Serge Aurier has agreed to join Nottingham Forest on a free transfer as Steve Cooper's side announced their 22nd signing since being promoted to the Premier League.

The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain defender became a free agent after leaving Villarreal at the end of last season.

Ivory Coast captain Aurier racked up 77 Premier League appearances for Spurs, also reaching the Champions League final in 2019.

Djibril Sidibe was reported to be a target of Cooper to provide competition for Neco Williams, who arrived from Liverpool in July, but Forest have instead signed Aurier, subject to international clearance.

Forest are yet to confirm the terms of Aurier's contract, with the full-back providing more cover on the right-hand side after Cooper's side failed to re-sign loanee Djed Spence, who joined Spurs.

Aurier joins the likes of Dean Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Moussa Niakhate, Morgan Gibbs-White and Emmanuel Dennis as Forest's squad reshaping continues past the end of the transfer window.

Forest sit 19th in the infant Premier League table and will look to recover from a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth when they visit Leeds United on Monday.

A pair of late goals ended up giving Montreal a deserved 2-2 draw at home against the Columbus Crew in Friday's MLS action.

In a clash between two of the Eastern Conference's top-six teams, no goals were scored in the first 65 minutes, before Jonathan Mensah broke the deadlock for the visiting team.

Columbus centre-back Mensah was up for an indirect free kick, and after working the ball around to the wing, right-back Steven Moreira's cross found him near the penalty spot where he connected on a perfect looping header back across to the far post.

Just two minutes later, in the 68th, Lucas Zelarayan unleashed a speculative effort from outside the box, which was blocked, but it bounced right back to him for a second crack which would beat the goalkeeper into the bottom-right corner.

That 2-0 lead would hold until the final minutes, but after a red card to Luis Diaz, the 10-men Crew finally got on the scoreboard when Victor Wanyama was able to intentionally deflect a long-range shot to wrong-foot the keeper in the 89th.

With six minutes of stoppage time to survive to get the three points, Columbus could not protect their lead, with Montreal substitute Zachary Brault-Guillard connecting on a low daisy-cutter from outside the box into the bottom-left corner to snatch a draw at the death.

The advanced stats say it was a deserved point for Montreal, who created 2.16 expected goals, while Columbus only had 0.66.

Former Inter and Italy defender Davide Santon has announced his retirement from playing at the age of 31 due to persistent injury issues.

The full-back had spent the past four seasons with Roma but failed to make a single appearance under Jose Mourinho in the 2021-22 campaign.

Santon was capped eight times by Italy between 2009 and 2013 and was a two-time Scudetto winner with Inter during the first of two spells with the club, either side of a three-season stint with Newcastle United.

Injuries ultimately took their toll on the defender, who announced his playing days are over in an interview with Tuttomercato published on Friday.

"I'm forced to stop playing," he said. "Not for not having had offers, not for anything else, but because my body, with so many injuries in the past, can't take it anymore.

"I didn't want to do this, but I have to. I had endless tests and consultations, but there was nothing to be done. I can still walk, but that's not enough to be a professional athlete. 

"If I kept pushing, I'd risk needing a prosthesis. The left knee is just gone. It stops me doing lots of things. 

"The right knee, that had surgery three times, removing cartilage, the entire external meniscus, so as soon as I strain it even a little bit, it swells up and can't bend.

"All my injuries really came from there, because if the right knee can't bend, you put more strain on the left and the flexor. If you play one match, you risk being out of action for the next five."

Santon made just 42 Serie A appearances across four seasons with Roma and was accused by some of turning down moves elsewhere in order to continue picking up an easy wage at Stadio Olimpico.

Responding to those claims, Santon said: "I didn't turn anyone down. I was never going to pass a medical."

Manchester United have confirmed next Thursday's Europa League group meeting with Sheriff will go ahead as planned.

United's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday has been postponed, as have all Premier League games this weekend, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.

However, United will travel to Moldova as planned next week for their European tie with Sheriff at Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena.

A statement on United's official website on Friday read: "Following discussions with the relevant governing bodies and in line with guidance issued by the UK Government, we can confirm our UEFA Europa League fixture against FC Sheriff will take place as scheduled on Thursday evening in Moldova.

"Match arrangements will remain the same for fans who are travelling to support the team in Chisinau. "

United lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad in their Group E opener on Thursday, with the game going ahead despite the Queen's death being announced a few hours beforehand.

The Red Devils paid their respects to Her Majesty in a statement released ahead of the game, in which they held a minute's silence ahead of kick-off and wore black armbands.

"Manchester United shares the sorrow of the entire nation following the announcement from Buckingham Palace on the passing of Her Majesty, The Queen," United's statement read.

"The club recognises her immense contribution to public life, including sport, both here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world.

"Everyone connected with Manchester United joins the wider football family in sending our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to The Royal Family."

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