem Sterling finally took place this weekend. The winger has been awaiting a work permit to be able to play for Feyenoord, with the club having moved training to Belgium to accommodate and integrate the 31-year-old. With the permit granted, Sterling was able to finally make his debut. The former Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal man was given a fantastic ovation when he came off the bench for Feyenoord as they beat Telstar 2-1 on Sunday evening.

Speaking to ESPN after the game, Sterling was full of praise for his new teammates. Sterling said ‘We have some exceptional players, guys with a lot of talent’. Having not played first team football at his former side Chelsea for some time, it was clear that Sterling still needs some time to get up and running. A return to full fitness is what the England international is now targeting. Sterling told the media after the game ‘I haven’t played for a while, but I’ve been trying to stay fit. We’re just taking it step by step to get fitter’.

Feyenoord could certainly do with a fit and firing Sterling. The side are chasing a second placed finish, with PSV far enough ahead that it is unlikely they can challenge for the title. For Sterling, this is a great chance to escape the media scrutiny he has constantly faced in England for his performances on the pitch and decisions made off the pitch.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Blue Jays predicted to sign $10M 2-time World Series champion, 2-time Cy Young winner, 8X All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays were just one game away from winning the World Series in October. However, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who won two straight to secure back-to-back championships. In Game 6, the Blue Jays had an opportunity to close it out, but instead it will be remembered for the “lodged ball” controversy that left many questions unanswered.

“The fact this is ruled a ‘lodged ball’ but then the CF has no problem picking it up and throwing it in is dumb. He didn’t even make an effort to grab it right away. Blue Jays might have gotten screwed,” SI’s JD Andress posted.

Following the disappointing finish, Toronto turned its attention to the offseason. While the Blue Jays added to their starting rotation, they missed out on their primary target, Kyle Tucker.

“Kyle Tucker, the consensus best player available in free agency, agreed to join the Dodgers on Thursday, sources told ESPN, a little more than a month after star closer Edwin Diaz did the same. Tucker's deal is for four years at $240 million and includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

Although the rotation received reinforcements, FanSided’s Zachary Rotman believes the Blue Jays should still pursue Max Scherzer for additional depth.

“Scherzer gives them another option for innings, and a very proven one at that. He isn't the superstar he once was, but Toronto doesn't need him to be. They don't even need him to make 30+ starts. They just need him to take the ball when they're shorthanded, and they could certainly use his clubhouse presence as well. This reunion makes too much sense, and it feels like a matter of when, not if, it'll get set in stone,” Rotman wrote.

The Blue Jays will rely heavily on their pitching staff this season, especially after missing out on Tucker and allowing Bo Bichette to walk. Toronto hopes to return to the World Series, and depth additions like Scherzer could go a long way toward achieving that goal.

While the Blue Jays may not have the same lineup they did in 2025, the front end of their rotation remains strong. Adding Scherzer would also provide stability to the back end of the rotation.

More MLB news:

• Yankees predicted to make blockbuster trade for $100M Silver Slugger to add alongside Aaron Judge

• Phillies urged to part ways with $10M All-Star, former top prospect, Rookie of the Year runner-up

• Braves' $7M injury prone fan favorite, World Series champion deemed unreliable, questioning future

• Dodgers' Dave Roberts makes major Shohei Ohtani Spring Training announcement ahead of WBC

• Braves' Walt Weiss makes major Ronald Acuna Jr. announcement as future $300M decision looms

• Braves predicted to poach 2-time World Series champion from Padres to solve rotation crisis

• Braves' Walt Weiss hints at rotation plans amid Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep injuries

• Dodgers' $162M 9-time All-Star makes future with LA very clear in revealing comments

• Braves reportedly relying on $2M in-house rebound arm to fill void left by early rotation injuries

• Braves predicted to replace Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep with $38M All-Star, Cy Young arm

• Mets blockbuster trade idea lands $100M Gold Glove winner to pair with Juan Soto, Luis Robert Jr.

Bayer Leverkusen are set to be without midfielder Malik Tillman for the second leg of their Champions League knock-out play-offs against Olympiacos on Tuesday.

"It's a bit difficult when it comes to Malik. It's not yet fully decided (whether he can play) but it's not looking good," coach Kasper Hjulmand said in a news conference on Monday.

The 23-year-old was hit on the right ankle by Union Berlin's Stanley Nsoki in the third minute of Saturday's 1-0 defeat. Tillman played through the game but left the stadium limping.

"We have a short training session and a medical check tomorrow, then we'll decide," Hjulmand said.

Leverkusen have a 2-0 advantage from the first leg but the coach warned against being too complacent.

"It's a good result but it's also dangerous to think it will be easy. It's not easy. We're taking this task very seriously," he said.

The winner of the match-up advances to the last 16 and will face either Bayern Munich or Arsenal.