Ghana had nine players in the recently concluded Premier League season, and their performances varied. While one player came close to winning the title, the majority ended up in the bottom half, with three being relegated at the end of the thrilling campaign.
With the season concluding over the weekend and Manchester City crowned champions for the third consecutive time, we assess how each player fared.
Thomas Partey – Arsenal
Undoubtedly his best season since joining Arsenal in a €50 million move from Atletico Madrid in 2020. Partey stood out as Arsenal’s top player for most of the season, playing a pivotal role as the Gunners made an unexpected bid for the Premier League title. He delivered standout performances, including a sensational goal against Tottenham in the North London derby and a brilliant strike against Nottingham Forest. His form even drew comparisons to Brazil star Casemiro, with some considering Partey superior to the five-time champions winner. This demonstrates the exceptional form exhibited by the Ghanaian midfielder.
However, he experienced a dip in form during a crucial phase of the season, coinciding with Arsenal losing their lead at the top and ultimately conceding the title to Manchester City. Partey made 33 appearances, contributing three goals, surpassing his previous record of two goals in the previous two seasons. He finished the season as the highest-rated Ghanaian player according to Whoscored, with a rating of 7.06, placing him 25th among all players, thanks to his 88% passing accuracy.
Jordan Ayew – Crystal Palace
The striker is often judged by his goal tally, but his contributions go beyond scoring. Ayew netted four goals this season, with the majority coming towards the end of the campaign. In the first half of the season, he struggled to find the back of the net but compensated with his work rate. He constantly demonstrated energy, tracking back, and assisting in defence, which earned appreciation from his managers Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson.
Ayew showcased his versatility by playing in multiple positions, including right-wing, left-wing, and attacking midfield. It’s no surprise that he featured in all 38 games this season. Ayew had an average of 0.13 goals per 90 minutes, ranking him 153rd out of 442 players who played at least three matches. His four goals placed him fourth in Crystal Palace’s Top Scorers list.
Jeffrey Schlupp – Crystal Palace
Another versatile player who had a good season, contributing to Crystal Palace’s late surge that secured their league status and saw them finish ahead of Chelsea for the first time in Premier League history. Schlupp appeared in 34 matches, accumulating a total of 2546 minutes on the pitch. He provided an average of 0.04 assists and scored three goals, ranking him fifth in Crystal Palace’s top scorers’ list. Despite being overlooked for the World Cup squad, a perplexing decision, he performed admirably on the field, and there are expectations that he could be called up by Chris Hughton for the upcoming qualifiers against Madagascar.
Kamaldeen Sulemana – Southampton
In his debut Premier League season, the young player predictably struggled, with his standout moment arriving on the final day when he scored a remarkable brace against Liverpool. Sulemana joined Southampton for a club-record fee in January but failed to prevent their relegation from the top flight. While he may be disappointed with how the season unfolded, his performance against Liverpool provides substantial encouragement for his future. Considering his high wages, he may consider leaving Southampton as they move to the Championship, possibly attracting interest from Championship clubs. He concluded the season as Southampton’s eighth-highest scorer, with an average of 0.09 assists per game.
Mohammed Salisu – Southampton
It was a forgettable season for Salisu, as he struggled with injuries and failed to make a significant impact for his side, who will be playing in the Championship next season. Despite being a talented defender, Salisu managed 1972 minutes on the pitch. He is expected to leave Southampton and could potentially find a place in several top-flight clubs in Europe.
Daniel Amartey – Leicester City
The centre-back endured a difficult season, coinciding with Leicester City’s disappointing campaign that led to their relegation. Although Whoscored rated him 6.53, which is a decent score, more was expected from him as one of the experienced defenders in the squad. Amartey found himself benched for the final eight games, and there are reports suggesting that he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
Tariq Lamptey – Brighton & Hove Albion
Lamptey, another player who struggled with injuries, began the season impressively but played sparingly after the World Cup. However, in his absence, Brighton, led by Roberto De Zerbi, achieved a historic qualification for the Europa League. Lamptey remains optimistic and has promised to return stronger for the next season’s campaign, which will include European travels. He played only 443 minutes across 20 appearances.
Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth
Semenyo joined Bournemouth in January and took some time to adapt to his new team. Once he settled, he displayed flashes of brilliance, scoring his first goal against Leeds United in late April. Unfortunately, a shin injury prematurely ended his season. Semenyo can be proud of the glimpses of quality he showed to the Bournemouth supporters before his setback. He played a total of 250 minutes, the lowest among the Ghanaian contingent in the league.
Andre Ayew – Nottingham Forest
It wasn’t one of Ayew’s best seasons, but he can find solace in the fact that Nottingham Forest managed to avoid relegation. Ayew struggled for minutes, as other attackers were preferred over him. He made 13 appearances, amounting to 305 minutes, and missed a penalty that would have been his only goal of the season. Nevertheless, a noteworthy milestone for Ayew was reaching 100 Premier League appearances, for which he received a plaque and congratulations from all. While his current six-month deal expires in June, reports suggest that Forest want to retain him and might offer him another contract.
