Neto has emerged as one of City’s primary attacking targets after racking up five goals and six assists across Chelsea’s immensely difficult Premier League campaign last season.
The 26-year-old joined the Blues in a deal worth around £51m back in 2024 and has helped the west London outfit win both the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in that time.
This weekend, he was pictured boarding a flight to Hong Kong to join up with Xabi Alonso’s squad for the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus on Wednesday.
According to The Sun, though, Neto’s days at Chelsea could be numbered and City are preparing to test their rivals’ resolve with sizeable opening offer for the Portugal international.
It’s claimed City head coach Enzo Maresca has been at the centre of Chelsea’s proposed move to sign Neto having previously worked with the winger during his 18-month spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The report adds that City may be forced to fend off competition from Serie A giants AC Milan for Neto, but a deal could be struck with an offer in the region of £70m before the transfer deadline.
Maresca hopes to work with Neto again at City (Picture: Getty)
Neto could follow Garnacho out the exit door at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
Milan have placed Neto at the top of their shortlist of wingers as they brace themselves for the possible departure of Rafael Leao ahead of the new season.
Chelsea view Neto as a key member of squad and dressing room but accept that a hefty bid could alter their stance when it comes to the forward’s future.
Neto’s agent Jorge Mendes has also offered Neto to Al-Hilal but the player has major reservations about moving to the Saudi Pro League and wishes to continue playing at the highest level.
Though a regular starting spot may not be immediately guaranteed at City, the former Braga and Wolves star is said to be ‘open’ to the idea of leaving Chelsea for the Etihad.
Alonso’s squad are currently in Hong Kong preparing to face Juventus (Picture: Getty)
Neto’s current contract with Chelsea is not due to expire until June 2031.
‘I’m sure that from today to the last day of the transfer window there will be a lot of links, a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task,’ Alonso said of Chelsea’s transfer dealings after the side’s recent pre-season clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
‘But for sure, we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance.
‘We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.’
The potential sale of Neto would help Chelsea balance the books in the wake of their record-breaking £117million transfer deal for Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers.
The Blues have also brought in Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Danny Welbeck and Valentin Barco this summer, with veteran Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson expected to follow suit.
Reports in Spain, meanwhile, indicate that Chelsea have struck an agreement with Rayo Vallecano for Pep Chavarria, who has been signed as a replacement Marc Cucurella at left-back.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick (Picture: PA)
Manchester United have been told that their decision to walk away from a £35million transfer earlier in the window was a mistake
Michael Carrick is seeking to rebuild his squad as he prepares for his first full season in charge of the Red Devils.
United have made it a priority to bolster their midfield options after the departure of Casemiro, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arriving from Chelsea and Aston Villa, respectively.
And elsewhere, Karl Darlow has arrived from Leeds United to serve as a back-up to Senne Lammens following his impressive debut season at Old Trafford.
However, United subsequently walked away from the deal after concerns arose during Ederson’s medical following his time away with Brazil.
Carrick is looking to bolster his midfield (Picture: Getty)
The 27-year-old has since signed a new contract with Atalanta, and former Premier League midfielder Don Hutchison believes it was ‘surprising’ to see United walk away from a deal for a player of Ederson’s calibre.
‘I’m surprised they didn’t go back for Ederson,’ Hutchison told ESPN.
‘I think he’s an outstanding player who can make other players around him better.
‘He’s just signed a new deal in Atalanta but he’s a very, very good player.’
And while Hutchison can understand United’s cautious approach to this summer’s window, he said United were quite clearly still lacking numbers ahead of the new season.
United had agreed a deal for Ederson but later pulled out of the transfer (Picture: Getty)
‘They’ve had a couple of really, really outstanding windows, good windows, buying very, very good players and young, promising players,’ he added.
‘I think it’s just being a little bit greedy if you want all these Champions League players to come in this summer.
‘I think the strategy has obviously changed. They’re not going to go out and spend £100 million on players. That’s why they’ve walked away from one or two deals.’
Hutchison continued: ‘I think Michael is a clever guy. He’d be naive if he thought what he’s got now is good enough to compete in the domestic competitions with the Premier League and Champions League because now this is a tougher test.
Ederson featured for Brazil at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
‘They were outstanding with no European football last year, but bodies have to be brought in. But you have to be careful. You can’t go out and spend £25 million on a guy that’s not going to play.
‘You’ve still got players like Kobbie Mainoo who need game time, so it’s all revolving around the players that were signed in the last couple of windows, the players that are already there.’
And the former Liverpool player said the Red Devils need to already have an eye on future windows, as he namechecked Harry Maguire and Senne Lammens as two players who may need to be replaced.
‘I think the window after this one, I think that’s going to be telling,’ Hutchison said.
‘It’s then when they need to try to move on from the likes of Maguire and maybe when they’ve had a good look at Senne Lammens, they might think that in two years or 18 months, that’s an upgrade that needs fixing, a world-class goalkeeper.
‘But for now, I think with the window still open, I think they are pretty fairly set.’
United’s preparations for the new season are firmly underway, with Carrick’s side coming from behind to beat Atletico Madrid in their third pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Chloe Moffat took her own life a year ago (Picture: Family handout)
A 26-year-old Treasury worker took her own life one day after an anonymous complaint was made about her, an inquest has heard.
Chloe Moffat ‘loved’ her role as a personal assistant in the government department, which she held for three years, and had an ‘exemplary employment record’.
She was also in line for a promotion after receiving a bonus for her work. Moffat died before she could hear the good news.
During the inquest at the Surrey coroner’s court, witnesses heard how Moffat was driven to a state of ‘distress’ following a meeting last May about the complaint.
The meeting was attended by her line manager and the Treasury’s head of global issues, but Moffat was not informed ahead of time what it would be about.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking Newsalerts the moment it happens.
Senior Treasury staff did not reassure her that her job was safe during the disciplinary process, the court also heard, even though a dismissal was unlikely.
Moffat’s mother is now calling for an overhaul in Treasury practices (Picture: Shutterstock/William Barton)
When she did ask if there was a possibility of being sacked, Moffat was told by a senior manager that she ‘couldn’t predict the outcome of any potential investigation’.
She was not allowed to bring a third party to the meeting either, and when Moffat asked her manager if she could bring her friend into the proceedings for support, she was told it would be ‘inappropriate’.
Questioned by the coroner, Anna Crawford, on why Moffat was not permitted a trade union representative or other colleague, the senior manager said: ‘Any alternative attendee would have made the meeting feel more formal.’
The coroner then asked: ‘Given these allegations, that were potentially serious, were going to be raised with her, was any consideration given to notifying her so she could prepare herself, seek support and respond?’
‘No, this could cause unnecessary stress,’ replied the senior manager.
She added that Moffat denied any accusations, so she ‘started to draft a letter’ to notify her of a formal investigation.
‘I was going to wait to send it until [the line manager] and I had spoken to Chloe to see how she was.’
The complaint in question accused Moffat of sharing confidential information about colleagues, which she could access since she managed her director’s inbox.
She had been advised not to speak to her co-workers about the matter, and she temporarily lost access to her director’s emails and diary.
When informed of the anonymous filing, Moffat appeared ‘shocked’ and started ‘crying at points’.
Her family recalled how ‘devastated’ she was in the aftermath and ‘convinced’ she would lose her job.
They further described her as someone who ‘took great pride in her work’ and ‘never made a mistake’.
PAPYRUS offers specialised suicide prevention support for young people. Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.
A friend told the court that Moffat sent her a text on the same day the proceedings were initiated, reading: ‘I am going to be fired.’
This friend then met up with her in central London, where Moffat ‘broke down’ and expressed her concerns about the ‘reputational impact’ of the allegations made, all despite her pal’s attempts at reassurance.
Moffat died by suicide the next day.
Her grieving mother, Anne, is now calling for an overhaul in Treasury practices, with the inquest having heard how Moffat’s line manager should’ve been in charge of her ‘pastoral care’, despite her direct oversight role.
‘The evidence establishes a clear sequence of events,’ said Anne.
‘Had Chloe been properly supported and advised of her rights before the meeting, she would not have been so devastated and isolated.’
She is pushing for the department to be required to ‘assess employees’ mental welfare’ amid disciplinary proceedings. It is understood that changes are already being implemented.
Where serious or gross misconduct is alleged, she adds the matter should be ‘treated as formal from the outset, and the accused is informed of their rights’.
Lawyers representing the department have stated that managers are undergoing additional training, with a Treasury spokesperson saying: ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Chloe last year.
‘Our thoughts remain with her family, friends and those affected by her loss.’
Anthony Hall was over the drink-drive limit when police noticed him ‘drifting’ on the motorway (Picture: Newsquest/SWNS)
A blind man charged with drink driving travelled 150 miles through the night before police noticed him.
Anthony Hall had taken his partner’s car without permission before setting off from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, despite being registered blind, unlicensed, and uninsured.
The 49-year-old made his journey towards Cumbria while over the drink-drive limit by following the taillights of lorries.
He was only spotted when he began drifting between two lanes on the motorway and towards the hard shoulder.
Police saw him behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Meriva near Junction 44 at Carlisle at around 1.45am on June 29.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking Newsalerts the moment it happens.
A court heard it was ‘miraculous’ that nobody was killed or seriously injured during the two-hour motorway drive.
A court heard how it was a ‘miracle’ Hall’s actions did not seriously hurt anyone (Picture: Newsquest/SWNS)
When pulled over, Hall smelt of alcohol and admitted he had been drinking wine.
He then stunned officers by revealing he had been blind for two years – and had navigated the motorway by following HGV lights.
Hall appeared at Rickergate Magistrates’ Court in Carlisle, where he admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and taking his partner’s car without consent.
Prosecutor Suresh Basra said: ‘Mr Hall was a man of good character, and he has no previous convictions.
‘He is registered blind and does not have a driving licence, so he is not allowed to drive.
‘But he took the vehicle in question from his partner without her knowing.
He has been banned from driving until his next court appearance (Picture: Newsquest/SWNS)
‘He drove 150 miles from Huddersfield.’
Police had been asked to look out for the car after it was reported missing.
Mr Basra added that ‘the defendant was asked how he had managed to drive’, to which he explained his following of HGV lights.
A breath test showed Hall, of Lees Close, Huddersfield, had 46mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Mr Basra described the offending as ‘prolonged and persistent’, adding that ‘there was a decision to ignore the rules of the road and risk danger to others’.
‘There was also the consumption of alcohol, and although there was no injury, it’s miraculous that Mr Hall has been so fortunate and that there was no injury or damage.’
Adele Graham, defending, said there were ‘a lot of circumstances’ magistrates would need to consider before sentencing, including Hall’s personal life and background.
She asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Magistrates agreed and adjourned sentencing until September 8.
Hall has been handed an interim driving ban until then.
Taylor Charlton went missing on May 8 (Picture: Devon and Cornwall Police/PA Wire)
Police have said they are ‘extremely saddened’ to confirm that missing teenager Taylor Charlton’s body has been found.
The Devon schoolboy was last seen on the night of May 8, with CCTV placing him near the Tarka Leisure Centre and the Seven Brethren car park at 10.41pm.
An extensive search had been conducted to find him, with remains recovered from the River Taw 48 days later on June 24. Charlton was walking in the direction of the river in his final sighting.
In a new statement, a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said tonight: ‘This is not the outcome that anyone hoped for, and we know how deeply this will affect the local community, who have shown tremendous support throughout the search.
‘An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Taylor’s death remains ongoing, and detectives will continue to establish the full facts.’
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking Newsalerts the moment it happens.
Charlton, from Barnstaple, was 14 at the time he disappeared but has since had a birthday.
The teenager’s body was found in a river following an extensive search (Picture: Devon and Cornwall Police)
Police were called to the River Taw near Sticklepath, Barnstaple, at 4.20pm on June 24 after human remains were seen in the water.
Initially, there was no evidence to suggest third-party involvement, but new information ultimately came to light, indicating Charlton had been ‘harmed’.
A woman in her 40s and a 20-year-old man were subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with his disappearance.
Both remain on police bail while the investigation continues.
The force has urged the public to help the investigation by avoiding speculation and by not sharing unconfirmed information online, having also previously vowed to ‘leave no stone unturned’.
It also asked for the privacy of the boy’s family to be respected as they ‘come to terms with this tragic news’.
Devon and Cornwall Police praised the ‘tremendous support’ of the local community with their efforts in trying to find Charlton alive (Picture: NMPH)
His loved ones had been informed of Charlton’s identification and are being supported by specialist officers.
Anyone with information that may prove useful should contact the police.
Identification of Charlton’s body comes after his own mother, Zoe Harvey, was forced to respond after being targeted by a disturbing online message, which compared her son’s disappearance to that of Jay Slater, 19, who died in Tenerife, Spain, in 2024.
Harvey then stated that she ‘had nothing to do with [her] son’s murder’ and liked a post reading: ‘I would like to make it absolutely clear that it was not Taylor’s grieving, heartbroken mother who was arrested today.
‘The speculation, disrespect, arrogance and harmful comments need to stop.
‘Taylor’s family and friends have lost a son, brother, grandson, nephew and best friend. Please show some decency and respect during this incredibly difficult time.’
Moments later, Ross Barton (Michael Parr) appeared, which meant the duo had to exit sharpish.
During a conversation with Kim Tate (Claire King) after the burglary, Ross received a call from Serena. Up until this point, she had no idea another Sugden was in town, but quickly assumed that this new face was dodgy.
In the pub, Ross spotted Steve and ran after him. He threatened to call the police about the robbery, but Steve said that if he does, he needs to tell the them that Serena was also in Home Farm as well.
Up Next
Ross confronted Serena about Steve’s comments (Picture: ITV)
It wasn’t a surprise that Serena managed to charm her way out of questioning by Ross in tonight’s episode. Her confidence levels began to lower, however, when Ross mentioned to her that Kim thinks she’s hiding something.
Paranoid, Serena text someone and told them that she was ‘pressing pause’ on whatever she’s up to due to Kim being suspicious. The fact that Serena named Kim in the text certainly suggests the person she’s speaking to knows her.
But who is she in cahoots with?
There is speculation that Serena is communicating with Sadie King (Patsy Kensit), who will return to the show this year. Sadie and Kim never crossed paths when she was last in the village, but it is possible Sadie believes that she is capable of taking over Home Farm.
Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham this summer (Picture: PA)
Sandro Tonali revealed that a ten-minute conversation with Roberto De Zerbi was all that was needed to convince him to sign for Tottenham over other interested clubs.
Tonali joined Spurs earlier this summer from Newcastle United in a club-record transfer that could reach as much as £100million.
The 26-year-old had spent three seasons at Newcastle, but was widely reported to be leaving St James’ Park this summer after a disappointing season for the Magpies.
Premier League champions Arsenal had also considered a move for Tonali before deciding to focus their interest on his former Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes.
Tonali revealed that he did hold talks with one other English club, but ultimately felt the pull to join Tottenham after conversations with fellow countryman De Zerbi.
‘My first impression was really positive,’ he told reporters in Sydney this week. ‘When you are happy after a 10-minute speech, it’s everything, everything is perfect.
Tonali played against Sydney FC in Spurs’ second match of their pre-season tour (Picture: Getty)
‘The gaffer was Italian, Roberto. I knew him. Roberto really cares about his work, his football. He said, “The project will be tough but will be perfect for me, for you, for the city, and we can do one of the best seasons, because we have big players. We just have to put a lot of work in”.
On his discussions with the club, he added: ‘When we spoke with Tottenham, we decided to sign for this team. They spoke with 100 per cent passion, 100 per cent seriousness.
‘For this city, for my life outside of football for my family, OK, it’s like 10 per cent. Roberto and the director made the difference to the deal.
Andy Robertson had also joined Tottenham this summer (Picture: Getty)
‘I spoke after two minutes with my wife and my family and I said, “Probably it will be one of my best decisions of my career”. She told me, “You have 100 per cent the control over this decision”. I wanted to speak with her because it’s our life.’
Tonali also revealed that his preference had been for a move back to his homeland, but it quickly transpired that no Italian club would be able to meet Newcastle’s lofty asking price.
‘We had decided to come back in Italy but it was impossible for the money,’ he said.
‘England was our solution and we found the best solution in England for me, for my career, for my football, for my happiness, for my family.
‘I spoke with two teams. I understood after 10, 15 minutes that Tottenham would be my next team.’
Matias Fernandez-Pardo featured for Belgium at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Belgium World Cup star Matias Fernandez-Pardo has asked to leave Lille amid speculation linking him with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Fernandez-Pardo came through the academy at Gent before being snapped up by Lille for €10million (£8.5m) in the summer of 2024.
The versatile forward has gone on to register 12 goals and 11 assists in 71 games for the French side, with his form earning him a call-up to Belgium’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
And while Fernandez-Pardo only appeared three times off the bench during Belgium’s run to the quarter-final, the 21-year-old has attracted interest from a host of top European clubs.
Reports in French outlet L’Equipe suggest that Premier League trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all interested in Fernandez-Pardo.
Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have also been credited with interest in the young forward.
Keen to force a move to a bigger club this summer, it is said that Fernandez-Paro has handed in a transfer request to Lille despite having three years left on his contract.
Fernandez Pardo has handed in a transfer request (Picture: Reuters)
However, at this stage, the Belgian appears likely to stay put, with Lille president Olivier Letang insisting Fernandez-Pardo is not for sale this summer.
‘The player is under contract until 2029, and his departure is not a topic,’ Letang said. ‘We are counting on him, he knows that, and we have been very clear with him.’
Asked if the player had a release clause, Letang hit back: ‘He never had a release clause. Every player I told could leave has left.
‘It’s the same old story as last summer, with yet another new agent.’
The young forward has made 71 appearances for Lille (Picture: Reuters)
While Fernandez-Pardo appears unlikely to leave, Lille could face a far bigger fight on their hands to keep hold of talented central midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after his breakout performances at the World Cup.
Several top clubs have been linked with the 18-year-old, but it appears that Manchester City are leading the race to sign the teenager after direct talks with Lille.
Fellow Lille player Ayyoub Bouaddi is also wanted by top European clubs (Picture: Getty)
‘Many clubs are interested in him, but very few can afford him right now,’ he recently told Eurosport.
‘He’s already one of the best midfielders in the world and still has significant room for improvement. He’s only 18 and has his whole future ahead of him. He’s focused on continuing to develop and winning everything.
‘You have to look at his level. How much have players like Anderson or Tonali been sold for, who are much older, but without room for improvement, so you have an idea of the value of Ayyoub, who has a unique profile at only 18 years old.’
Asked about Bouaddi’s potential, Letang added: ‘Having worked with him for over three years, I can say he’s an extraordinary young man, unique in every way.
‘He belongs among the true sportsmen like Victor Wembanyama, Paul Seixas, Leon Marchand, or Kylian Mbappe.
‘I could mention Rodri, Sergio Busquets, (Johan) Cruyff, (Albert) Einstein, (Lothar) Matthaus, etc. But Ayyoub is unique and is himself, so he shouldn’t be compared.’
It might seem like ‘everyone has ADHD right now’ – but that couldn’t be further from the truth (Picture: Metro)
Confiding in a friend of mine after I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I opened up to her about my lifelong struggles with time blindness, lateness, general disorganisation, and emotional dysregulation.
I was relieved to finally have a label for what I’d been experiencing.
‘But isn’t it normal to get a little bit distracted sometimes? I probably have ADHD too, if that’s the case’ she said to me.
My heart sank, feeling both rejected and my experiences diminished in one simple interaction. I doubt she meant to upset me, but her words stung.
There’s an increasing perception that having ADHD is becoming a ‘trend’ or a ‘personality quirk.’ Just like OCD has been carelessly thrown about as being neat and tidy, ADHD is starting to become synonymous with making seemingly normal, harmless mistakes, like being 10 minutes late.
Now, Channel 4 has announced that, next month, it’ll be releasing a documentary titled ‘The Great ADHD Myth?’.
It promises to look into whether this condition is a ‘genuine neurodevelopmental disorder, or a social construct,’ and questions the notion that children should be given medication to help them cope.
It’ll also analyse whether people with ADHD have differently-wired brains, or whether our fast-paced world, with all its ‘ultra-processed food, phones, and regimented education system’ is merely serving as a ‘catalyst.’
People with ADHD have often had their diagnoses questioned over the last few years. In 2025, then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced an enquiry into ADHD and autism diagnoses, seeking to ascertain whether these two forms of neurodivergence are overdiagnosed.
The full results are expected to be published later this year, but conclusions from the interim report show while it’s true more people are being diagnosed, this doesn’t mean the actual incidence rate has changed.
We’re just more likely to receive answers now.
As a woman with ADHD, I’ve always found the ‘overdiagnosis’ argument completely insulting – and futile, actually. Clearly, the current systems need proper funding; they’re struggling amid a lack of sufficient investment.
But demonising people who are struggling is not the answer.
As soon as I first read about ADHD in women, I knew that I had it. I once lost my house keys and paid my landlord for another set, only to find them wedged down the back of the sofa when I moved out.
I also impulsively switched subjects during my GCSEs, A Levels and university; I had my library card revoked at the age of 10 after I failed to return the books I’d borrowed, and I’d spent my whole life feeling different.
So, does everyone really have ADHD now? Or are we just being equipped with the tools to navigate our own brains, and connecting with a like-minded community in the process?
Have ADHD diagnoses increased in the last few years?
In 2023, a study from UCL found that the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has increased over the last 20 years, but this doesn’t mean that ‘everyone’ has it now.
Between 2000 and 2018, there was a twenty-fold increase in ADHD diagnoses, rising to an almost fifty-fold increase in prescriptions issued to men aged 18-29.
Largely owing to medical misogyny that favours research into symptoms in men and boys, women are still largely going undetected: the ADHD Foundation estimates that between 50 and 70% of the 1,000,000 women in the UK living with ADHD are undiagnosed.
There might’ve been an increase in people seeking help for ADHD in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that the condition is becoming more common.
It still only impacts between 2% and 6% of the world’s population.
ADHD impacts between 2% and 6% of the population (Picture: Getty Images)
Likewise, a 2025 review from King’s College London looked at 40 studies across 17 countries and concluded that the prevalence of ADHD (AKA, the number of people living with a condition within a specific timeframe) hasn’t increased since 2020.
The author, Dr Alex Martin, noted that while much of the media has been concerned about a ‘surge’ in ADHD diagnoses, both ‘assessments and help-seeking’ are snowballing – which goes some way towards explaining why it might feel like more people have it now.
There are also multiple barriers to diagnosis, including excessive NHS waiting times (as long as eight years in some parts of the UK), and the hefty cost of a private diagnosis, which averages out at £1,200 for adults. For many, self-diagnosis is their only option – and that’s valid.
It’s funny how politicians fear ADHD is being overdiagnosed – because people are struggling to get diagnosed in the first place.
It’s a miracle I was even assessed, and it still took me 23 years to receive answers, as society had no idea what to do with hyperactive girls like me.
Meeting the threshold for diagnosis
Getting an ADHD diagnosis isn’t an easy task, and psychiatrists certainly aren’t handing them out like they’re lollipops.
To qualify, adults need to align with at least five symptoms on the DSM-5, the framework that’s used to detect it.
As psychologist and clinical director Dr Andrea Pickering tells Metro, various symptoms of ADHD might seem relatable to the general non-neurodivergent public.
But what differentiates these symptoms between being a normal part of life and being suggestive of neurodiversity is the frequency with which they happen and how debilitating they are.
‘The key difference is that for someone with ADHD, these symptoms are persistent, pervasive and significantly impact their ability to function in daily life, across multiple settings such as work, school and relationships,’ Dr Andrea, from Clinical Partners, explains.
ADHD isn’t just being ‘scatterbrained’ or ‘disorganised’: in Andrea’s words, it’s a ‘neurodevelopmental condition rooted in differences in brain structure and function.’
And so, a diagnosis doesn’t just require checking off a few traits, but a ‘detailed evaluation to understand the full context of a person’s life and challenges.’
As part of an ADHD assessment, psychiatrists will look at the pattern, intensity, and consistency of symptoms over time, even going as far as to ask a parent or family member to testify that their loved one’s symptoms have longevity and started before the age of 12.
When I was diagnosed in November 2021, I asked my mum to fill out the forms for me. Thankfully, she was able to recall with colour the school reports that were constantly telling me I was bright but needed to pay attention to detail and listen more; the eye tics that saw me blinking multiple times in a row, and my persistently hyperactive nature.
I used to enjoy talking so much that I’d ask my parents if I could read my book aloud to them; my room was never tidy, and I had trouble paying attention, often doodling into the margins of my school exercise books.
So at the age of 23, I almost cried when I heard the words: ‘you have combined ADHD’ from my psychiatrist, as in one short moment, years of suffering were validated.
Thankfully, I’d been able to skip the lengthy NHS waiting queue and had the cost of my private diagnosis funded through Right to Choose, so I was diagnosed within a matter of months, rather than years.
Do you have ADHD, or is modern life just overwhelming?
The reality is that, in the modern world, many of us will be feeling burnt out and overwhelmed by information. So, is it any surprise that we’re increasingly distractible?
As Dr Andrea explains: ‘There’s certainly growing evidence that people feel their environment – especially constant exposure to digital devices, social media and multitasking – can reduce attention spans and increase distractibility, even in people without ADHD.’
With this in mind, the ‘human brain simply didn’t evolve to handle the level of information and stimulation we now face daily.’
‘But while modern life can make anyone feel distracted, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms that are consistent, long-standing and impairing across multiple areas of life,’ she reminds us.
Whenever I hear people trivialising ADHD, I can’t help but feel angry.
It’s not a quirky personality trait: it’s an incredibly debilitating condition, and it’s exhausting navigating a world designed by and for neurotypical people. ADHD isn’t just being a little bit ‘scatty’: it’s so much more than that.
Neurodiversity is finally in the limelight, and with awareness increasing, so many more people are sharing their stories. No doubt, it’s saving lives.
But the truth is that awareness without understanding is useless, and to suggest that ‘everyone has it’ diminishes the experiences of those who actually live with it. And no, it’s not a ‘superpower.’
You don’t have ADHD if you just forget your wallet sometimes; you’re probably just a regular human being living in an increasingly hectic world.
A version of this article was first published on June 22, 2025.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk
Yesterday, Joe sensed that Caleb Miligan (William Ash) was hiding something from him. He had rocked up to the depot to warn Caleb off interfering in his relationship with Noah Dingle (Jack Downham), and grew curious when his uncle simply did as he asked.
Joe knew that Caleb did this because he wanted to keep his nephew away from the depot, but had no idea that he’s currently flogging conterfeit goods.
Caleb, Kerry and Billy are flogging counterfeit goods through the depot (Picture: ITV)
Hiding at the depot allowed Graham to discover that Caleb, Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) and Billy are selling knock-off car parts within the company. He updated Joe, but didn’t reveal Billy’s involvement until the last moment.
Graham said that he could easily organise a tip-off to the police, but he wouldn’t be able to keep Billy’s name out of it.
Joe pondered over this as he headed home. While making the journey back to Home Farm, Joe had no idea that Billy and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) were spending time reminiscing about their relationship.
Billy misread the signals with Dawn at one point and tried to kiss her. Seconds later, Joe appeared behind them. We didn’t hear the front door or his footsteps, which means no-one knows just how much Joe actually saw.
Dawn and Billy weren’t quite sure what Joe saw (Picture: ITV)
If Joe witnessed Billy making a move on Dawn, shopping him to the police will give him the perfect opportunity to get rid of Billy for good.
However, it’s very possible Joe might take an even darker approach where his enemy is concerned.
An Emmerdale trailer released recently confirmed that Billy’s life will be in danger soon, leading to him lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
Is Joe going to say no to Graham’s idea of sending Billy to prison because he wants to have him killed instead?
