Saka the ONLY Premier League player to make Kopa Trophy shortlist

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is the ONLY Premier League player to make Kopa Trophy shortlist… with England team-mate Jude Bellingham among 10 nominees vying to be crowned world’s best U21 player at Ballon d’Or awards

  • Bukayo Saka is the only Premier League player to make the Kopa Trophy shortlist 
  • The England winger enjoyed a terrific campaign with Arsenal last season 
  • His national team-mate Jude Bellingham is also included in the ten-man list 
  • He faces competition from Eduardo Camavinga, Gavi and Ryan Gravenberch

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is the only Premier League player to make the ten-man Kopa Trophy shortlist at the Ballon d’Or awards.

Saka’a England team-mate Jude Bellingham is also among the nominees vying to be crowned the world’s best U21 player.

Karim Adeyemi, Eduardo Camavinga, Gavi, Ryan Gravenberch, Nuno Mendes, Jamal Musaila, Josko Gvardiol and Florian Wirtz round off the list. 

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is the only Premier League player to make the Kopa Trophy shortlist

His England team-mate Jude Bellingham is one of the other nine nominees up for the award

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Gavi (Barcelona), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Jamal Musaila (Bayern Munich), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Florian Wirtz (Bayern Leverkusen) 

The Arsenal winger enjoyed a stellar campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side last year – contributing 11 goals and seven assists as the Gunners secured a 5th placed finish.

Saka has become an integral part of Arteta’s team since breaking into the first team in 2019 – going on to score 23 goals in 123 appearances so far.

The 20-year-old picked up Arsenal’s Player of the Season award for 2021-22 and is hoping to pick up another individual accolade this evening. 

Despite his success, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga seems most likely to claim the award having played a crucial role in Los Blancos’ Champions League success last year. 

The 20-year-old recorded 11 goals and seven assists in last year’s Premier League campaign

As well as the Kopa Trophy, shortlists for the the Yacine Trophy and the Women’s Balon d’Or have also been announced.

The Yacine Trophy shortlist includes Yassine Bounou, Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Ederson, Mike Maignan, Edouard Mendy, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak, Kevin Trapp and Hugo Lloris.

The Women’s Balon d’Or shortlist includes Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmatí, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead, Asisat Oshoala, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman and Ada Hegerberg.

Arsenal are also represented through Beth Mead who is nominated for the Women’s Balon d’Or




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