Six years ago Liverpool were heading into the new Premier League season as defending champions after African superstars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane had fired the Reds to a first title in three decades. Mane's time at Anfield ended in 2022 and now the reign of Egyptian King Salah has also drawn to a close following his move to Trabzonspor in Turkey. Salah's stats during his nine Premier League seasons with Liverpool are astonishing: 308 games, 191 goals and 93 assists.
The 34-year-old departed Merseyside as the fourth-highest scorer in the competition's history. BBC Sport Africa looks at some of those vying to take Salah's place as the continent's star name in the biggest league in the world. The leading candidate, Semenyo's rise to the top has been remarkable - not least because he has certainly done it the hard way.
The Ghana forward was rejected by Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace as a teenager and did not make his Premier League debut until February 2023. Three years later, Manchester City decided his energy, power and eye for goal made him worth £65m. A player who takes his Christian faith seriously, City and Ghana fans will hope Semenyo's move to a Premier League giant will see him start to rival Salah's numbers.
The 26-year-old enjoyed his best league season in terms of goals last time out, finding the net 17 times, even if that tally left him a fair way behind team-mate Erling Haaland and Brentford's Igor Thiago. If he can continue his seemingly inexorable improvement, this season could see Semenyo become one of football's biggest names. From non-league to the World Cup - the Semenyo story If there truly is to be a new 'Egyptian King', Marmoush is the only possible heir.
The problem is this Pharaoh has spent most of his time playing second fiddle to top viking Haaland. The 27-year-old has made 22 Premier League starts in the season and a half since his move from Frankfurt and found the net only three times in the league in 2025-26. Marmoush scored a double against Atletico Madrid in his first pre-season outing, taking a chance to impress new Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca.
However, his chance to shine could come away from Etihad Stadium - with Tottenham in talks to sign him. Now firmly established as one of the Premier League's best forwards, the Cameroonian racked up a combined 27 goal involvements in his final league season for Brentford before moving to Manchester United for £65m. Mbeumo, 27, only managed 14 goal involvements in his first Premier League campaign at Old Trafford, but he finished strongly after returning from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) as United regained some of their old swagger under Michael Carrick.
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