Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has picked former Chelsea Football Club midfielder Michael Essien as the greatest Ghanaian player in the history of the English Premier League.
He picked Essien ahead of Asamoah Gyan on his list despite having great reverence for the former Sunderland striker.
Semenyo made this pick during an interview with Bleacher Report that had his knowledge on Ghanaians in the English Premier League tested.
He also revealed that his father played with former Black Stars and Leeds United striker Tony Yeboah at a point in his club career. Yeboah is the first Ghanaian player to score in the English Premier League but on the subject of the greatest Ghanaian player in the history of the Premier League, Semenyo picked Essien stating,
“Has to be Michael Essien. I want to say Asamoah Gyan; just what’s he done at Sunderland but yeah Michael Essien, he’s the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)”.

Essien won the EPL title twice during his nine year stay at Chelsea; he also won the UEFA Champions League and four FA Cup titles while at Chelsea.

Semenyo is in the middle of his second full season competing in the EPL after joining AFC Bournemouth from Bristol City during the January transfer window of the 2022-2023 season.

He has seven goals and four assists in 26 games at the time of writing. Scroll down to watch Semenyo’s interview.
England or Ghana—Antoine Semenyo takes his picks 🏴🇬🇭
(w/ @milesxaddy) pic.twitter.com/RJW7I4DHbV
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 7, 2025