On Sunday, the 2022–23 Premier League season came to an end with Manchester City claiming its third straight league championship. Guardiola’s team was closely contested by Arsenal, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur had a disastrous campaign.
Several players’ final campaigns with their respective clubs ended this year, including:
Richard Firmino
For Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who went on to win everything up for grabs, Roberto Firmino was a regular. The Brazilian forward served as the focal point of Liverpool’s lethal front three, assisting Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah in excelling as goal scorers.
Firmino was the epitome of a team player, taking the initiative to direct Klopp’s relentless pressing unit while netting some magnificent goals. In 256 games, the 31-year-old scored 82 goals for Liverpool.
James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club with Firmino.
Xhaka, Granit
Following the English Premier League game between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Granit Xhaka enjoys a celebration with his family. Image Source: Kin Cheung
Another notable Premier League departure is Granit Xhaka, a staple in the middle for Arsenal. Xhaka would play 297 times for the team following his 2016 transfer to the Gunners.
Prior to the 2019–20 season, the Switzerland international was appointed club captain. However, following an altercation with the club supporters, he was promptly relieved of his duties.
After the incident, Xhaka would recover and reestablish himself on the team. He played regularly for Mikel Arteta’s team that competed with City for the league title this season, and he finished his time at Arsenal by scoring a brace in his final game for the club.
Brighton’s extraordinary 2022–23 campaign under Alexis Mac Allister saw them finish in qualification for the Europa League, the first time it has entered a European tournament.
Alsix Mac Allister, an Argentine midfielder, was one of its many talented and promising young players. The 24-year-old, who won the World Cup in the winter, was the center of the midfield for Brighton, which outperformed the majority of its league rivals.
However, as Mac Allister’s fame grew, Brighton were unable to retain the prodigious talent, and manager Roberto de Zerbi announced his departure before the team’s final game of the season.
Caicedo, Moises
It still comes as a surprise that Brighton was able to keep Moises Caicedo despite a hectic winter transfer window that saw Liverpool and Arsenal hounding the Ecuadorian midfielder.
Caicedo, a defensive midfielder with the versatility to play in both defense and offense, has established himself as one of the league’s top players in his positions.
The 21-year-old is the perfect addition for several top teams wanting to upgrade their midfields because of his composure on the ball and defensive grit. Prior to the season’s conclusion, Brighton also announced his departure.
Additional possible departures
Although nothing has been officially confirmed, it is very possible that a number of players from the three relegated clubs—Leeds United, Leicester, and Southampton—will leave.
James Madisson, Youri Tielemans, and James Ward Prowse, the captain of the Saints, are all midfielders who would be at home in most top-flight squads.
Similarly, a number of Premier League teams are believed to be interested in Leeds forward Rodrigo and Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho.
