A season of regression at Arsenal, the Anglo-Ghanaian youngster was underused by Mikel Arteta, starting just four league games and netting just two Premier League goals.
He needs a move away—Leeds United are reportedly keen—to reignite his career.
#2 Jean-Philippe Mateta
Netted seven in 15 during the first part of the season with Mainz, but failed to replicate this form on loan at Crystal Palace, struggled to unseat Christian Benteke and didn’t do enough to make his move permanent.
At least he did score one of the goals of the season with a magical backheel against Brighton & Hove Albion.
#3 Christian Kouame
Fiorentina looked to have pulled off a canny move when they signed Kouame from Genoa, even knowing that he would be on the long-term injury list after damaging his ACL at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, fit again this term, he struggled to return to his best, and netted just once for the Viola across 33 league outings (as many as he managed for them in seven outings the season before).
#4 Jordan Ayew
Sticking with Palace, Ayew took his name to new heights last term with nine Prem goals—the best of his career—but scored just once all term for the Eagles this season.
It simply isn’t good enough for a player who, at 29, should be in his prime.
#5 Kwadwo Asamoah
Made just nine appearances (only one start) for Cagliari after joining on a short-term deal from Internazionale in February, and has a job to do to prove he’s not finished at this level.
#6 Moussa Djenepo
One goal involvement all season was much less than was expected as Djenepo appeared to suffer second-season syndrome.
Fenerbahce could save him from his Southampton misery.
#7 Christian Atsu
An absolutely disastrous year for Atsu; the wideman was sidelined all season by Newcastle United, and has been allowed to leave the club as his contract comes to an end.
It’s now time for him to salvage what’s still left of his career.
#8 Majeed Waris
Another Ghana star who, at 29, should be in his prime, Waris managed just one goal all season for Strasbourg—even fewer than he managed during a miserable 2019-20.
Muscle injuries doubtless played their part in the Black Star’s struggles.
#9 Percy Tau
Arrived at parent club Brighton midway through the campaign as Brexit rules changed the work permit regulations, but didn’t live up to the hype.
The Seagulls survived the drop, but Tau managed just 102 minutes across three Prem appearances and it remains to be seen if he still has a future on the south coast.
#10 Eric Bailly
More fitness issues, more unconvincing displays, defeat in the Europa League final…but at least Bailly got a new contract at Manchester United.
#11 Faouzi Ghoulam
Still just 30, but Ghoulam is a shadow of his former self, with injuries ravaging his progress in recent years.
Once Africa’s pre-eminent left-back, he ruptured his ACL in March, having managed just three starts for Napoli all season.
#12 Daniel Amartey
An FA Cup winner, but Amartey’s main contribution to Leicester City’s season was courting controversy when he was seen throwing away Chelsea’s pennant in a disrespectful act in the aftermath of that final success.
He remains a peripheral figure at Leicester, having played just 722 out of over 3420 possible minutes of Premier League action.
#13 Amadou Diawara
Only seven league starts all season, and now reportedly being considered as a makeweight in deal to take Granit Xhaka to AS Roma.
#14 Alex Iwobi
Despite optimism that Iwobi would turn the corner under Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, he still remains far short of the player the Toffees surely hoped they were signing when they parted with an initial £28 million to sign him from Arsenal.
Three goal involvements all season, while better than last term, is still nowhere near good enough.
#15 Jean Seri
2020-21 should have been the bounce-back season for Jean Seri, as he returned to French football with Girondins de Bordeaux, hoping to put the misery of his Fulham spell behind him.
Ultimately, he failed to rediscover the form he showed at OGC Nice, with the talent that once tempted Barcelona largely absent as he failed to register an assist in any of his 10 appearances.
#16 Naby Keita
Every season we hope Keita will finally deliver on his promise at Anfield, but he seems to be moving further away from the player who lit up the Bundesliga with RasenBallsport Leipzig.
Made just 10 league appearances out of a possible 38 for Liverpool, starting just seven.
#17 Mohammed Salisu
Encouraging signs from Salisu during the final months of the season, but the Ghanaian was made to wait until February to make his Southampton debut after moving from Spanish football.
He was involved in some poor defensive displays—5-2 against Manchester City, 3-0 against West Ham United—but did have to adapt to an unfamiliar left-back role at times.
#18 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Moments of excellence, again, and he did end the season with 10 league goals, but this was Aubameyang’s worst year in a decade.
He appeared to suffer a lull in form after signing a new contract with Arsenal, and then endured a disjointed first-half of 2021 as he stepped away to attend to his sick mother.
Terminal decline, or just a season to forget?
#19 Isaac Success
Part of the Watford team that were promoted to the top flight, but Success played a minimal role in that triumph.
He scored just once, having started just three of his 10 outings.
#20 Jean-Philippe Gbamin
His return to action following a long-term injury nightmare was celebrated, but Gbamin’s comeback ultimately lasted only 11 minutes as he was once again ruled out with another long-term injury.
The Ivory Coast international made just one appearance for Everton all term.
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