Anthony Joshua has officially signed a deal to fight long-time heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, bringing one of British boxing’s most anticipated matchups closer to reality.

The showdown between the two former world heavyweight champions has been discussed for years, with negotiations repeatedly stalling despite strong public demand. Both fighters, who are two-time world champions, have dominated the heavyweight division and carried British boxing onto the global stage for more than a decade.

Hearn confirmed the breakthrough on social media on Monday, describing the long-awaited contest as “signed, sealed and delivered.”

Joshua also expressed confidence about the fight, saying: “As I said, the landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”

Before the blockbuster clash can take place, however, Joshua must first return to the ring against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 25 July. The 35-year-old Albanian enters the bout with a record of 20 wins—all by stoppage—and one defeat.

Joshua, now 36, has not fought since being involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria in December. The incident reportedly claimed the lives of two members of his team and forced the former champion to take time away from boxing.

Reflecting on his return, Joshua said he had needed time to regroup and prepare mentally and physically for the next stage of his career.

“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring and today is the next step on that journey,” he said.

His last appearance in the ring came against Jake Paul in December, before the tragic events later that month halted his momentum.

A confirmed date and venue for the Joshua-Fury fight have not yet been announced, although Hearn has previously suggested the bout could take place in November and may be broadcast by Netflix.

Joshua was recently present at Fury’s comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov, where Fury secured a comfortable decision victory and immediately called out his British rival. Fury attempted to invite Joshua into the ring after the win, but Joshua declined.

Following that fight, Team Fury revealed they had already signed their side of the agreement and were waiting for Joshua’s signature to complete the process.

Ryan Sessegnon delivered the decisive moment as Fulham F.C. strengthened their push for European qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aston Villa F.C. at Craven Cottage.

The result temporarily lifted Fulham into 10th place in the table, placing them firmly in contention for a European finish. They now sit just two points behind sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., keeping the race for continental football wide open as the season approaches its conclusion.

Sessegnon, who recently committed his future to the club by signing a contract extension this week, made the breakthrough late in the first half. After Emiliano Martínez reacted well to save a header from Saša Lukić, the rebound fell kindly for Sessegnon, who calmly swept the ball home to give Fulham the advantage.

The home side thought they had doubled their lead in the second half when Timothy Castagne headed into the net, but the effort was ruled out after a foul on Martínez was spotted during the build-up.

With Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands, Villa had opportunities to respond. Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers both missed chances, but Unai Emery’s side lacked sharpness throughout much of the contest.

The defeat comes at a critical stage for Villa, who are preparing for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest F.C. on Thursday. A win over Fulham would have significantly strengthened their hopes of securing a top-five Premier League finish and automatic qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Instead, Villa now face added pressure in the final stretch of the domestic campaign, while Fulham continue to build momentum in their pursuit of an impressive European return.

Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of FC Barcelona’s season due to injury, but there is growing confidence that the young forward will be ready in time to represent Spain at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The 18-year-old attacker suffered a hamstring injury in his left leg during Wednesday’s narrow 1–0 victory over Celta Vigo. Yamal had put Barcelona ahead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute, showing composure under pressure before immediately signalling to the bench and going down, holding his left hamstring.

Medical staff assisted him off the pitch, and he went straight down the tunnel for further assessment. The following day, Barcelona confirmed that Yamal will undergo a conservative treatment plan. While this rules him out for the rest of the league campaign, the club remains optimistic about his recovery timeline, indicating he should return in time for international duty this summer.

Despite the setback, Yamal expressed determination and positivity in a message shared on Instagram. He acknowledged the emotional difficulty of being sidelined at such a crucial stage of the season but reaffirmed his belief in his teammates and their ability to continue delivering strong performances.

Barcelona, the reigning La Liga champions, currently sit at the top of the table with a nine-point lead over Real Madrid. The two sides are set to meet on 10 May in one of the six remaining fixtures, as Barcelona aim to maintain their commanding position.

On the international stage, Spain are preparing for their World Cup campaign in Group H. They will open against Cape Verde on 15 June, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on 21 June and Uruguay on 27 June. With recovery progressing as expected, Yamal remains firmly in contention to play a key role in Spain’s tournament ambitions.