The 2026/27 Premier League season has produced only two rounds of fixtures, and already the race for the Premier League Player of the Month August 2026 award is loaded with fireworks. Eight players. Seven different clubs. One EA SPORTS trophy on the line. If this is what August looks like, buckle up for the rest of the campaign.
The shortlist is stacked: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Mamadou Sangare (Brentford), Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City), and Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United). The winner is decided by a combination of a public fan vote, an expert panel, and Premier League captains. Let’s get into why each name belongs on this list.
Bruno Fernandes: The Headline Grabber
There is a strong case that this award is already decided. Fernandes inspired Manchester United to their first league win of the season with a stunning hat-trick and an assist in a 5-2 demolition of Ipswich Town. That kind of individual explosion, combined with his captaincy influence, makes him arguably the standout candidate on the entire list.
Riccardo Calafiori: The Marauding Menace
Arsenal built their perfect start on defensive solidity, and Calafiori was central to it, helping the Gunners to two clean sheets. But his real value came going forward: two assists in as many appearances and a goal in the Community Shield win over Manchester City. A left back doing a winger’s job.
Rayan Cherki and the New Manchester City
Cherki has been one of the most eye-catching newcomers to the league, contributing directly to City’s perfect start under new boss Enzo Maresca. With City finishing August top of the table, Cherki’s creative spark deserves plenty of the credit.
Chelsea’s Double Threat: Palmer and Joao Pedro
Chelsea are the only club with two nominees, a reflection of the electric start under new manager Xabi Alonso. Cole Palmer has picked up right where he left off, while Joao Pedro has continued to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Together, they embody why Chelsea have suddenly become must-watch television again.
The Underdogs: Sangare, Tzolakis and Wissa
This is where August gets fun. Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare has quietly stolen headlines with his performances.
Hull City goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, a club-record signing, kept two clean sheets in his opening matches, including a heroic shutout against Manchester United despite facing 21 shots.
And Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa has hit the ground running under new manager Matthias Jaissle, contributing a goal and an assist across his first two league appearances, including a crucial strike in a 2-0 win at Tottenham.
Who Takes It Home?
On raw output, Fernandes is the man to beat. A hat-trick in a statement win is the kind of moment that voters remember. But do not discount Tzolakis. A goalkeeper carrying a newly promoted side to an unbeaten start is precisely the underdog narrative that captures public votes.
Whoever lifts the August 2026 Player of the Month award, this shortlist proves one thing beyond doubt: the 2026/27 Premier League season is already must-watch football, and it has barely even started.
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