The Northampton-born footballer Ivan Toney featured as England suffered defeat in the Euro 2024 final.

Brentford striker Toney, 28, earned his sixth England cap as a late substitute in the final in Berlin, where he was brought on as a late replacement for Phil Foden as Gareth Southgate’s side chased an equaliser.

The appearance was Toney’s third of the Euros, having played as a substitute in the round of 16 win over Slovakia and the quarter final against Switzerland.

Toney had made a decisive contribution in his first two appearances for England in the tournament. He had registered an assist against Slovakia as he set up Harry Kane’s extra-time winner before he scored in the penalty shoot-out success over the Swiss.

But Toney couldn’t help England force extra-time, as they lost 2-1 to Spain in the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Defeat was England’s second in as many European Championships, with the Three Lions having lost the final of the last tournament to Italy on penalties in 2021, while Spain picked up their fourth Euros title, and third in the last five editions.

Toney had scored his first England goal earlier this year, scoring a penalty in a draw with Belgium in a friendly in March. The game was his first after returning from an 8 month ban after being found guilty of gambling offences.

Toney began his career with hometown club Northampton Town, making his professional debut for the Cobblers at age 16.

He would score 13 goals in 60 appearances in all competitions before joining Newcastle in 2015, but after being sold by the Magpies in 2018, he spent two years with Peterborough before joining Brentford in 2020.

He has scored over 70 goals in 4 years with Brentford, helping the Bees win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and scoring 20 Premier League goals in the 2022/23 season as the West London club finished in the top half of the top flight.

The striker has been linked with a big money move this summer, with multiple clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs among those said to be interested in signing Toney ahead of the upcoming season.

Luton have announced the signing of 19-year-old defender Reuell Walters, who has joined the club from Arsenal.

The defender signed for the Hatters after turning down a contract extension to stay with the London-based Premier League giants.

Walters, who can play at right-back or centre-back, is the Hatters’ second signing ahead of the upcoming Championship season, following the previously announced arrival of Shandon Baptiste after he left Brentford.

He has signed a contract of undisclosed length at Kenilworth Road.

Walters is yet to make a senior first team appearance in English football, although he was named on the bench on multiple occasions for Arsenal last season.

The defender had joined the Gunners from their rivals Spurs at academy level, while he has also received under-18, under-19 and under-20 caps in the England set-up.

Luton manager Rob Edwards spoke of his delight to announce Walters as a new signing at the club.

He said, “Reuell is another person we are delighted to bring into the club. He’s a really exciting signing – a dynamic, quick, talented young player.

“He’s had a brilliant upbringing at a couple of top clubs, and we are so pleased to get his move done.

“Pathway is very important to him. That is one of the reasons why he is leaving Arsenal. He had a number of inviting options, but we are so glad that he chose us and sees us as the right step to take on his journey now.

“He’s got brilliant support, great family. He’s got loads of ability and high potential.

“He can play in a number of positions – right-back, right centre-back, right wing-back – and he’d be able to do the middle as well. He’s got lots of strings to his bow.

“He’s a young player, so there is no pressure. But we see him as someone who could potentially make an impact this season and I really hope he does. We’re looking forward to getting to working with him.”

Gabriel Osho has left Luton Town to sign for French side Auxerre.

Osho leaves Luton after four seasons with the club, including making 21 appearances in the Premier League last season and 35 in all competitions when Luton were promoted from the Championship in the preceding season.

The defender has signed for Auxerre, where he has signed a contract of undisclosed length with the side from Burgundy.

His new employers will be competing in the French top flight Ligue 1 in the upcoming season, having won promotion as champions of the French second division last season.

His arrival comes after the confirmed departures of Ross Barkley and Ryan Giles. Barkley has signed for his former club Aston Villa for a second time, while Giles has joined Hull City after previously joining the Tigers on loan for the second half of last season.

Manager Rob Edwards told the club’s official website of his respect for Osho and wished him well.

He said, “I’d like to thank Gabe for what he did for this football club and wish him nothing but success. Like many of the players who have led this club to success in recent years, he will always be welcomed back.”

Northampton have signed the striker Tom Eaves, who arrives on a free after leaving Rotherham United.

The 32-year-old has signed a two year contract at Sixfields and becomes Northampton’s sixth new signing ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Eaves signs after two years back at Rotherham in a second spell with the Millers, where he scored 6 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions last season.

The striker enjoyed a breakout spell with Gillingham between 2017 and 2019, for whom he scored 40 goals in all competitions.

He followed that up with a 3 season spell with Hull City, whom he helped win promotion from League One in the 2020/21 campaign, before a further two years in the Championship with Rotherham.

Eaves follows the previously announced signings of James Wilson, Nik Tzanev, Callum Morton, Cameron McGeehan and Jack Baldwin.

Cobblers boss Jon Brady told the club’s official website that he was a great option to bring to the club.

He said, “Tom is a quality addition to the squad.

“He has a physical presence about him and we believe he will blend and balance well with the other strikers we have at the club.

“He isn’t just all about being a physical presence though, he is very mobile and he is capable of skilful finishes as his record shows. He has a good goal to games record.

“He finished last season strongly in the Championship, scoring twice on the final day of the season, and he has spent the last three seasons at that level.

“When a player with Tom’s attributes, his experience, his goalscoring record and his pedigree becomes available there is always a lot of interest and we are delighted to be able to welcome him to Sixfields.”