Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth announced Tuesday a "groundbreaking collaboration" with 2K for WWE 2K24.

If you know, you know ☝️ https://t.co/IKUkHkNSbf pic.twitter.com/IcaP8BxKVN

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 20, 2024

"Partnering with WWE 2K is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with our supporters in a new and innovative way," commercial director Rob Mitchell said. "This collaboration will combine the thrill of WWE 2K's gameplay, with the dynamic world of Premier League football."

The specifics of the partnership are unclear. The Premier League club said that "AFC Bournemouth-themed content will be available in the coming weeks."

For WWE, this represents another foray into mainstream sports. Last fall, the company worked with the Big 12 ahead of the conference's championship football game, and the partnership extended beyond that.

Now, WWE has made in-roads with one of the most popular competitions in all of sports.

Bournemouth was promoted back to the Premier League for the 2022-23 season and stayed up with a 15th-place finish. While the Cherries started slowly under manager Andoni Iraola in 2023-24, they eventually found their form and ended the campaign in 12th.

Bournemouth drew its opener with Nottingham Forest 1-1 thanks to a late goal from Antoine Semenyo.

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Actor Michael B. Jordan is now a part-owner of English Premier League club Bournemouth.

Per Giacomo Pisa of The Sun, Jordan is part of a minority investment group that purchased a stake in the club.

The Premier League ratified the sale of Bournemouth to a group led by Bill Foley.

According to Pisa, Foley will serve as club chairman and will be in attendance for its next home game against Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve.

Maxim Demin, who became a co-owner of the Cherries in 2011 and had been majority owner since 2013, reached a verbal agreement with Foley to sell the club for $150 million in October.

Foley is also majority owner of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights through his Black Knight Sports and Entertainment consortium.

A press release stated that Jordan and Nullah Sarker will work closely with Foley in areas that include "global marketing and internationalization of the club."

This marks Jordan's first foray into ownership of a sports team. His acting resume includes several sports movies and television shows, including the Creed franchise and the television adaptation of Friday Night Lights.

Jordan will make his directorial debut with Creed III, which is set to release March 3.

Bournemouth is in 14th place in the EPL standings with 16 points through 15 matches. Its next match is against Newcastle in the EFL Cup round of 16 on Dec. 20.

Premier League club Bournemouth is the latest group to cut ties with Kanye West.

The Cherries said Thursday they will no longer play West's 2010 song "Power" before matches at Vitality Stadium as they previously did for the past few years, per Ahmed Shooble of The Athletic.

The change comes after West's recent antisemitic comments, tweeting that he would "go death con 3 on Jewish people" in a since-deleted post.

The rapper also revealed more "hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes" during an episode of The Shop that was pulled from air.

The comments have led to significant backlash against West, losing his partnerships with Adidas, Gap and Foot Locker.

"Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the shoe company said in a statement. "Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."

Athletes Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown left Ye's Donda Sports after joining the sports marketing agency earlier this year.

West said on Instagram that he lost $2 billion in one day.

Bournemouth has not yet named a replacement song, but the club is set to host Tottenham on Saturday.

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has suggested he'll remain at the Vitality Stadium for at least one more year despite rumours he could leave for Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners are reportedly on the lookout for a new winger and have been frequently associated with Fraser in recent months. However, speculation has lessened of late, and Fraser told reporters it was more likely he'll remain on the south coast.

He said: "The likelihood is I will be at Bournemouth for another year. And what will happen, will happen. That is all I can really say about it. No one has really spoken to me about it."

The 25-year-old has one year left on his contract with the Cherries and could be susceptible to leave on a free transfer next summer if the club doesn't feel confident about agreeing an extension.

Journalist James Benge touched on the most recent gossip, but said that while the transfer is realistic, it won't be concluded in a hurry:

Latest on interest in Ryan Fraser, now in video form. Would not expect this to be a deal that is done very soon, particularly as Arsenal's negotiating position improves the longer this drags into the window. pic.twitter.com/hLo4sKXVMs

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) June 5, 2019

He reiterated the Gunners are at least monitoring the Scot:

Fraser interest is completely real. Just because Arsenal aren’t getting it done doesn’t mean it’s not serious.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) June 7, 2019

Fraser was one of Bournemouth's best performers this past season, scoring seven goals and recording 14 assists as the Cherries ran to a 14th-place Premier League finish. 

He played in all 38 of his side's league games last term and started in all but three of those. Nathan Ake (3,412) finished 2018-19 as the only Bournemouth player to rack up more Premier League minutes than Fraser (3,173).

Fraser's performances were enough to earn him end-of-season recognition from the Bournemouth fanbase and his team-mates:

✨✨ RYAN FRASER ✨✨

Apps: 42
Goals: 8
Assists: 15

What a season from our Supporters' and Players' Player of the Season, @RyanFraser94! 🏆🏆#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/uiWQ6uTj5e

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 14, 2019

He's capable on either flank but traditionally prefers the left side, where Arsenal will be in need of reinforcements after Danny Welbeck leaves the club this summer.

Gunners manager Unai Emery failed to bring in any new wide players during his first summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium and instead concentrated more on defence and his midfield.

Six years have passed since Fraser joined Bournemouth from Aberdeen, and it appears as though he'll serve at least a seventh campaign in Cherries colours.

Bournemouth have announced the signing of Nathan Ake from Chelsea for an undisclosed club-record fee. 

The Cherries revealed on Twitter on Friday they had snapped up the defender:

🙌 We've completed the signing of 🇳🇱 international @NathanAke for a club record fee from @ChelseaFC!

➡ https://t.co/Z9BJmioJmB#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/PBIkaw1Gmi

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 30, 2017

According to the club's official website, he has signed a "long-term deal" at the Vitality Stadium.

The Guardian's Stuart James reported the fee is thought to be £20 million, while the contract is for five years.

Ake spent time on loan at Bournemouth last season before being recalled by Chelsea in January. Per the club's official website, he said: 

"I had a great time here last season so I'm really happy to be back.

"It's an exciting challenge. Chelsea is a great club and I learned so much there, but this is a new step and the right place for me to develop even more.

"The fans haven't seen the best of me yet. I always set the bar high so I know there is a lot of things I still have to work on.

"With the help of the manager here I know I can keep improving and become a better player."

The 22-year-old also took to Instagram to thank his former club:

The left-footed centre-back enjoyed a positive spell with the Cherries last year. Squawka Football shared the numbers behind his impressive but brief stint:

Nathan Ake's 2016/17 Premier League season by numbers:

10 games
88% pass accuracy
68% tackles won
17 aerial duels won
3 goals

Thrived. https://t.co/JFa8rBCzvo

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 8, 2017

Despite his youth, Ake already looks to be a reliable defender who anticipates danger well and works hard to regain possession for his side.

While he made just five appearances for Chelsea upon his return to Stamford Bridge in January, he earned his first senior caps for the Netherlands at the end of the season and will likely go on to win many more if he fulfils his potential.

His reported fee is likely to raise some eyebrows, but he's a promising talent and could prove to be an excellent capture for Bournemouth if he continues his development with them in the coming years.

Bournemouth confirmed the signing of striker Jermain Defoe from Sunderland on Thursday, with the Englishman penning a three-year deal at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries tweeted news of Defoe's departure from the Stadium of Light following a two-and-a-half-year spell with the Black Cats:

🙌😀

He's back! @IAmJermainDefoe officially signs three-year deal and joins from @SunderlandAFC.

➡ https://t.co/tXkEuVBH0e#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/NGh1jwN7t4

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 29, 2017

The 34-year-old joined on a free transfer, having previously spent a season on loan at Bournemouth earlier in his career.

He told their official website: 

"It's great to be back and I'm really looking forward to this challenge. When the opportunity came about to return to AFC Bournemouth I just knew it was the right one.

"It was an easy decision, joining a top team with a top manager. It's a great place to be.

"The Bournemouth fans know that every time I pull the shirt on I will give 100 per cent, and the one thing I can guarantee is goals."

Defoe's contract with Sunderland still had two years left to run, but he had a clause in his deal allowing him to leave for nothing should the Black Cats be relegated from the Premier League, per Sky Sports' Michael Cantillon.

Despite his age, Defoe remains a prolific goalscorer at Premier League level. He is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the division, and he earned a recall to the England squad back in March, which was just reward for his consistency. 

He netted 15 top-flight goals in 33 appearances as Sunderland survived relegation in 2015-16 and continued similar form with 15 goals in 37 matches for David Moyes' side in 2016-17 despite them failing to avoid the drop, per WhoScored.com.

Defoe should be a fine addition to Eddie Howe's Cherries squad and could well form a fine partnership in the Bournemouth attack with Joshua King, who enjoyed a brilliant second half of 2016-17.

A veteran of 468 English top-flight matches with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth, Defoe will bring a wealth of experience to Bournemouth. 

West Ham United had a £6 million offer for Defoe rejected back in January, an indication that Sunderland were not prepared to let their key striker go cheaply, per Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol:

West Ham have made £6 million bid for Jermain Defoe. Rejected immediately by Sunderland. Big money for 34 year old but guarantees you goals

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) January 4, 2017

However, Bournemouth have now taken advantage of Sunderland's relegation woes and snapped up a proven goalscorer, while it is also likely Defoe could now retire at Dean Court. 

Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings will serve a five-match ban following his stamp on Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Football Association confirmed the sanction via their Twitter account on Wednesday after the Cherries centre-back had previously been charged with violent conduct:

AFC Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings will serve a five-match suspension, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today.

— England Football (@EnglandFootball) March 8, 2017

The incident occurred during the 1-1 draw between the two teams at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Mings’ boot making contact with the head of Ibrahimovic while he was grounded. Referee Kevin Friend took no action on the field.

Ibrahimovic later elbowed Mings, and while he escaped a red card, the Swede was hit with a three-match ban for his conduct on Tuesday.

After the punishment was announced for Mings, Bournemouth released a statement saying they were "extremely disappointed" by the outcome.

In the bulletin on their official website they added they consider it "extraordinary that the charges can be described as 'proven' when there is absolutely no evidence to prove the incident was intentional."

The FA, upon charging Mings, had stated the standard three-game ban a charge for violent conduct carries was "clearly insufficient" given the severity of the action, per Simon Stone of BBC Sport.

Prior to both incidents aforementioned, the two players had tangled on the pitch, with Ibrahimovic appearing to throw Mings to the floor.

Alex Shaw of ESPN felt there was a degree of pre-meditation from the Bournemouth man as a result:

Mings stamp clear as day on Ibrahimovic.Had already clashed previously then looked at him before planting studs. Could've easily avoided him

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawTel) March 6, 2017

On the day, Mings and his Bournemouth team eventually dug in to earn a battling point at Old Trafford. 

With Andrew Surman sent off before half time, the visitors defended gallantly for much of the match, keeping out their illustrious opponents through heroic blocks and excellent goalkeeping from Artur Boruc. The Bournemouth stopper saved a second-half penalty from Ibrahimovic, too.

Mings joined Eddie Howe's side ahead of the 2015-16 campaign from Ipswich Town for what was then an £8 million fee. However, he played just 12 minutes in his debut term due to injury and has only just fought his way back into first-team contention, making five Premier League starts.

Bournemouth have been dealt a damaging blow after the club confirmed striker Callum Wilson will miss the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The Premier League outfit released a statement via their official website on Thursday announcing Wilson's rehabilitation is "expected to last for six months."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said:

We are all devastated for Callum.

What's important now is that he receives the support and love of his family and friends, teammates and everyone associated with AFC Bournemouth.

Callum showed incredible character and determination to come back from a similar set-back last season and we know he has the same strength and will to do the same again.

Wilson enjoyed a successful return to the English top flight this season, scoring six goals in 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, after suffering another ACL injury in September 2015.

The forward will be devastated to lose out on more months of Premier League football, although ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery highlighted a particular difference between this injury and the one last season:

Callum Wilson has been ruled out for the remainder of 2016/17 after rupturing the ACL in his left knee. NOT the same knee as last time #AFCB

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) February 2, 2017

The 24-year-old's absence is sure to be felt considering he suffered the injury while leading Bournemouth in goals scored this season, netting two more than Junior Stanislas and Joshua King, who have each netted four times in all competitions.

According to Transfermarkt, Wilson missed a total of 30 games over the course of 189 days following his last ACL injury, a worrying prospect for his employers, who are far from guaranteed top-flight football next term.

The south-coast club are seven points above the relegation zone, but without Wilson's goal threat up front, Howe's side could soon find themselves struggling to make further progress.

Bournemouth have scored just seven league goals away from home this season—two of which were scored by Wilson—and their efficacy in foreign territory is only likely to be stunted further without his services.

Howe will feel the injury is poorly timed after the closure of the winter transfer window, meaning he's likely to be left without reinforcements until the end of the season.  

By that point, Bournemouth could find themselves back in the Championship depending on how the next few months shape up.

BBC South broadcaster Kris Temple questioned whether the club has the depth to survive:

A bad couple of weeks get worse for #AFCB. Such hard luck for @CallumWilson. Window closed - enough striking resources?

— Kris Temple (@kristemple) February 2, 2017

It seems likely Norway international King could be promoted to occupy Wilson's place in attack during his absence, while Benik Afobe will also be hoping for more minutes as a result.

Bournemouth—14th in the Premier League—will rue the decision not to bolster their attacking reserves in January following Thursday's announcement, which has dealt their top-flight ambitions a major blow.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined Premier League side Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal, it's been announced.

The Cherries confirmed the signing via social media on Wednesday:  

BREAKING: #afcb complete loan signing of @JackWilshere from @Arsenal. Full info: https://t.co/xTW69RueCl pic.twitter.com/gZ9usCevme

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 31, 2016

Sky Sports' Mark McAdam shared a snap of Wilshere posing for a photograph with Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, moments before the deal was officially confirmed:

This one is getting closer ! #afcb pic.twitter.com/bDECsUE6RB

— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) August 31, 2016

The club's chairman took to social media to welcome the Arsenal playmaker:

Huge welcome to @JackWilshere proud to have you with us @afcbournemouth #LotsofLuck

— Jeff Mostyn (@jeffmostyn) August 31, 2016

Wilshere will join the south-coast outfit with a view to handing his career a much-needed boost this term.

Arsenal's communications director, Mark Gonnella, wished Wilshere well:

All the best @JackWilshere come back stronger.

— Mark Gonnella (@MarkG_Arsenal) August 31, 2016

Meanwhile, James Benge of the London Evening Standard gave his thoughts on the move and how it could benefit the England international:

This may be the making of Wilshere. Easy to talk of fighting for place but you need game experience. He'll come back much better from #afcb

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) August 31, 2016

It came to light earlier this week the Gunners were willing to let their academy product leave on loan, per Sky Sports, amid fears he'd struggle to receive regular first-team football in north London.

Wilshere made just two appearances for Arsenal last season after breaking his fibula, and ESPN's James Dall questioned his value after enduring such a torrid time with injuries in recent years:

Jack Wilshere, while clearly talented, has an inflated reputation that has perhaps been enhanced by his absences, in a strange way.

— James Dall (jamesdall.bsky.social) (@JamesDall_) August 30, 2016

The midfielder has left the Emirates Stadium after competition for a spot in manager Arsene Wenger's engine room intensified this summer following the arrival of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson previously highlighted the mass of competition in the Gunners midfield and questioned how Wilshere fitted into the equation:

With Xhaka, Cazorla, Coquelin, Elneny and Ramsey also be interesting to see how Arsenal would react if there was a big bid now for Wilshere.

— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) August 27, 2016

Bournemouth will be the outfit who offer the 24-year-old a chance to excel once more as part of a first-team setup.

Blogger Liam Canning agreed it was "bold" of Wenger to make a call on Wilshere, with whom he has already shown so much patience, and suggested the player's best days may already be behind him:

Very interesting and bold from Wenger to sent Jack Wilshere out on-loan. Perhaps, Arsenal fans, he's just not as good as you think?

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) August 29, 2016

It was during the England international's first loan move away from the Emirates, when he joined Bolton Wanderers for a short spell in 2010, that Wilshere first made his break into the elite sphere.

The injury-ravaged midfielder will hope another term spent away from his parent club will give him the licence he needs to once again perform to his best.

Wilshere has only managed to make more than 35 appearances in a season for the Gunners once in his career, when he turned out 49 times during the 2010-11 campaign, but a move to Bournemouth could produce similar success.

The loan move is nevertheless a risk for Howe, but one he evidently feels is worth taking on a player once looked upon as the brightest of English gems.