Antoine Semenyo has written his name into Premier League history after becoming the first player from Ghana to receive a nomination for the league’s Player of the Season award.
The forward earned recognition following a sensational 2025-26 season, during which he scored 16 times and contributed four assists across 35 league matches for AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City.
Semenyo enjoyed an excellent first half of the campaign with Bournemouth before sealing a mid-season switch to Manchester City in January. Since joining the reigning champions, the Black Stars attacker has adapted quickly and become an important figure in Pep Guardiola’s side.
His performances during February further highlighted his influence after he delivered three goals and an assist in just five league outings, a run that earned him the Premier League’s monthly award.
The nomination places Semenyo in a unique position among Ghanaian footballers, with no player from the West African nation ever making the final shortlist for the honour since the award was introduced more than three decades ago.
Over the years, Ghana has produced several outstanding Premier League talents who made major impacts in England’s top flight. However, despite the achievements of stars such as Michael Essien, Andrew Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan and Thomas Partey, none managed to break into the final Player of the Season nominations before Semenyo.
The 26-year-old now finds himself competing alongside some of the division’s biggest names, including Morgan Gibbs White, Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Igor Thiago and Declan Rice, as he chases one of English football’s highest individual honours.