The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will kick off on December 21, with several Premier League players set to leave their clubs mid-season to represent their countries, MySportDab Reports.
The tournament runs until January 18, 2026, meaning affected clubs could be without key personnel for up to six league matches, depending on how far each nation progresses.
FIFA has confirmed that clubs are permitted to retain players until December 15 before releasing them for international duty, slightly easing the immediate disruption to domestic schedules.
Even so, the impact across the Premier League will be uneven, with some sides losing multiple starters while others remain unaffected.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds United and Newcastle United are among the clubs untouched by AFCON this winter, with no first-team players selected. Liverpool, however, will be without talisman Mohamed Salah, who has been named in Egypt’s squad, while Manchester City are set to lose Omar Marmoush (Egypt) and Rayan Aït-Nouri, expected to represent Algeria.
Manchester United face a notable blow, with Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) all called up.
Everton will also be hit, as Senegal regulars Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye prepare to link up with the reigning African champions.
Fulham are set to lose three Nigerian internationals, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, while Brentford could be without Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) and Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso).
Aston Villa winger Evann Guessand is expected to feature for Ivory Coast, and Bournemouth will release Amine Adli to hosts Morocco.
Sunderland appear the most affected club, with up to five first-team players named across various squads, including Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki for DR Congo, Reinildo Mandava for Mozambique, and Bertrand Traore for Burkina Faso.
Nottingham Forest will lose Ivory Coast duo Ibrahim Sangaré and Willy Boly, while West Ham are set to miss Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal).
With injuries ruling out some expected call-ups and others failing to make final squads, managers will closely monitor developments. As AFCON returns in mid-season, Premier League clubs must once again adapt to life without key African stars during a crucial phase of the campaign.
