Hull City

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Jens Hjerto-Dahl says he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League after signing for Hull City on a five-year deal.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who is the Tiger's sixth signing of the summer, joins from Eliteserien side Tromso for an undisclosed fee.

"I'm very happy," said Hjerto-Dahl. "It's a massive club and I'm really looking forward to playing here.

"I heard of the club's interest a little over a week ago. From there, it's happened really fast.

"I spoke to the chairman on a video call and he told me lots of good things about the club. I also spoke to Sergej and I really like his vision for me and for the team.

"I'm a tall midfielder. I like to get forward, run with the ball, pass the ball forward. I can arrive late in the box. I am strong in duels, both in the air and across the ground.

"The last three and a half years with the senior team were the greatest years of my life in Tromso. I will miss them but I'm ready for Hull and what's waiting here.

"I needed a challenge and this is the biggest challenge you can get. I think this is the right step and that Hull can help me improve.

"I've heard a lot of great things about the atmosphere, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Eighteen-year-old Nigerian defender Calvin Okike is tipped for a bright future at Hull City and signed his first professional contract in the summer, a two-year deal with the option of a third.

He largely featured for the under-21s last season, but was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win over Norwich City in the Championship.

Okike had a loan spell at National League club Hartlepool United this year, scoring within a minute on his senior debut. Although expected to stay largely with the under-21s in 2026-27, he has featured in Hull City's friendly victories over Turkish sides Konyaspor and Caykur Rizespor, 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.

Okike won the academy player of the year award in 2025-26 and will be looking to push on into the first team this campaign.

Read more on youngsters to watch at each Premier League club this season

Katharine Sharpe and Simon Casson
BBC Sport senior journalists

The 2025-26 Premier League and Championship seasons included the introduction of squad-cost ratio rules on a shadow basis, testing to see how a spending cap for squad costs set at a percentage of a club's total revenues might work.

These SCR regulations have now been permanently implemented for the 2026-27 season, replacing previous profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

Uefa has a 70% SCR cap for European competitions, so Premier League clubs who qualified for Europe fall in line with this limit.

Clubs who did not qualify for Europe, and so are only taking part in domestic competitions, are capped at 85% of their total revenue.

However, clubs can spend above the 85% limit by using a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. This allows them to invest ahead of revenue and variance or sporting underperformance.

Every club will start this coming season on 85% + 30% allowance, so effectively 115%.

If a club spends 105% on their squad in 2026-27, it means they have used 20% of their allowance, and for 2027-28 their maximum spend before potential sporting sanction is 95%.

If a club spend less than 85%, they can increase the allowance again to the maximum of 30%.

Spending above 85% but under the allowance results in a financial penalty, whereas going over both the 85% and the allowance will land the club a fixed six-point deduction which increases by one point for every £6.5m spent over the 115%.

'Anchoring' was also trialled in 2025-26, which meant any club's spending could not exceed a multiple of income earned by the bottom-placed club - however this was rejected at a vote of Premier League clubs.

SCR was approved by a vote of 14 clubs to six, and was introduced alongside sustainability and systemic resilience (SSR) regulations.

SSR involves three tests that are applied throughout the season:

Working capital test - assesses short-term cash resources

Liquidity test - assesses medium-term liquidity and resilience

Positive equity test -assesses long-term financial health

The aim of the SCR and SSR regulations is to stop the richest owners providing endless funds to their clubs to sign new players, as any money injected this way does not count as seasonal revenue.

They will also aim to prevent clubs from overspending and accruing unmanageable losses.

Read more about the rules here

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We asked for your views on Hull City owner Acun Ilicali teasing who the Tigers are trying to sign on social media.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: While it's nice to have some degree of clarity from the owner, I can't help but view this as putting us at a disadvantage. If people online can work out our targets from this other clubs can, and what's to stop them then trying to take our main targets? Likewise, players and agents can see how much (or little) we want them and adjust their negotiations accordingly. There's probably a reason most other clubs don't do this!

Trevor: Fine by me, he's committed to the club. Agents and other clubs are well aware of what's going on with the market regardless of what he does.

Steve: It's typical of the guy to try to be a bit different but I think most fans have found it a bit frustrating - and the lack of finalised deals has compounded this. It must be difficult getting your target players to commit to a club that will spend the season fighting at the wrong end of the table.

Mark: It's all very well dropping hints about targets, but until they've signed on the dotted line that's all they are. It's purely performative, which is probably designed to disguise the fact it's been a tough window so far. Some decent signings but no stand-out names yet. Get on with the job of getting players in and less theatrics. Two weeks and counting...

Seb: This looks very promising for the new season and it looks like Hull have tried to copy Sunderland from last year by bringing in lots of talent. The only downside is if we get relegated.

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Hull City club-record signing Konstantinos Tzolakis says it is "a big honour" to join the club and believes he is ready for the "challenge" of the Premier League.

The goalkeeper, who has spent the past eight years at Olympiacos, has penned a five-year deal at MKM Stadium.

Since making his senior debut in March 2020, Tzolakis has made 131 appearances and kept 64 clean sheets for the Greek Super League side.

The 23-year-old has also won four league titles, two domestic trophies and lifted the 2023-24 Conference League trophy during his time in Greece.

"I am very happy to be here," Tzolakis said. "It is a big honour to join Hull City. I am ready for a new chapter in my career. I met all the players and the staff in Turkey - and I thank them for the warm welcome.

"Hull City is something different because we are playing in the Premier League. We have to fight against the top players, so it is a challenge for me.

"I feel ready. I will give everything I have every single day in training to help our team achieve its goals. I am excited to be in England. I know Hull City has passionate supporters, so I can't wait to play for them."

Tzolakis played a pivotal role in Olympiacos becoming the first Greek club to win a European trophy, saving three penalties in a quarter-final shootout against Fenerbahce before keeping a clean sheet in the final against Fiorentina.

He also played every single league minute of the 2025-26 season, made nine Champions League appearances, and registered 23 clean sheets in all competitions.

Hull City's owner Acun Illicali has posted his "upgraded version" of the Tigers' transfer prospects.

The coded message on X is a tease on who the Tigers are trying to sign.

Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Matt Targett and Hidemasa Morita have completed their move to the MKM Stadium.

Illicali has posted a tick emoji alongside the Greece, Norway, Senegal, Australia, Sweden and Jamaica flag, but they have not yet announced any players from those nationalities.

To add to the possible signings, the owner has posted a percentage next to a number of flags which could indicate his strength of feeling for a deal or how far along a possible transfer is.

As you can read lower down this page, BBC Radio Humberside's Mike White may have identified who the Swedish and Norwegian players are.

Tell us how you feel about Ilicali's approach to summer business and social media

Image source, X/@acunilicali

I have been told Elliot Stroud is set to travel over to meet with Hull City on Wednesday to finalise a deal.

Stroud scored a penalty as Mjallby lost to Slovan Bratislava in Champions League qualifying on Tuesday and reportedly said afterwards: "Looks like that was my last match with Mjallby. Most people agree on everything (transfer details) so there are probably only a few formalities left."

Jens Hjerto-Dahl was due to have his medical on Tuesday subject to completing his move.

Meanwhile, I understand there's more bad news on the injury front for the Tigers.

Darko Gyabi (detached adductor) has seen a specialist in London and could be out for a minimum of three months, while Oscar Zambrano (quad) will miss the start of the season and will likely to be out for about a month.

Listen to talk about Hull City every Monday to Friday on Humberside Sport at 18:00 and subscribe to our dedicated Hull City page on BBC Sounds for all the latest Tigers interviews, discussion and special features.

Newly promoted Hull City are rivalling relegated West Ham for 27-year-old Tottenham and Israel winger Manor Solomon, who is valued at about £20m. (The i Paper), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Hull City's owner Acun Ilicali is expected to post a new coded transfer target list on X, after he provided Tigers fans with a list of nationality emojis with a percentage of how far talks had progressed with unnamed players last week.

On Monday, Ilicali said: "Our upgraded transfer list is coming tomorrow."

The Tigers' owner said there were "dozens of false transfer rumours", which resulted in the coded list being posted on X.

One fan replied to Ilicali's statement saying "loving this" but another urged the club to "just get on with deals in the background".

On Ilicali's move to offer such updates and teases, one fan commented: "It's a cracking stunt. Completely flips the way owners have operated in the transfer window; not without risks though."

Hull will finish their pre-season with an away fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, and then a final game against OGC Nice at the MKM Stadium.

Everton's English midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, 23, is interesting Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Should a club build a new stadium or upgrade its current home in a bid to maintain some history? How significant is a new ground in terms of revenue generated? Will it move the needle?

BBC Sport has worked with football finance expert Kieran Maguire to consider the impact a new home has.

Take a look at your club's matchday revenue figures from 2024-25 below and get the full article here.

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Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says he wants Regan Slater to stay at the club as he enters the final year of his contract but if he is not happy with the way contract talks are going then he will respect the midfielder's decision.

In March, the Tigers extended Slater's current deal to summer 2027 but there are still question marks around his future with only a year left of his deal.

Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, Ilicali said: "We will offer him a contract but at the end of the day it needs both sides' agreement. I love my players but I have to run this club in the most healthy way, so there is a balance. Regan is a fantastic guy and we have to keep this balance so we have to make him happy.

"He is very, very good for us, fantastic guy but he has to understand us, we have to understand him, so this is negotiation. I want him to stay in this club for many years, but it's up to the negotiations.

"If Regan will not be happy, I respect him."

Explore Hull content on BBC Sounds here

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Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says he currently "cannot say yes or no" as to whether Joe Gelhardt will return to the Tigers in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old striker spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Hull, before returning for the entirety of their promotion-winning campaign in which he scored 15 goals.

However, despite previously being strongly linked with making the move permanent, Gelhardt's future remains uncertain.

"I cannot say yes or no at the moment," Ilicali told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I love Gelhardt, for me he is a fantastic boy. We have lived so much successes together already.

"But, this is again our coaches' decisions. After our coach sees the squad, what we will bring to him, we will decide about Gelhardt.

"We will wait for the coaches' decision.

"I think we have good connections with Leeds. They let us get him two times. If we want to get him again we will have the advantage.

"The problem is, if he will not have playing time (at Hull) then if we bring him he will be unhappy. After our squad is on the table, the coach will decide if he can give him game time or not - he will decide."

When pushed as to whether news on Gelhardt's future may still take some time, Ilicali added: "I think so. Don't expect something from the Gelhardt decision for two weeks at least."

Listen to the full interview below or on BBC Sounds

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says defender Charlie Hughes is "far away" from a return from injury and has "no hope" of making the first game of the Premier League season against Manchester United.

Hughes underwent a hernia operation after last season's Wembley success and complained of discomfort when he returned to first-team training this summer.

Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside about Hughes' rehabilitation, Jakirovic said: "There is a problem and we are trying to solve this problem but it's going very slowly. I think the next two weeks he will still be on an individual programme with the medical team, so no hope for Manchester United.

"Every player, especially from last season who was a main player in our road to Wembley, to the Premier League, has a big role for us."

The Tigers boss was asked if there is a timescale on Hughes' return but replied "too far away."

Listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds

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Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says the club are "very close" to signing teenage defender Lucas Herrington from Colorado Rapids.

The 18-year-old operates as a central defender and represented Australia at the summer's World Cup.

Ilicali was asked by BBC Radio Humberside's Mike White, external about interest in Herrington and he replied: "Yes. If you didn't say to me the exact name I wouldn't say his name.

"He's a very big potential, a very young boy. I think he's a future star. We are very close."

The Tigers remain active in the transfer market for incomings and last week allowed midfielder Nathan Tinsdale to move on loan to League Two Crawley Town.

See more clips if Ilicali on the BBC Radio Humberside Sport X account, external

Hull City are close to an agreement to sign Nice striker Mohamed-Ali Cho, with a transfer fee of about £17m set to secure the French forward. (L'Equipe), external

The Tigers are also close to signing Australia defender Lucas Herrington, from MLS side Colorado Rapids for £17m. (Sun), external

Finally, Hull are set to beat Rangers and Cardiff City to sign Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, from Tromso. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Oli McBurnie scored in consecutive pre-season fixtures as Hull City were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Turkish Super Lig side Kasimpasa.

Tunisia international Mortadha Ben Ouanes broke the deadlock between the two sides just after the half-time break with a sweetly struck half-volley that beat goalkeeper Jack Butland.

But striker McBurnie was on hand to pull the Tigers back level with a right-footed volley into the bottom corner, just three minutes after the opener.

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic made nine second-half substitutions to get minutes into as many legs as possible, while 26-year-old Regan Slater wore the captain's armband for the majority of the match.

"I was pleased with the game, especially in the first half, because we played good and we controlled everything," Jakirovic said. "We were just missing the end product in the last third because we did create some good chances.

"After our substitutions, we lost a bit of tempo but we gave all of our players minutes which is important at this stage. It feels like 1-1 is a fair result."

The Tigers, who are unbeaten in pre-season with two wins and a draw against Turkish Super Lig opposition, head to Germany to face Frankfurt next week.

Hull City have held positive talks with Augsburg's German midfielder Mert Komur, 21. (Florian Plettenberg on X), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has given an update on his new contract talks with the club.

Speaking at a news conference as part of the Tigers' pre-season tour of Turkey, Jakirovic said: "Everything is fine. I spoke with Mr Chairman, I spoke with Mr Mustafa [Yokes] as well. We are on the same page, just we have small details to fix something and everything will be good.

"I am happy here, this club is like my home. I am enjoying here because we are very successful but no matter what will happen in the future I would like to stay here. My contract right now, I have still one year and one option [for another year]. If it stays like this I am happy as well. We are on the same page."

Owner Acun Ilicali then interjected: "I'm calling him Sergej Ferguson! Sergej Ferguson I call him, hopefully."

Hit play below to hear more from Jakirovic, Ilicali and captain Lewie Coyle, or listen on BBC Sounds here

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Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has said a deal to sign Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis is done.

Speaking during a news conference as part of the Tigers' pre-season tour of his native Turkey, Ilicali answered a question from BBC Radio Humberside sports editor Mike White seeking clarification on the transfer by saying: "I can say this is completed."

In a separate, translated answer Ilicali also said Tzolakis will be in Istanbul later on Thursday to join up with Jakirovic's squad, who face Kasimpasa Istanbul in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Earlier in July, head coach Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside a deal for the 23-year-old was "95%" done and the two clubs had "agreed everything".

"He is very happy that he will join us," Jakirovic added.

"He's a very good lad, professional and played for his national team Greece for a while.

"Everything is good. Of course he is happy, he is going to be playing in the Premier League."