"Last season was important for me. We achieved a record points total - but we can do more."
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake added: "Illia had a remarkable season for us and showed great quality beyond his years."
Iraola's Bournemouth injury frustrationpublished at 08:23
08:23
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter in Santa Barbara
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is cursing his bad luck after defender Owen Bevan joined a growing injury list.
Bevan hurt his thigh in the opening stages of the 1-1 friendly draw with Wrexham in Santa Barbara.
Iraola said it was too soon to know whether it is the same injury that wrecked the Wales Under-21 international's planned loan move to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian last season.
But the Cherries boss expects Bevan to be out "for some weeks".
It means he joins Tyler Adams, Enes Unal and David Brooks on the sidelines in missing the start of the Premier League season.
Adams had surgery on his back after aggravating an existing injury during Copa America, Unal has had a foot operation after getting injured in training for Turkey before Euro 2024 and Brooks also needed an operation on the dislocated shoulder he suffered playing for Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
"We are unlucky because three players either got injured or their injuries have got worse without playing for us," said Iraola.
"Owen complained about discomfort in his quad. Until he has a proper MRI scan we cannot say much more but the feeling is he will be out some weeks."
In Bournemouth's opening pre-season game, in front of 13,322 at the Harder Stadium, Marcos Senesi's well-taken second-half effort ensured a draw after James Hill's own goal at the end of the opening period.
Scott ready to push for regular startspublished at 16:43 20 July
16:43 20 July
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter in Santa Barbara
Image source, Getty Images
Alex Scott believes he is one of Bournemouth's best players - and now he intends to prove it.
Scott arrived from Bristol City in a £25m deal last summer with high expectations.
However, the 20-year-old’s hopes of making an immediate impact were dashed by a knee injury that kept him out until the end of October, and he had only played four games when he suffered another issue to his other knee at Manchester City that kept him on the sidelines for another seven weeks.
It was not the best way to make an impression at a new club and it was the end of April before he started successive Premier League games as Bournemouth put together an impressive run to eventually finish 12th in their first season under Andoni Iraola.
Scott is determined to use pre-season preparations in the United States to hit the ground running this term. And he feels that if he does, the chance to shine on a regular basis will follow.
"I trust in my ability and have the self-belief to think I am one of the best players at the club," he said.
"I just have to keep pushing the midfielders ahead of me, learn from them and get to the levels they were at last season. My aim is to get into the team and not drop out."
Scott has already amassed over 100 league games after breaking into the Bristol City team as a 17-year-old.
The injuries were a new, unwanted experience he is determined to put behind him.
"Settling in was difficult,” Scott added. "I was injured for 12 weeks straight away. The second one was a massive blow because I was just starting to learn about the Premier League.
“The hardest part of being a footballer is being in the gym when the rest of the lads are out training. But I stayed focused and got myself back into a good place.
"I am ready to push on now."
Bournemouth face Wrexham in Santa Barbara, California at 00:00 BST. Come back to this page for reaction to that game, including the chance to have your say, on Sunday morning.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Scott meets WBO cruiserweight boxer and Bournemouth fan Chris Billam-Smith at the club's training camp in Los Angeles this week
Iraola does not know if Solanke will stay or gopublished at 11:40 20 July
11:40 20 July
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The good news, so far, for Bournemouth is that star striker Dominic Solanke remains with the club and is part of the squad that will face Wrexham.
It has been reported the 26-year-old former Liverpool forward has a £65m release clause in his contract that can only be activated by certain clubs.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola does not want to lose Solanke, who scored an impressive 21 goals last season, including 19 in the Premier League to finish fourth in the Golden Boot standings.
However, the Spaniard is adopting a philosophical approach.
"Dom is happy," he said. "He has come back in very good shape, is training very well and the relationship he has with his team-mates is very good.
"But the market is open. You cannot say he is going to stay or that he is going to leave because we don't know.
"In the end, it is something you cannot control."
'He felt it was getting worse'published at 09:53 20 July
09:53 20 July
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has explained how the club were left with no option with Tyler Adams other than an operation.
The midfielder, who has been on international duty with the United States at Copa America, faces a lengthy spell out after surgery on a back injury.
"He finished the season with an injury in his back,” said Iraola.
"He wanted to play Copa America because it was very important for him, but he had restrictions and was still in pain, so two days after they were knocked out, he had surgery.
"He is out for some time. It is difficult to say how long but he won't be fit for the start of the season. But September? October? I don't know."
Asked why Bournemouth did not stop Adams from going on international duty, Iraola said: "It was not our choice. It is a decision for the nations, who are allowed to select players. He wanted to play thinking the injury would get better but he felt it was getting worse."
Do clubs actually play more games?published at 11:11 19 July
11:11 19 July
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It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.
When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.
But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.
The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.
And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.
In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.
In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.
Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.
Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.
While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.
'I'm the type of player who does not give up' - Jebbisonpublished at 11:16 11 July
11:16 11 July
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New signing Daniel Jebbison says he did his own research into Bournemouth before joining and decided to sign because he likes working with good people.
Jebbison, who is the Cherries' third signing of the summer, joins from Sheffield United on the expiration of his contract and says he is "excited to get started".
"I knew that Bournemouth had a good environment and that the people have good morals and values," he told the club website. "They are traits that I really like and I could see myself playing here after doing my own research.
"I like working with good people, so that is why I picked you."
The 20-year-old was part of the Blades side that won automatic promotion to the Premier League in 2023 but last season made just one appearance after struggling with injury and illness.
It is likely the England Under-20 international will be loaned out for the start of the season.
"It is good that I am here from day one of pre-season," he added.
"What you will see from me, is that I will do anything to help the team and work my hardest. I'm the type of player who does not give up.
"I have real passion so I will keep running. I might miss a chance but I won't get frustrated, I'll try again and then put that one away.
"I just want to improve every year and help the team a bit more by contributing. If you keep doing that then you grow as a person and get better naturally. I hope to just keep levelling up."
Jebbison 'has many promising attributes' - good signing?published at 16:06 10 July
16:06 10 July
So, Bournemouth have wrapped up the signing of striker Daniel Jebbison on a four-year deal.
The 20-year-old left Sheffield United this summer after choosing not to sign a new contract.
Cherries chief executive Neill Blake said: "He has many promising attributes, and has already provided some memorable moments in his young career.
"We look forward to overseeing Daniel continue his development in an environment which will provide every opportunity to help him fulfil that exciting potential."
What do you think, Bournemouth fans? Do you agree with Blake that Jebbison has the potential to be a key player for Bournemouth?
But they will now move on to other targets as they prepare for a return to the Premier League, which starts with a trip to Newcastle United on 17 August.
Southampton boss Russell Martin, who signed a new three-year contract along with his staff earlier this month, tried to bring in Aarons from Norwich City last year only for the 24-year-old to join the Cherries.
Bournemouth set to sign Jebbisonpublished at 13:59 9 July
13:59 9 July
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Daniel Jebbison is expected to join Bournemouth after not renewing his contract at Sheffield United.
The Blades will be due around £1.5m in compensation for the 20-year-old, who made one appearance in the Premier League last season.
The striker did not sign a new deal with Sheffield United and the club stated he "rejected United's sizable latest offer" before his release was confirmed at the start of the month.
Once his move to Bournemouth is confirmed, it is expected he will head out on loan to gain further experience.
Semenyo signs new five-year contractpublished at 11:21 8 July
11:21 8 July
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Antoine Semenyo has signed a new five-year contract with Bournemouth.
The 24-year-old joined the Cherries from Bristol City in January 2023 and impressed last season as a right winger.
Semenyo scored eight goals in 36 games last term and has made 47 appearances for Bournemouth.
The Ghana international said: "My journey has taught me to never take anything for granted and to take each moment when it comes.
"It is an exciting new era so let us keep pushing."
Cook signs new Bournemouth dealpublished at 11:02 4 July
11:02 4 July
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Lewis Cook has signed a new contract at Bournemouth that will keep him at Vitality Stadium until 2028.
The 27-year-old joined the Cherries from Leeds when still a teenager in July 2016 and has made more than 200 appearances for the club.
“I love it here. I’ve been here since I was 19 and I definitely call this my home now," Cook told the club website, external. "To extend my time here further is brilliant for me and my family.
“Coming down as a young boy was a big change but ever since I moved down here, it’s always had a family feel at the club and I am settled here now.
“The project going forward looks very bright and I am happy to be a part of it.
“The morale is high and hopefully we can have a great season.”
Bournemouth's chief executive Neill Blake added: “Lewis is the embodiment of an AFC Bournemouth player with his hard-working and professional approach, and we’re delighted to agree terms on a new long-term deal.
“He has produced such exceptional output over a long period of time with us, and to see him thriving after another fantastic season is great for the club.”
Player-manager bond can be 'huge factor' in transferspublished at 11:30 3 July
11:30 3 July
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Positive relationships between players and managers can be a "huge factor" in transfer decisions, former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington has said.
Southampton have made an offer of about £6m for Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, 24, which the Cherries are expected to reject.
Aarons, who made 20 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth in 2023-24 after joining from Norwich last summer, was coming through the ranks at Carrow Road during the tail end of Saints boss Russell Martin's long stint playing for the Canaries.
Partington told BBC Radio Solent: "[Aarons] is not a Bournemouth boy, he didn't grow up in the area or support the club - but he might have an emotional attachment to the [Southampton] manager.
"Looking in at Southampton, you see a manager who seems to have a great relationship with most of his players.
"If you asked [Aarons] - I'm sure he won't be asked until he either stays or goes - if his relationship with the management is a factor, I'm sure he would say that it is.
"In years gone by, Harry Redknapp took similar players with him everywhere he went and there's a really good reason for that.
"Players are no different, they like a relationship with a manager to be positive. If they find that, it's something they can often want to replicate or reignite if they've lost that. It's certainly a huge factor in terms of moving clubs."
It is unclear if Saints would be willing to raise their bid should Bournemouth dismiss the initial offer.
Cherries set to reject Aarons bidpublished at 14:59 2 July
14:59 2 July
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Football News Reporter
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Bournemouth have received an offer of about £6m from Southampton for defender Max Aarons.
The Saints have revived their interest in the right-back having wanted to sign him last summer - but their bid is expected to be rejected by the Cherries.
Southampton boss Russell Martin is a huge admirer of Aarons, having been Norwich captain when the 24-year-old was an emerging talent at Carrow Road.
Aarons was close to a move to St Mary's last summer before joining Bournemouth for Premier League football.
Aarons made just 23 appearances for the Cherries as a persistent hamstring injury hampered his debut campaign.
Which Premier League teams have the most players still at Euro 2024?published at 13:29 28 June
13:29 28 June
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Managers will always outwardly support their players on the international stage, but you can be sure one or two will privately be hoping for an early exit from Euro 2024 for a few of their star men.
International tournament summers disrupt pre-season for managers.
Various players from different nations return to their clubs at different times, sometimes with injuries, holidays get postponed and rescheduled. As a general rule, the best players are more likely to play for the best nations and therefore go further in international tournaments.
The Euro 2024 final will take place on 14 July. Over half of Premier League clubs already have a pre-season fixture scheduled within 10 days of that.
Of English clubs, unsurprisingly, Premier League champions Manchester City have comfortably the most players in the Euro 2024 knockouts. The best represented Premier League side at the start of the competition have a full line-up of 11 stars still in Germany.
They are followed by the rest of last season's top three - Arsenal and Liverpool - who have eight and seven respectively. Manchester United also have seven while Brentford - aided by their healthy Danish contingent - have six and Crystal Palace five.
Championship play-off winners Southampton's three representatives were all eliminated at the group stage, while fellow newly promoted side Ipswich have not seen their summer impacted at all by players at Euro 2024.
Of the Championship-winning Leicester squad, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defenders Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard remain in Germany - as does Turkey's Yunus Akgun, who spent last season on loan with the Foxes.
This data was provided by Opta and counts the clubs where players finished at the end of the 2023-24 season.
How Cherries players fared at Euro 2024published at 16:18 27 June
16:18 27 June
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Bournemouth's three representatives at Euro 2024 in Germany have all exited the tournament after the completion of the group stage.
Scotland's Ryan Christie, Ukraine's Illia Zabarnyi and Hungary's Milos Kerkez may share stories of heartbreak when they reunite on England's south coast in the coming weeks, but how did each fare in their respective three games?
Ryan Christie
Christie started and endured Scotland's tough opening 5-1 defeat by Germany, in which they played the entire second half with 10 men.
That result left Steve Clarke's men with an uphill task and, with pressure to make changes, Christie was handed late substitute appearances in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland and the 1-0 loss to Hungary which sealed their fate.
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez started all three of Hungary's games, travelling up and down the left side in Marco Rossi's 3-4-2-1 system.
The 20-year-old did nothing to deter the potential suitors who have been linked with him recently, displaying his trademark strength, energy and calmness on the ball while illustrating his versatility in a more unfamiliar wing-back role.
He worked himself into the ground, as shown by his withdrawal late on in each game, and can consider himself unlucky not to be part of a team that progressed given Hungary only missed out on being one of the best performing third-placed teams on goal difference.
Illia Zabarnyi
Zabarnyi played every minute of Ukraine's campaign and is perhaps the most unfortunate of the three to not still be in Germany.
Ukraine finished on four points - one more than Hungary finished third in their group with - but with every team in Group E also on four, they exited on goal difference.
After a difficult defensive display in the eventually decisive 3-0 defeat by Romania, Zabarnyi performed admirably in the 2-1 win over Slovakia and was a standout performer with several key blocks and interventions to keep a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Belgium.
Unfortunately for him and his team-mates, those results were not enough.
Image source, Getty Images
