SOCCER

Neymar finally acquired by Paris Saint-Germain

Six years after taking over perennial underachiever Paris Saint-Germain, the French club’s wealthy owners finally got what they wanted by hiring Neymar – a player they believe will bring them Champions League glory.

The Brazil star became the most expensive player in soccer history after completing his blockbuster transfer from Barcelona for $262 million on Thursday. By paying the release clause in his contract, PSG shattered the world transfer record to sign arguably one of the top three best attacking players in the game, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The previous transfer record had been set a year ago when Manchester United paid $116 million to bring Paul Pogba back from Juventus.

BASEBALL

EMPIRE LEAGUE: Edwin Arroyo broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, and the host Old Orchard Beach Surge (21-16) held on to beat the Sullivan Explorers (16-20) 3-1.

Tony Bakeris scored on a throwing error later in the inning. Mark Hendrick earned the win, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine. Edgar Lebron Jr. and Sebastian Diaz each had two hits for the Surge.

TRACK AND FIELD

WADA: Russia and the World Anti-Doping Agency were once again at loggerheads following WADA’s demand that the Russian government must accept the findings of a report which accused its officials of overseeing a mass doping cover-up.

The dispute comes a day before the start of the track and field world championships in London, which will feature 19 Russians officially competing as “neutral athletes,” with many others prevented from taking part. Arguments over past doping offenses could delay Russia’s full return to international competition.

TENNIS

CITI OPEN: Canadian wild card Bianca Andreescu knocked off second-seeded Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals.

Andreescu beat Mladenovic 6-2, 6-3. In other women’s matches, top-seeded Simona Halep came back from losing the first set to beat Mariana Duque-Marino 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Andrea Petkovic beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

ROGERS CUP: Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic will miss the tournament next week in Montreal due to an adductor injury.

The sixth-ranked Croat says he suffered the injury at Wimbledon where he lost to Roger Federer in straight sets in the final.

BASKETBALL

NBA: The Detroit Pistons have secured league permission to move to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.

Approval of the move, which came late Wednesday, was expected. The NBA’s advisory and finance committee sent a memo to the Board of Governors last week, recommending a ‘yes’ vote from the league’s other 29 teams.

HOCKEY

NHL: Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher has retired in what he calls the hardest decision he’s had to make, leaving the defending Stanley Cup finalists in need of a new captain.

The 37-year-old Fisher said in a letter to Predators fans that “I know I’ve made the right one” in opting to retire.

Fisher had 276 goals and 309 assists in 1,088 regular-season games during an NHL career that lasted 17 seasons with Ottawa and Nashville.