Sports
Champions League Winner Niklas Sule Makes Debut For Ninth-Tier Club
A Champions League winner, still only 30 years old, has been spotted this week making his debut for a ninth-tier side, marking a drastic fall from grace. The defender in question retired from the beautiful game just three months ago but, with an itch too strong to ignore, is back playing for a shock new club.
It’s a sad story because, while he is still relatively young – especially for this generation of footballer – he announced that he was bringing his playing career to an end back in May due to a third serious knee injury of his career, having previously ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament twice.
But playing at a much lower level could help rejuvenate the player, who now appears to be playing for the love of the sport rather than for money. At his new club, he now plays as a midfielder, and it would seem he’s having a blast – even if his debut came at the cost of defeat.
Ex-Champions League Winner, 30, Makes Debut With Shock Ninth-Tier Side
Former Borussia Dortmund defender Niklas Sule has returned to football, as the ex-Germany international made his debut for SV Tiefenbach in the midfield, rather than the centre-back role Bundesliga fans were used to seeing him deployed in. Sule, who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020, marked his first appearance for the club with a goal.
However, his maiden goal for the club was not enough to prevent them from a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of SG Kirchardt in the opening weekend of their district league. Watch some footage of his performance below:
“I think he’s enjoying it more playing a bit more offensively now,’ his new coach, Jason Walzel, told Badische Neueste Nachrichten, as per the Daily Mail. “He was there on Saturday and then again on Thursday and Friday. I don’t think it was planned that he would one day actually play in the Kreisliga. The boys are happy; he’s a great guy.”
How Niklas Sule Reflected on Ending his Career Early
Sule decided his time in topflight football was up when he believed he had torn his ACL for the third time in his 13-year professional career.
He went down with what looked like a serious knee problem during Dortmund’s 3-2 Bundesliga victory over Heidenheim in February, and following tests with the doctor in the dressing room he “really thought it’s torn.”
However, he escaped another ACL tear and, in that moment, decided that when his Dortmund contract expired, that would be that for his time performing at the highest level. Speaking to the ‘Spielmacher’ podcast, he explained:
“What I felt when our team doctor did the drawer test [a test used to check for a possible ligament tear] in the dressing room in Hoffenheim, looked at the physio and shook his head, and the physio did it too and didn’t feel any resistance either.
“I went into the shower and cried for ten minutes. In that moment, I really thought: ‘It’s torn’. When I went for an MRI the next day and received the good news [that it wasn’t a cruciate ligament tear after all], it was one thousand per cent clear to me that it was over.”
He added: “I couldn’t imagine anything worse than looking forward to life – being independent, going on holiday, spending time with my children – only to then have to come to terms with my third cruciate ligament tear.”
Sule was capped a total of 49 times for Germany, scoring once. He now lives far remoevd from the glare of European football, but has found a way to keep playing with a smile on his face.
The cost of owning a piece of American sport has skyrocketed in the past few years; a decade ago, $2 billion for a franchise was a major headline, now it might only secure a small percentage.
Every single entry on this list has landed since 2022, and four of them in 2026 alone. The driving reason behind it is simple: media rights money, legalised gambling, private equity money entering the leagues, and a fixed supply of assets.
The Los Angeles Lakers now occupies the top two positions after being sold twice in 14 months as the country’s biggest franchise names continue to show considerable growth over recent years. Interestingly, a large proportion of this list was bought and sold for incredible returns — displaying North American sport’s expansion from a financial perspective.
With that in mind, here are the 11 biggest sales in North American sports history, in reverse order.
11
Charlotte Hornets
$3 billion (2023)
The end of Michael Jordan‘s 13 years as an NBA owner. A group fronted by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall took majority control in July 2023 in a deal valuing the Charlotte Hornets at $3 billion. Jordan had paid $275 million for the franchise — then the Bobcats — in March 2010, turning a return of nearly 11x on a team that reached the playoffs twice under his watch.
10
Dallas Mavericks
$3.5 billion (2023)
Mark Cuban sold a majority stake to Miriam Adelson and her family in December 2023 at a $3.5 billion valuation, having bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million in 2000. Cuban retained a minority holding and basketball operations influence, but the relationship soured quickly.
9
San Diego Padres
$3.9 billion (2026)
This was an MLB record, and a huge one — the previous high was $2.4 billion. José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones agreed in May 2026 to buy the San Diego Padres from the ownership group that took over in 2012 for $800 million. The deal required approval from 22 of 29 owners and cleared its final vote in August. Feliciano and Jones inherit an expensive, aging roster and a payroll problem.
8
Phoenix Suns & Mercury
$4 billion (2023)
Mortgage lending billionaire Mat Ishbia and his brother Justin bought majority control of the Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Mercury in February 2023 at a $4 billion valuation. The sale was effectively forced: Robert Sarver had been suspended for a year following the NBA’s investigation into workplace culture. Sarver paid $401 million for both teams in 2004 — a tenfold return in under two decades.
7
Portland Trail Blazers
$4.25 billion (2026)
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon completed his move into the NBA in March 2026, buying the Portland Trail Blazers from Paul Allen’s estate at $4.25 billion. Allen had paid $70 million in 1988. Dundon’s tenure has been abrasive from the start — he cut the team’s long-serving broadcast staff in July 2026 as part of wider cost-cutting, and found himself in a public fight with Portland’s city council over arena funding.
6
Denver Broncos
$4.65 billion (2022)
© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The deal that reset the NFL market. The Walton-Penner group, fronted by Walmart heir Rob Walton, bought the Denver Broncos in August 2022 for $4.65 billion from the trust that had run the club since 2014. Pat Bowlen bought Denver from Edgar Kaiser for $78 million in 1984 and relinquished control in 2014 as Alzheimer’s advanced. He died in 2019, four years before the sale completed.
5
Washington Commanders
$6.05 billion (2023)
Josh Harris, already owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, led the group that paid $6.05 billion in May 2023 to remove Daniel Snyder from the NFL. Snyder had bought the club for $800 million in 1999 from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, and left amid congressional scrutiny and multiple workplace investigations. The sale was as much an exorcism as a transaction.
4
Boston Celtics
$6.1 billion (2025)
For roughly two months in spring 2025, this was the biggest sale in North American sports history. Bill Chisholm, managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, bought the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family, who had paid $360 million in 2002 and delivered two championships. The scale of the shift since is captured in one number: the Lakers deal announced in 2026 was, shockingly, more than double it.
3
Seattle Seahawks
$9.612 billion (2026)
An NFL record, struck in July 2026 with the Seattle Seahawks fresh off a Super Bowl win. The Paul Allen estate sold to a group led by the Khosla family, previously minority holders in the San Francisco 49ers — a stake they must now divest. Allen bought the Seahawks for around $200 million in 1997, partly to block a prospective buyer’s plan to relocate the team to Anaheim.
2
Los Angeles Lakers
$10 billion (2025)
This was the sale that ended one of sport’s great dynasties. Mark Walter bought the Los Angeles Lakers from the Buss family in June 2025 at a $10 billion valuation, breaking the Celtics record set weeks earlier. Jerry Buss had bought the club from Jack Kent Cooke for around $68 million in 1979 and built it into the Showtime era; the family ran it alone until Walter arrived, retaining 15% and Jeanie Buss as governor.
Liverpool have held talks with Ibrahim Mbaye’s agent regarding a summer transfer to Anfield but a move depends on Paris Saint-Germain’s transfer valuation, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds have been rather quiet in the transfer market this summer for new boss Andoni Iraola despite such a poor 2025/26 campaign on Merseyside.
Agreeing a deal with Rennes for centre-back Jeremy Jacquet back in February, Liverpool have also completed the signing of Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna.
Further reinforcements are needed in attack, especially following Mohamed Salah’s exit, Hugo Ekitike’s injury and the possibility of Cody Gakpo heading to Tottenham before the summer window closes for business.
Liverpool are keen on signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain to upgrade their attack but agreeing on a fee has proved problematic so far with the French side valuing their winger at £130m.
Mbaye of PSG is also a target, with conversations with Jorge Mendes, the youngster’s agent, taking place.
Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, Romano issued a fresh update on Liverpool’s move for Mbaye and also claimed that the Reds do have more options on their transfer list ahead of the deadline.
“I expect also Liverpool to add one more winger to the squad, especially if Cody Gakpo goes to Tottenham,” said Romano.
“Mbaye is one of the names. It’s true. They had conversations with the agent of the player, Jorge Mendes, but at the moment it depends on the valuation.
I don’t see Liverpool paying €200m (£170m) to Paris Saint-Germain for Barcola and Mbaye. So, the price [needs to] come down for both players, or Barcola top priority and, eventually, Mbaye. But Liverpool also have more options on the list.
Mbaye’s 2025/26 campaign in numbers:
|
Ligue 1 |
|---|
|
Appearances: 24 |
|
Minutes: 998 |
|
Starts: 10 |
|
Goals: 3 |
|
Assists: 2 |
|
Champions League |
|
Appearances: 4 |
|
Minutes: 101 |
|
Starts: 1 |
|
Goals: 0 |
|
Assists: 0 |
If he does indeed secure a move to Anfield before the transfer deadline, Senegal winger Mbaye will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Sadio Mane at Liverpool.
Mane was a huge success on Merseyside as he contributed 120 goals and 46 assists in 269 games for the Reds as he helped them win multiple honours.
Mane knows that Mbaye is extremely talented, labelling him as an “exceptional player” during their time together at the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year.
“Seventeen years old and at this level, I think it’s impressive. He has a bright future ahead of him,” said Mane after Mbaye assisted him in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo.
“We will try to help him find the right rhythm so that he can help us even more, because he is an exceptional player.”
After the roles were reversed and Mane assisted Mbaye for a goal against Sudan in the round of 16, he said: “It’s a pleasure to give him a pass. I think we know each other very well.
“When I saw him, his speed was incredible. I just had to put it in front of him. He capitalised on the defender’s mistake. He scored the goal. We’re all happy for him.”
Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion have organised new talks in order to close the Carlos Baleba transfer deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils are on the verge of signing the powerful midfielder in a £65m deal after previously trying to lure him to Old Trafford one year ago.
Baleba’s arrival at the club once a deal has been agreed and contracts penned will complete United’s new-look midfield for the 2026/27 season and beyond for Michael Carrick.
A key area of the pitch that needed addressing with Casemiro moving on, the club moved quickly in July to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
Still requiring an experienced player who can sit deeper and also make a big impact in the Champions League, Manchester United finally look set to get their man in Baleba.
The 22-year-old has earned rave reviews since moving to Brighton from Lille in 2023, becoming a major force in their midfield with his strength and ability to win the ball and carry it forward.
Speaking on Give Me Sport’s Market Madness podcast, transfer expert Romano provided the latest on Baleba’s move to Old Trafford and stated that the deal will be done in “a matter of hours”.
“I think there is a very good chance to see Man United signing more players,” explained Romano.
For Baleba, there is still some small steps to do and then the deal will be done, but I think it’s just a matter of hours. New contacts are already penned between United and Brighton to close the deal.
“The player has been pushing for this deal. It’s been almost one year, August 25, when he already said yes to Man United. He never wanted to consider any other option in England and abroad, as he wants to go to Man United. So on player side there is no issue and it’s going to happen soon.”
Carrick’s dream midfield
Carrick is going to have options galore in midfield this season once Baleba joins Santos and Tielemans as United players.
Prior to the head coach’s arrival at the club, midfield was a real issue under former boss Ruben Amorim but a change in management saw the Red Devils get more joy there, with Kobbie Mainoo one player to flourish following Carrick’s arrival.
The summer additions may see Mainoo drop down to the bench, though, with Baleba to take on the holding role in midfield and allowing those ahead of him to do what they do best.
Tielemans and Bruno Fernandes will join the Cameroon international in midfield, thus giving United an extremely strong midfield trio as they look to push for major honours this campaign.
Santos, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte are then further options available to Carrick as he tries to attack four competitions and bring silverware back to The Theatre of Dreams.
Carrick’s dream midfield: Tielemans, Baleba, Fernandes.
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