Eight standout performers from seven different clubs headline the first Player of the Month shortlist of the campaign, while four tacticians are in the running for the Manager of the Month prize after guiding their sides to impressive early-season form.

Player of the Month Nominees – August 2025

• • Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) – Arsenal’s summer recruit has settled quickly at left back, balancing his defensive duties with attacking intent. He registered one goal, two assists, and two clean sheets in just three games.
  • Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool) – The striker made a flying start, scoring two goals and one assist in his first three league outings, reminding new signing Alexander Isak that competition for places is fierce.
  • Jack Grealish (Everton) – Back on the shortlist after joining Everton on loan from Manchester City, Grealish delivered four assists in three matches, quickly becoming the creative hub of the Toffees’ attack.
  • Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) – Despite summer transfer speculation, Palace’s captain produced a calm, commanding month. He oversaw two clean sheets in away games and added a spectacular long-range strike against Aston Villa.
  • Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – Last year’s August winner is back in contention after firing three goals in three games, keeping City afloat during a mixed start to their title defence.
  • João Pedro (Chelsea) – The Brazilian midfielder was instrumental in Chelsea’s strong start, matching Grealish’s numbers with two goals and two assists across the month, including a dominant display against West Ham.
  • Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) – After a turbulent opening-day incident involving racist abuse allegations, Semenyo answered on the pitch with two goals against Liverpool and another assist against Wolves.
  • Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) – The Hungarian playmaker capped his August with one of the moments of the month: a stunning free-kick winner against Arsenal, adding sparkle to Liverpool’s unbeaten run.

 

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Manager of the Month Nominees – August 2025

• • • Régis Le Bris (Sunderland) – Back in the Premier League, Sunderland impressed with two wins from three matches. Le Bris’ ability to integrate new signings has been crucial, with Wilson Isidor’s brace off the bench providing a highlight.
    • Enzo Maresca (Chelsea) – Fresh from their Club World Cup triumph, Maresca’s Chelsea remain unbeaten. After a slow opener against Palace, the Blues rallied with statement wins over West Ham and Fulham to climb to second.
    • David Moyes (Everton) – Under pressure to deliver, Moyes has overseen a rejuvenated Everton side inspired by Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye. Two wins in three have lifted the mood around Goodison Park.
    • Arne Slot (Liverpool) – Slot’s Reds are the only side with a perfect record, sitting top of the table as the league’s leading scorers. Wins over Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Arsenal ensured momentum even before Isak’s arrival.

 

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The winners of both awards will be announced ahead of September’s Premier League fixtures.

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Afrobeats artist Odumodublvck has laid out a clear plan for Arsenal’s path to Premier League glory, identifying four crucial positions that require reinforcement.

As the 2024/25 Premier League season approaches, Arsenal is gearing up to finally claim the title that has eluded them for two consecutive seasons.

In an exclusive interview with ESPN Africa, Odumodublvck shared his expert analysis, pinpointing the signings that can propel Arsenal to the top.

Firstly, Odumodublvck highlights the need for a top-class left back, suggesting Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo as the ideal fit.

Despite the recent signing of Riccardo Calafiori and the presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber, the artiste believes Cancelo’s skills would be a significant upgrade.

Secondly, Odumodublvck advocates for the addition of a left winger to support or upgrade Gabriel Martinelli, who has held down the position for four years. His preferred signing is Rafael Leao, whose €175 million release clause expired on July 15.

Thirdly, the Afrobeats star emphasizes the need for a prolific striker, citing Gabriel Jesus‘ fitness issues as a major concern.

While Arsenal has relied on goals from various sources, a consistent, high-scoring striker is essential for a title-winning campaign.

Lastly, Odumodublvck recommends strengthening the center midfield position with a defensive cover, allowing Declan Rice to utilize his box-to-box skills.

He suggests Frenkie De Jong as the ideal signing, despite the team already having Thomas Partey and Jorginho.

Additionally, Odumodublvck has previously praised Declan Rice, naming him England’s most important player ahead of Harry Kane. With these reinforcements, Arsenal may finally have the firepower to claim the Premier League title.

 

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Arsenal have confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The Bologna star joins the Gunners ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign and is expected to become a vital part of Mikel Arteta’s backline as the club aims to end their 20-year wait for Premier League silverware. Calafiori will wear the number 33 shirt at the Emirates Stadium.

Calafiori enjoyed an excellent campaign in Serie A, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League, and gained real attention after impressing on the international stage with Italy at Euro 2024.

Reports reveal that Arsenal agreed to a deal with Bologna to sign Calafiori for a fee of €40 million, with €5 million in add-ons. Negotiations were complex, as former club Basel held a 50% sell-on clause, necessitating a profit split between the two sides.

Bolstering the backline ✍️ pic.twitter.com/PaURTwJbci

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2024

Calafiori has signed a five-year deal with the Gunners and joins an impressive list of Arsenal defenders. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes already established as the team’s first-choice centre-back partnership, Calafiori’s ability to play both in the middle and at left-back aligns with Arteta’s preference for using inverted full-backs.

The talented player has also shown an ability to step into midfield, advancing with the ball to open up pockets of space.

Manager Mikel Arteta commented, “We welcome Riccardo and his family to Arsenal. He is a great signing and gives us huge strength to reinforce our defence. Riccardo is a big personality and character, with specific skills that will make us stronger as we push to win major trophies.

He has already shown great development in recent seasons with his performances for both Bologna and Italy, with his progression and development in the past year being really impressive. We’re looking forward to working with Riccardo, integrating him into the squad, and supporting him in the years to come.”

Making us stronger 💪

All the lowdown on our Riccardo Calafiori signing 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2024

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Arsenal have “all agreements in place” to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, with a £42 million ($55m) deal now close to completion.

According to The Athletic, everything is in place for the 22-year-old to move to the Gunners, with other reports suggesting a fee of £42 million ($54.3m) has already been agreed. The report adds he must still undergo medical checks, but if all those hurdles are overcome, the centre-back will link up with Mikel Arteta’s men for their pre-season tour in the United States.

Calafiori has become one of the best young centre-backs in Europe thanks to his form for Bologna and Italy. The defender, who can also play at left-back, would be Arsenal’s second signing of the summer after goalkeeper David Raya joined permanently following a season-long loan last term. This move signals Arsenal’s intent to challenge for their first Premier League title since 2004.

The report adds that Calafiori’s former side, FC Basel, are entitled to a sell-on clause in the region of 40-50 percent, which they negotiated following his move to Bologna in 2023. The 6ft 2in defender was also linked with Premier League rivals Liverpool but is set to join Arsenal.

When Calafiori, who began his career at Roma and worked under Jose Mourinho for a time, officially joins the Gunners, he could feature in their pre-season schedule. This includes games against Manchester United and Liverpool on July 27 and 31, respectively.

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