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Every Premier League player set to play at AFCON 2025

AFCON 2023 Senegal's players hold the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 final football match between Senegal and Egypt at Stade d'Olembe in Yaounde on February 6, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
AFCON 2025 begins next month (Image credit: Getty Images)

After the September, October and November international breaks, supporters could be forgiven for having some international football fatigue.

But even before we get to next summer, there's another major international tournament on the way - and unlike in the previous breaks, this one could significantly disrupt either your fantasy team, or your actual bricks and mortars side.

That's because AFCON 2025 kicks off in Morocco on December 21 and runs up until January 18, 2026, with the 24 participants able to draw from no less than 42 Premier League players… so who's going?

The Premier League players set to play at AFCON 2025

The above graphic shows every Premier League player that could be heading to Morocco for some winter sun next month - with some clubs signifcantly impacted.

It's worth bearing in mind that this list is of players who play for the nations competing at AFCON, so some may not be selected due to form, while others such as Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa are set to miss out through injury.

Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo

Manchester United summer signing Bryan Mbeumo is set to be part of Cameroon's squad (Image credit: Getty Images)

But there are a couple of eye-catching clubs on there, not least high-flying Sunderland, who have been this season's surprise package in the Premier League and have spent the November international break sitting pretty in the Champions League spots.

Regis Le Bris may end up being grateful to bank so many early points, as he could be without as many as nine players next month, should all of his AFCON-eligible stars be called up by their respective nations.

Wolves are battling for their Premier League future and could see five players head away for the festive period, while Crystal Palace, who have a busy schedule given their European commitments, could see four players jet out.

Nottingham Forest also have European football to juggle and could see three players depart, as will Manchester United, with summer signing Bryan Mbeumo among their trio of potential first-team absentees.

At the top of the table, champions Liverpool will have to make do without the talismanic Mohamed Salah, while Manchester City are likely to see Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri called up by Egypt and Algeria, respectively.

Nordi Mukiele has been brilliant for Sunderland

Nordi Mukiele is one of nine Sunderland players that could potentially be headed to Morocco (Image credit: Getty Images)

And while some teams will be bracing themselves for the loss of key players, there's a handful of sides at the top and the bottom who don't have to worry about losing any players.

Leaders Arsenal won't have any departures next month, nor will Chelsea. Leeds United's survival hopes will also be boosted by the fact they will not lose any key personnel for the crucial festive period.

Ghana are the biggest name to miss out on qualification for the tournament and that's good news for the likes of Bournemouth who will not be missing Antoine Semenyo, while Spurs don't have to worry about Mohammed Kudus taking a month out of their Premier League campaign. Brighton can also continue to call on Yankuba Minteh after Gambia failed to qualify, while Guinea-Bissau missing out is good news for Everton, as forward Beto will remain on Merseyside.

Joe Mewis

For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.

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