��������

MARSEILLE: Ligue 1 club Marseille have bolstered their attack by signing Brazilian winger Igor Paixão from Feyenoord in a deal that could rise to 35 million euros ($40.6 million).

The 25-year-old Paixão scored 18 goals in 47 games last season and was voted the Dutch player of the season. Marseille beat competition from newly promoted Premier League team Leeds to sign him.

Marseille announced the deal late Friday without giving further details, but French media reports valued the deal at 30 million euros with an additional 5 million in performance-related bonuses.

Marseille paid a club-record 32 million euros to Portuguese club Braga to sign forward Vitinha in early 2023. Vitinha failed to settle and scored only six goals in 43 games before being sold to Genoa.

Paixão showed his full repertoire of skills during a Champions League game against AC Milan in February, scoring in a 1-0 win and giving the Milan defense a torrid time all game with his quickness.

Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 last season behind Paris Saint-Germain and qualified directly for the Champions League.

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi has made several moves in the transfer market this summer, including bringing back veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.

The 36-year-old Aubameyang scored 21 goals for Al-Qadsiah last season, after having spent the 2023-24 campaign at Marseille — where he netted 30 goals overall and became a fan favorite in the southern port city.

Attacking midfielder Angel Gomes joined from Lille and gritty central defender Facundo Medina arrived from Lens.

The arrivals of Aubameyang and Paixão bring extra firepower to an attack that already features Mason Greenwood — who scored 21 league goals last season and Amine Gouiri.

Marseille open the new Ligue 1 season when they travel all the way up the country to face Brittany-based Rennes on Aug. 15.

SINGAPORE: World record holder Kaylee McKeown underlined her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke swimming as she added the 200 meters gold to her triumph in the 100 at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday.

Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time.

It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100 and 200 at the Paris Olympics and was runner-up to her again in the 100 in Singapore.

Just like in Paris, McKeown’s win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50 freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian swimming world champion at the age of 31.

Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago.

A new dad since Paris, McEvoy thanked his wife Maddi and gave a shout-out to his baby boy Hartley.

“It’s a very different life,” he said.

“I’ve got to navigate it, I’ll figure it out. But it’s cool to have that at home and still be here doing what I love.”

Gretchen Walsh kept the US team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50 butterfly, adding to her 100 title in Singapore.

Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31.