Antoine Semenyo Makes History as First Ghanaian Named in PFA Premier League Team of the Year
The selection was announced at the 2026 PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on August 25, with the Team of the Year chosen by fellow professional footballers. The PFA's official list places Semenyo alongside some of the Premier League's leading performers, including Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice and William Saliba.
Semenyo's inclusion represents a landmark achievement for Ghanaian football, with Ghanaian sports media reporting that no Ghanaian had previously been selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Standout Premier League campaign
The 26-year-old forward enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most productive attacking players.
Semenyo scored 17 Premier League goals during the season, combining his performances for Bournemouth with his second-half campaign at Manchester City. His tally made him the highest-scoring Ghanaian in a single Premier League season, according to reports on his record-breaking campaign.
His form also earned him recognition during the season, including a place among the leading candidates for the Premier League's individual Player of the Season award.
Recognition from fellow professionals
What makes the PFA Team of the Year particularly significant is the voting process.
The PFA states that its awards are selected by professional footballers, with players voting for fellow players within their respective leagues.
Semenyo's selection therefore represents recognition from the players who competed against him throughout the Premier League season.
The Ghanaian was selected as one of three forwards in the final XI alongside Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Brentford's Igor Thiago.
A historic moment for Ghana
Semenyo's achievement adds another milestone to Ghana's long association with English football.
The forward has developed into an important figure for the Black Stars while continuing to establish himself at the highest level of club football in England.
His inclusion in the PFA's best XI places him among the players judged by their peers to have delivered the strongest performances in the Premier League during the 2025/26 season.
For Ghanaian football, it is a significant achievement and another indication of Semenyo's rapid rise among the Premier League's elite.
Antoine Semenyo's PFA Premier League Team of the Year selection is not only a personal achievement but a historic first for Ghanaian football.