Premier League newcomers to look out for during the 2021/22 season

Whether you're planning your Fantasy Football team or simply preparing yourself for the new season, figuring out which newcomers to keep an eye on is one of the most important parts of the summer.

The Premier League will see countless new faces in 2021/22, with some sealing transfers to the division and others coming up from the Championship with Norwich, Watford and Brentford. Regardless of how they got there, there are plenty who are looking to prove they deserve to stay.

Let's take a look at some of the best.


1. Milot Rashica

A one-time target for Liverpool, Milot Rashica will get his first taste of Premier League action with newcomers Norwich City.

Likely to line up on the right in place of the departed Emi Buendia, Rashica is a versatile forward who loves running at opponents and using both his movement and dribbling skills to burn defenders.

He could be very problematic on the counter and will fancy himself to bag more than a few goals for Daniel Farke's side.

2. Ibrahima Konate

At RB Leipzig, there was so much attention on Dayot Upamecano that Ibrahima Konate often flew under the radar, despite the fact some scouts feel as though he is the better player of the two.

Liverpool proved their faith in the towering centre-back with a £36m deal, bringing the man known as Ibou over to Anfield to rejuvenate their defence.

Konate was excellent in the Bundesliga and looks ready-made for life in the English top flight. He'll push Joe Gomez for regular minutes and there is a very good chance he will win the battle.

3. Romain Perraud

Playing for a struggling Brest side, Romain Perraud didn't always attract much attention, allowing him to blossom into one of Ligue 1's best full-backs without much pressure.

The Frenchman attacks with real aggression and knows how to convert that into goals, bagging three and adding seven assists for a side who only avoided a relegation play-off by one point.

He was punching well above his weight at Brest, and now Southampton will hope to give him a bigger platform to continue his exciting development.

4. Ivan Toney

Toney is a prolific goalscorer | Clive Rose/Getty Images

Ivan Toney is not the same player who managed ten minutes of action for Newcastle in 2015/16.

Now a prolific goalscorer, Toney has made a mockery of the Football League over the past few seasons. He bagged 31 goals in the Championship last year with Brentford - never has the division seen a better return.

He's not going to match that tally this year, but as far as out-and-out scorers go, Toney can hold his own against most. He's a Fantasy League gem.

5. Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo shone in his debut season in England | Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images

Toney's partner-in-crime, French winger Bryan Mbeumo, did his own share of plundering in the Championship to the tune of eight goals and 11 assists.

Identified in the same recruitment drive that has made Brentford so famous, Mbeumo is an intelligent winger who uses his brain to his advantage, passing at the right time and identifying the best space on the pitch.

Championship defenders couldn't match up to him, and Mbeumo will hope to have a similar impact in the Premier League.

6. Enock Mwepu

Mwepu has plenty of high-level experience | Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu was named 'The Computer' by Red Bull Salzburg fans for his intelligence and ability to read the game in midfield, and Brighton will hope to see a similar level of intelligence.

Speculatively compared to Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira in the past, Mwepu has already proved himself against top opposition. He shone in the Champions League against Liverpool in 2019's 4-3 thriller, passing quickly and pressing aggressively.

Mwepu is the definition of a modern midfielder, and the £18m Brighton paid to sign him could quickly start to look like a bargain.

7. Patson Daka

Another Zambian set to take the Premier League by storm, Patson Daka joins Leicester after succeeding in his job as Erling Haaland's successor in Salzburg.

A powerful, agile forward, Daka thumped home 27 goals in just 28 appearances in Austria last year, scoring at a greater rate than Haaland in his final six months at the club.

We all know what Haaland has done since leaving Salzburg, and Leicester will hope to see Daka reach the same heights.

8. Boubakary Soumare

Title-winning midfielders with sky-high potential aren't usually available for £17m, so you can see why Leicester jumped at the chance to bring Boubakary Soumare over from Lille.

Frequently compared to Paul Pogba for his frame and technical quality, Foxes fans can expect to see Soumare operating as a box-to-box midfielder, cleaning up at the back before charging forward with unstoppable strength.

Hailed for both his possession recovery and ability to turn things around with quick passes, Soumare could easily triple his value with a good season in the Premier League.

9. David Raya

Raya has shone for Brentford | Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Arsenal made a big fuss about trying to sign Brentford's David Raya last summer, and now fans will get the chance to see why.

A goalkeeper in the mould of Man City's Ederson, Raya prides himself on his passing and distribution. He's at his best with the ball at his feet and isn't afraid to rush out of goal to get it.

A common criticism of Raya is his frame, which isn't the biggest for a goalkeeper, but he does more than enough to make up for that.

10. Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace have taken a big risk by shelling out £18m for centre-back Marc Guehi.

He's yet to prove himself in the top flight, but was very highly rated at Chelsea and justified that potential out on loan with Swansea last season, establishing himself as one of the league's best young defenders.

As is the case with these players, it's all about whether they can adjust to life in the Premier League. If Guehi settles in quickly, he could prove to be a monstrous addition to Palace's back line.

11. Michael Olise

A lot of what was said about Guehi applies to former Reading starlet Michael Olise.

Coincidentally a product of the Chelsea academy as well, Olise dazzled in the Championship last year in the same fashion as current Palace favourite Ebere Eze did in 2019/20. Seven goals and 12 assists from midfield is no mean feat.

Still only 19, Olise is bursting with both quality and potential. He's only just getting started.

12. Emmanuel Dennis

Dennis is looking to restart his career | Lars Baron/Getty Images

If Emmanuel Dennis' name rings a bell to you, it's likely because he's the guy who put two past Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu back in 2019.

Still just 23 years old, Dennis is an exciting forward who only cares about scoring goals and beating defenders with his agility. He brings the kind of play style that should get Watford fans off their seats.

His career slowed down somewhat after that night at the Bernabeu, but if he settles quickly, he could easily take the Premier League by storm.


Source : 90min