The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is anticipated to significantly affect the Premier League, as up to 17 clubs are expected to lose key players during the month-long tournament, which will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.
While AFCON remains the pinnacle of African football, its timing, in the middle of the European season, means many English clubs will be without important first-team players.
Some stars could miss six to seven Premier League matches, including FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures, if their nations reach the final.
Read Also: 2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Who will secure the last five spots?
This year’s edition features top contenders such as Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, and defending champions, Ivory Coast.
Among Premier League clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds are the only teams unaffected, with Sunderland and Wolves set to bear the heaviest losses.
Read Also: World Cup Ouster: Tinubu urges Super Eagles to focus on 2025 AFCON
BusinessDay takes a look at the Premier League teams set to lose players to AFCON 2025:
Aston Villa
Evann Guessand (Ivory Coast)
Bournemouth
Amine Adli (Morocco)
Brentford
Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
Brighton
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)
Burnley
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo)
Lyle Foster (South Africa)
Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)
Crystal Palace
Christantus Uche (Nigeria)
Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
Chadi Riad (Morocco)
Cheick Doucouré (Mali)
Everton
Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Adam Aznou (Morocco)
Fulham
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria)
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Man City
Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria)
Man United
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)
Newcastle United
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Nottingham Forest
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast)
Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)
Sunderland
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco)
Habib Diarra (Senegal)
Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique)
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso)
Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)
Tottenham Hotspur
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
West Ham United
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria)
Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe)
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)
Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast)
Jackson Tchatchoua (Cameroon)
With the 2025 AFCON taking place at the busiest period of the English football calendar, Premier League clubs will be forced to adapt quickly, and squad depth may prove decisive in the title race and relegation battle.
