BREAKING: Manchester United And 16 Other Premier League Clubs Loses Players As 2025 AFCON Kicks Off In Morocco [FULL LIST]
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will kick off earlier than usual, running from 21 December to 18 January in Morocco — and as many as 17 Premier League clubs are expected to lose key players during the busy festive schedule.
No official release date has been announced, but depending on club–country agreements, players reaching the final could miss six to seven league matches, along with FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures. Those knocked out early may return sooner, as the group stage ends on 31 December.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds have no call-ups, while Sunderland and Wolves face the biggest losses.
Below is a quick club-by-club breakdown.
Premier League Clubs and Expected AFCON Absentees
Aston Villa (1)
- Evann Guessand (Ivory Coast)
Limited league starts mean minimal disruption.
Bournemouth (1)
- Amine Adli (Morocco)
He is a fringe player; the club should be able to cope.
Antoine Semenyo’s Ghana did not qualify for this tournament.
Brentford (2)
- Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) – regular
- Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) – limited minutes
Brighton (1)
- Carlos Baleba (Cameroon) – major loss
Yankuba Minteh’s Gambia did not qualify.
Burnley (3)
- Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo)
- Lyle Foster (South Africa)
- Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)
Crystal Palace (1–4)
- Confirmed: Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal) – top scorer
- Possible: Christantus Uche (Nigeria), Chadi Riad (Morocco), Cheick Doucouré (Mali) – all returning from long-term injuries
Everton (2–3)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
- Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
- Adam Aznou unlikely; Beto’s Guinea-Bissau absent.
Fulham (3)
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
- Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
- Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria)
Liverpool (1)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – the club’s biggest loss
Manchester City (2)
- Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
- Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria)
Both limited by injuries this season.
Manchester United (3)
- Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
- Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
- Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)
A major impact on the right flank.
Newcastle United (0–1)
- Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) – fitness doubts; may not be called up.
Nottingham Forest (1–4)
- Confirmed: Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast)
- Possible: Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ola Aina (Nigeria), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria) — all recovering from injuries.
Sunderland (7) — Worst Affected
Likely departures include:
- Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco)
- Habib Diarra (Senegal)
- Reinildo (Mozambique)
- Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
- Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso)
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
- Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)
Six of them are consistent starters.
Tottenham Hotspur (1–2)
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
- Yves Bissouma (Mali) – yet to play this season
West Ham (2)
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
- El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal)
Wolves (5)
- Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe)
- Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)
- Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast)
- Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria)
- Jackson Tchatchoua (Cameroon)
Four are regular starters.
AFCON 2025 will heavily affect Premier League squads during one of the season’s busiest periods. Clubs like Sunderland, Wolves, Fulham, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace face significant absences, while others may escape almost entirely untouched.
