Antoine Semenyo has become the first Ghanaian footballer to be named in the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year.
The recognition completes an outstanding 2025/26 campaign for the 26-year-old forward, who established himself as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous attacking players.
Semenyo’s selection is especially significant because the PFA Team of the Year is voted for by professional footballers. His inclusion represents acknowledgement from the players who faced him throughout the season and saw his performances at the highest level of English football.
The Ghana international began the campaign with Bournemouth before joining Manchester City in a high-profile move during the January transfer window. Despite switching clubs midway through the season, he continued to produce consistently and remained a major threat in front of goal.
He scored 17 Premier League goals and provided four assists across his time with Bournemouth and Manchester City the most productive top-flight season of his career.
Semenyo’s form for Bournemouth helped attract interest from several of England’s leading clubs. His pace, physical strength, direct style of running and ability to play on either wing made him a difficult opponent for Premier League defences.
At Manchester City, he quickly showed that he could make an impact on an even bigger stage. The club also highlighted his performances in important matches, including his decisive contribution to the 2026 FA Cup final. Semenyo’s remarkable back-flick helped City secure a 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
By the end of the campaign, he had scored 21 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City and supplied six assists, according to the club.
His place in the PFA Team of the Year adds to a series of individual achievements during a season in which he made significant progress in his career. Semenyo was named the PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month for September 2025 and was also nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award.
Although he did not win the overall PFA Players’ Player of the Year prize, his selection in the team represents a landmark moment for Ghanaian football.
Ghanaian players have made a major contribution to the Premier League over the years. Tony Yeboah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andre Ayew are among those who have left their mark on English football.
However, none had previously been selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. Semenyo has now become the first Ghanaian to achieve that distinction.
He is included alongside some of the leading names in the English game in the 2025/26 team, which features several players from Arsenal and Manchester City. Semenyo represents City alongside Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly.
The honour reflects the progress Semenyo has made since the early stages of his professional career. His move from Bournemouth to Manchester City, coupled with his goalscoring form and record-breaking PFA recognition, marks a significant milestone.
For Ghana, his achievement offers another reason to celebrate the growing influence of the Black Stars on the international football stage. Semenyo has developed into a high-level Premier League attacker and is now recognised among the competition’s best performers.
His name will be permanently linked with a piece of Ghanaian Premier League history: becoming the first footballer from the country to be included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
