Shinji Kagawa Returns to Dortmund

The attacking midfielder has ended his stay at Manchester United and, after leaving two years ago, BVB have confirmed that the Japan international will be back in the Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that Manchester United attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa is returning to the Bundesliga club on a four-year deal.

The Japan international failed to thrive at Old Trafford since his €22 million move from Signal Iduna Park to the Premier League two years ago and rumours have been rife all summer that he would be returning to the Bundesliga.

Dortmund confirmed the move for an undisclosed fee - reported to be €8m - with one day until the closing of the transfer window and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc admits the club leapt at the opportunity to bring the player back.

"The chance presented itself in the past few days to sign Kagawa from Manchester United for the first time ever," Zorc told the club's official website on Sunday. "Of course we opted to bring the enormous talent back to us to win more trophies."

Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke was equally thrilled to bring back the 25-year-old to the club where he made his name, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal during his two-year stay with Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Shinji Kagawa is a technically gifted creative player who can determine the match in an instant," Watzke said.

"He wanted to return to Borussia Dortmund and we are sure that - given the right rest, time and appreciation - he will get back to the level he was at two years ago."

Kagawa, who follows in Nuri Sahin's footsteps as a player who has returned to Signal Iduna Park after a failed transfer abroad, is delighted to be back at last season's Bundesliga runners up.

"I already said on the day of my departure that the chapter Borussia Dortmund is not over for me," he said. "I wanted to make a dream come true by going to the Premier League.

"But now I am glad to be back in Dortmund with this great team, this unbelievable environment and these unique fans. BVB's like a family. I am proud they didn’t forget me and I can be part of it again."

Zaha rejoins Crystal Palace on loan from Manchester United

The winger was Sir Alex Ferguson's final signing at Old Trafford but failed to win a place in David Moyes' squad last season, and will now move back to where he started his career

Wilfried Zaha has rejoined Crystal Palace from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal, the club have confirmed.

The winger signed for the Red Devils in January 2013 and was the final acquisition of Sir Alex Ferguson's time at the club.

He was immediately loaned back to Selhurst Park for the end of the 2012-13 season and helped the club achieve promotion to the Premier League.

But he failed to nail down a place in David Moyes's squad last season and spent the second part of the campaign at Cardiff City.

And after failing to make his impression on new United boss Louis van Gaal during the summer, the 21-year-old has now moved back to the club where he came through the ranks as a teenager after agreeing the deal on Wednesday evening.

Upon completing his move, he told the club's official website: “I'm just buzzing to be back, to be in and around the lads again.

“There have been rumours for a while, but it was only yesterday that it got sorted out and I was happy it got sorted out ASAP because I just need to get out and play.

“The best place to come back to is Palace where I am loved.

“Speaking to my family and my agent, they knew I would be comfortable coming back here because I’ve got the support of the fans and the club.

“When I come back here I know I can just get straight back into it.”

Palace hired Neil Warnock as manager on Wednesday to replace Tony Pulis, who left the club on the eve of the Premier League season.

Warnock previously managed the club between 2007 and 2010 and left amid financial difficulties and a 10-point Football League deduction for going into administration.

Rooney Named new England Captain

The Manchester United striker will lead his country during the Euro 2016 qualification campaign after the retirements of veteran stars Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been named the new England captain by manager Roy Hodgson.

Rooney was recently handed the armband at Old Trafford by new boss Louis van Gaal, and will now take over from Steven Gerrard as skipper of his country.

Gerrard announced his retirement from international football following this summer's World Cup in Brazil and fellow veterans Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have also ended their Three Lions careers in recent months.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill had been mooted as contenders to replace Gerrard, but Hodgson has selected the most experienced player in his latest squad.

Rooney has made 95 appearances for his country - more than Hart and Cahill combined - since making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2003 and is England's top active goalscorer with 40 goals.

He is 20 games behind the Three Lions' all-time most-capped outfield player, David Beckham, and 30 behind the outright leader Peter Shilton.

Rooney could make his first appearance as captain in the friendly against Norway at Wembley before England take on Switzerland in the first fixture of their Euro 2016 qualification campaign.

The forward has started two games as England captain to this point - a 1-0 defeat against Brazil in Qatar in 2009 and a 5-0 victory over San Marino at Wembley in 2012.

Van Gaal Welcomes Di Maria: He's a Joy to Watch

The Argentina international winger has joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid for a British-record £59.7 million and the Dutchman says that he can terrorise any defence

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says that new signing Angel Di Maria is "a joy to watch".

The Argentina international winger completed his British-record transfer from Real Madrid on Tuesday, taking the club's outlay this year to over £130 million.

The Red Devils boss is thrilled to have secured the midfielder's services, telling the club's official website: "Angel is a world-class midfielder ... there's no doubting his immense natural talent.

"He is a tremendously fast and an incisive left-footed player who puts fear into the most accomplished defence.

"His dribbling skills and ability to beat opponents are a joy to watch. He's an excellent addition."

Di Maria claimed upon sealing his move that United were the only club for whom he would have left Madrid, where he was pushed down the pecking order by the arrivals of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

Versatile & volatile - Meet Manchester United signing Marcos Rojo

The 24-year-old was impressive at left-back for Argentina at the World Cup and has also improved in the centre during his time with Sporting, though beware his disciplinary record.

Marcos Rojo is the latest man to measure up to the very particular specifications of Louis van Gaal.

The Manchester United boss has been on the look-out for very particular players all summer, to the point where he has prioritised the signing of a left-footed, ball-playing centre-back who can provide cover on the left flank. No mean feat.

And after Thomas Vermaelen chose Barcelona - a decision which left Van Gaal reeling - Rojo shot to the top of the list.

The 24-year-old was impressive at left-back in the Argentina team which reached the World Cup final, and has played centre-back at Sporting for two years, starring as they finished second in Portugal last season.

It would appear he ticks all the boxes, but for all the progress and plus points, United should know what they are getting themselves into.

He certainly has many good attributes; his passing is one of his key strengths as a centre-back, and one which has likely attracted Van Gaal's attentions. He is also a something of a powerhouse, standing over six feet tall with a strong physique, allied to blistering pace and a decent aerial presence.

With United's transfer business now under the spotlight more than ever following their defeat to Swansea, they have been involved in lengthy negotiations with Sporting as their dispute with Rojo and Doyen became very public.

The club sold Eric Dier to Tottenham earlier this summer thanks to a clause in his contract signed off by a previous administration, and this time around chairman Bruno de Carvalho is determined to play hard ball.

De Carvalho has insisted on taking Nani and maybe even Anderson in addition to the initial £16m fee United will pay, as Sporting will barely see a penny of the cash due to the terms of Rojo's deal with Doyen Sports, another agreement signed off by previous owners.

It turns out that signing an Argentina international for €5m was too good to be true, and now it is Manchester United's turn to take a punt on Marcos Rojo.