Beckham Fan

Aston Villa has signed defender Eric Lichaj, a member of the U.S. Under-20 team. The 18-year-old former University of North Carolina player is expected to initially train with the Premier League club's academy squad. Aston Villa, which was bought at the start of last season by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, played two exhibition games against MLS teams to prepare for the new season.

Freddy Adu, the 18-year-old Ghana-born US forward who joined Major League Soccer at age 14, has departed Real Salt Lake to play for Benfica of Portugal, the European club announced.

Juventus will host Livorno on Aug. 25 or 26 in its first match back in Serie A after being demoted in Italy's match-fixing scandal. Juventus was relegated to the second division last season, but overcame a nine-point penalty and won promotion by finishing first in Serie B. Juventus was treated as one of the top seeded teams in Tuesday's schedule draw despite its status as a promoted club.

Tottenham signed Germany Under-21 midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng from Hertha Berlin on Tuesday.

By Simon Stone Special to PA SportsTicker

"Plenty of young, straight, girl-crazy men think nothing of getting pedicures"

David Beckham: international soccer star heartthrob; designer clotheshorse; and European fashion icon. via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"He's still injured. The more we can get him ready to play the full 90 minutes, the better we are."

He is mysterious and sexy, is married to a Spice Girl, has adorable children, hangs out with Hollywood A-listers, is one of the most recognizable and photographed sports people in the world and even has a hot ... via MySoCalledGayLife.com

Cuauhtemoc Blanco played his first Major League Soccer match, setting up Ivan Guerrero for a goal and helping the Chicago Fire defeat Toronto FC 3-0 Sunday.

Calen Carr and Floyd Franks also scored as the Fire snapped a six-game winless streak. The victory was also the first for new Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who took over on July 9.

Chicago (5-8-4) and Toronto (5-9-4) are tied for last in the Eastern Division with 19 points. Toronto's winless streak was extended to four games.

The 34-year-old Blanco, twice Mexico's MVP and due to earn $2.7 million a season on his three-year MLS deal, made his debut for Chicago last weekend, scoring in a 1-1 exhibition game with Glasgow Celtic. Read more

"Stylists create an individual look, and it's marketed that way"

Victoria, right, and David Beckham at a private party in their honor at the Museum of Contemporary Art Sunday in Los Angeles. via The Waterbury Connecticut Republican

Francisco Rodriguez and Omar Bravo scored to give Chivas a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy with David Beckham watching from the sideline in the SuperLiga tournament Saturday night.

The victory moved Mexico's most popular club team into first place in Group A with four points and dropped the Galaxy to second place with three.

Earlier, Pachuca and FC Dallas played to a 1-1 draw in Dallas. FC Dallas is third with two points after tying both of its games; CF Pachuca earned its first point of the tournament. Read more

David Beckham’s inconvenient sprained ankle seems to indicate what a dicey business it is to sign athletes, since they have a tendency to get hurt.

By Michael Church Special to PA SportsTicker