Which Premier League Teams Will Lose Most Players to Afcon?
The Africa Cup of Nations starts earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs affected as players travel to host country Morocco.
The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.
Clubs have not yet received an official confirmation on release dates for players, and this could change based on agreements.
Players may miss up to six or seven Premier League matches, plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games, if their teams reach the final.
The group stage ends on 31 December, so players eliminated early could miss fewer matches.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds have no players going to Afcon 2025, while Sunderland and Wolves will lose the most.
Here is a look at which teams will be without players.
Aston Villa (1)
Villa will lose Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand.
He has started only five Premier League matches, so the team should manage without him.
Bournemouth (1)
Bournemouth expect Morocco attacking midfielder Amine Adli to be called up.
He has made only one league start since joining in the summer.
Antoine Semenyo will remain available because Ghana did not qualify.
Brentford (2)
Brentford will lose two players.
Forward Dango Ouattara will join Burkina Faso, and midfielder Frank Onyeka will represent Nigeria.
Onyeka has played only 88 league minutes this season.
Brighton (1)
Brighton will be without Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, a regular starter.
Yankuba Minteh will stay with the club because Gambia did not qualify.
Crystal Palace (1–4)
The biggest loss is Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr, who has scored eight goals this season.
Three more players are possible call-ups:
- Christantus Uche (Nigeria);
- Chadi Riad (Morocco, recovering from a long-term injury);
- Cheick Doucoure (Mali, also recovering from injury).
Anyone selected will miss the Carabao Cup quarter-final on 23 December.
Everton (2–3)
Everton will lose two starters:
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal);
- Idrissa Gueye (Senegal).
Adam Aznou has not been in recent Morocco squads.
Beto will not leave because Guinea-Bissau did not qualify.
Fulham (3)
Fulham will lose three Nigeria internationals:
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Iwobi and Bassey are regular starters.
Liverpool (1)
Liverpool will lose Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s star forward.
He has scored five goals so far this season.
Manchester City (2)
City will be without Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and Algeria left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Both have had limited playing time due to injuries.
Manchester United (3)
United will lose:
- Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon);
- Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast);
- Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).
All three play on the right side and will affect squad depth.
Newcastle (0–1)
The only possible departure is Yoane Wissa of DR Congo.
He has not yet played for Newcastle due to a knee injury.
His call-up remains uncertain.
Nottingham Forest (1–4)
Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast) is a guaranteed call-up.
Willy Boly may also go, but he has had little game time.
Nigeria internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi could miss out due to injuries and lack of recent appearances.
Sunderland (7)
Sunderland, currently fourth in the league, will be the most affected team.
Seven players are expected to depart:
- Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco);
- Habib Diarra (Senegal);
- Reinildo (Mozambique);
- Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast);
- Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso);
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo);
- Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).
Most are regular starters.
Diarra has been injured since September.
Tottenham Hotspur (1–2)
Spurs may lose two midfielders:
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal);
- Yves Bissouma (Mali).
Bissouma has not played this season due to ankle surgery.
Mohammed Kudus remains available because Ghana did not qualify.
West Ham (2)
West Ham will lose both starting full-backs:
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo);
- El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal).
Wolves (5)
Wolves, bottom of the table, will lose five players:
- Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe);
- Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe);
- Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast);
- Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria);
- Jackson Tchatchoua (Cameroon).
Chirewa has not played this season, but the others are regulars.
