BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa signed U.S.-born Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma on Wednesday, a transfer that raises doubts about the future of Argentina international Emi Martinez at the Premier League club heading into the new season.
The 23-year-old Suzuki, who was Japan's goalkeeper at the World Cup this summer and made a memorable save onto the post from Brazil star Vinícius Júnior's shot, moved in a deal worth up to 35 million euros ($40 million), The Athletic reported.
Martinez, Argentina's World Cup-winning goalie in 2022, has been first choice for Villa for six years but has been close to leaving for the past two offseasons. Juventus reportedly tried to sign him in recent weeks and Martinez wasn't involved in the UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Suzuki was born in New Jersey, grew up in Urawa, Japan, and moved to Belgium to play for Sint-Truiden in 2023 before joining Parma the following year.
Villa won the Europa League last season and also finished fourth in the Premier League, so will play in the Champions League this season.
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FILE - Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez reacts after Spain had a goal disallowed during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE - Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (1) makes a save during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Brazil and Japan in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — India won the first test in Galle by 165 runs just minutes before a heavy downpour might have saved Sri Lanka on the fifth day Wednesday.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took three wickets in the 76th over of Sri Lanka's second innings and cleaned up the last wicket in the 78th to dismiss the home side for 206.
Suthar picked 6-55 and completed his maiden 10-wicket haul in his second test. At 24, he's the youngest India spinner to take 10 in an overseas test.
India scored 462 and 193 and Devdutt Padikkal led with 167 and 44 to be the player of the match. Sri Lanka responded with 284 runs and began a vain chase of a winning target of 372.
It lost four wickets on Tuesday afternoon and its main resistance between Sonal Dinusha and captain Dhananjaya de Silva was broken on the last morning. From 175-6 at lunch, Sri Lanka lost the last four wickets for 31 runs across 64 deliveries.
“We knew one big shower was going to come and we didn't want to delay the game,” India batter Lokesh Rahul said. “They had one big partnership but we knew if we could break that we could get into their tail. It was a great test match. The wicket played really well all five days.”
India won its 600th test and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second test begins in Colombo on Sunday.
In the morning, Dinusha and de Silva looked to bat out time. They previously endured 74 deliveries before stumps on day four, and extended their partnership to 202 balls faced.
Both batters crossed 50 in the morning.
Ravindra Jadeja made the breakthrough for India, getting de Silva caught at short fine leg attempting a sweep. De Silva made 59 from 151 balls in just over three hours. He and Dinusha combined for 95 runs.
Four overs later, close-in fielder Yashasvi Jaiswal played on Niroshan Dickwella’s patience as the batter tried to hit Prasidh Krishna and was caught behind on 10.
Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha made it to lunch but Dinusha's dismissal after the break triggered the stunning collapse leading to India's win.
Suthar ended Dinusha's resistance. He was caught down leg, edging a wayward delivery from the spinner. The first innings centurion also top-scored for Sri Lanka in the second innings: 84 off 128 balls.
Prabath Jayasuriya went next ball and Lahiru Kumara denied Suthar a hat trick but was caught behind after facing another three balls.
Suthar then bowled Nuwantha to claim all of the wickets after lunch and his second six-wicket haul in tests. Previously, he picked 6-33 against Afghanistan on his debut in June. He took 10-131 in Galle.
“He has been bowling magnificently,” India captain Shubman Gill said. “Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time.”
Gill also praised Padikkal: “He was magnificent to watch. It's important to get hundreds but even after getting a hundred he got a big one.”
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Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha plays a shot during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
India's Manav Suthar celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
India's Manav Suthar celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
India's captain Shubman Gill celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha plays a shot during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva during the day five of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
