By Abigail David

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has emerged as the Premier League’s leading pre-season goalscorer, while Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis finished top of the assists chart ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Joao Pedro scored seven goals during Chelsea’s pre-season preparations, including a nine-minute hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers and braces against AC Milan and Real Sociedad.

Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo followed with five goals, while Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus and Crystal Palace’s Matheus Franca scored four each.

Several players recorded three goals, including Bournemouth’s Evanilson and Justin Kluivert, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, Crystal Palace’s Eddie Nketiah and Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo.

Tzolis tops assists chart

Tzolis provided six assists during Arsenal’s pre-season campaign. He also registered two assists in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City and earned a Fantasy assist after winning a penalty against Borussia Dortmund.

Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo finished second with five assists, while Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia recorded four.

Top pre-season goalscorers

Player	Goals	Club
Joao Pedro	7	Chelsea
Brian Madjo	5	Aston Villa
Matheus Franca	4	Crystal Palace
Igor Jesus	4	Nottingham Forest
Evanilson	3	Bournemouth
Justin Kluivert	3	Bournemouth
Igor Thiago	3	Brentford
Eddie Nketiah	3	Crystal Palace
Thierno Barry	3	Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	3	Leeds
Lukas Nmecha	3	Leeds
Bryan Mbeumo	3	Man United
Arnaud Kalimuendo	3	Nottingham Forest
Enzo Le Fee	3	Sunderland
Richarlison	3	Tottenham

Top pre-season assisters

Player	Assists	Club
Christos Tzolis	6	Arsenal
Antoine Semenyo	5	Man City
Emiliano Buendia	4	Aston Villa
Daniel Jebbison	3	Bournemouth
Jamie Gittens	3	Chelsea
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall	3	Everton
Morgan Gibbs-White	3	Nottingham Forest
Mathys Tel	3	Tottenham

The new Premier League season is scheduled to begin on August 21, with the pre-season figures providing an early indication of players who could make an impact.

By Abigail David

Premier League clubs have completed their final preparations for the 2026/27 season, with teams recording mixed results in their final summer friendlies.

Brentford produced the biggest win of the final round, thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 7-0, while Chelsea, Brighton, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest also ended pre-season with victories.

Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, while Manchester United suffered a 4-2 loss to AC Milan. Aston Villa also ended their preparations with a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Liverpool recorded a 2-0 victory over Como in one of their final pre-season matches, while Tottenham beat Hoffenheim 3-0 before a second meeting between the clubs ended 2-2.

Here is the club-by-club summary of the 2026/27 pre-season:

Arsenal

• MK Dons 0-3 Arsenal
• Arsenal 4-1 Girona
• Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
• Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
• Arsenal 1-1 Como (won on penalties)
• Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City (Community Shield)

Aston Villa

• Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa
• Porto 2-1 Aston Villa
• Aston Villa 2-4 Real Sociedad
• Indonesia All-Stars 1-3 Aston Villa
• BG Pathum United 1-3 Aston Villa
• Bayern Munich 2-1 Aston Villa
• PSG 2-1 Aston Villa (UEFA Super Cup)
• Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Aston Villa

Bournemouth

• St Pauli 1-4 Bournemouth
• Bournemouth 5-2 Augsburg
• Genoa 1-10 Bournemouth
• Real Betis 2-2 Bournemouth
• Mainz 2-1 Bournemouth

Brentford

• Brentford 3-2 AFC Wimbledon
• Brentford 4-1 Wycombe
• Rennes 1-2 Brentford
• Brentford 7-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

Brighton

• Brighton 4-1 Wycombe Wanderers
• Brighton 4-3 Strasbourg
• Brighton 3-0 Roma
• Brighton 1-0 Bologna

Chelsea

• Western Sydney Wanderers 4-6 Chelsea
• Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham
• Chelsea 0-1 Juventus
• Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan
• Johor Darul Ta’zim 3-3 Chelsea
• Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad

Coventry City

• Wimbledon 3-2 Coventry
• Northampton Town 0-0 Coventry
• Leicester 0-1 Coventry
• West Brom 1-1 Coventry
• Coventry 3-1 Espanyol
• Coventry 2-0 Monaco

Crystal Palace

• Crystal Palace 5-1 Swindon
• Bromley 3-0 Crystal Palace
• Famalicao 0-0 Crystal Palace
• Lens 3-0 Crystal Palace
• Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace
• Freiburg 3-0 Crystal Palace

Everton

• Dundee 0-4 Everton
• Bolton 0-0 Everton
• Stoke 1-0 Everton
• Hamburg 1-2 Everton
• Stuttgart 3-1 Everton
• Newcastle 1-3 Everton

Fulham

• Fulham 0-2 Norwich
• Al-Ahli 1-1 Fulham
• Farense 1-2 Fulham
• Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace
• Malaga 2-2 Fulham
• Fulham 1-0 Stuttgart

Hull City

• Konyaspor 0-3 Hull
• Caykur Rizespor 1-2 Hull
• Hull 1-1 Kasimpasa
• Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Hull
• Hull 0-0 Nice

Ipswich Town

• Ipswich 1-2 Osasuna
• Oxford United 0-2 Ipswich
• Wycombe 1-2 Ipswich
• Ipswich 1-0 Le Havre
• Ipswich 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
• Union Berlin 2-4 Ipswich

Leeds United

• Leeds 2-3 Wrexham
• Leeds 1-0 Sunderland
• Liverpool 2-4 Leeds
• Leeds 2-0 RB Leipzig
• Manchester United 1-1 Leeds

Liverpool

• Liverpool 4-2 Sunderland
• Liverpool 1-0 Wrexham
• Liverpool 2-4 Leeds
• Liverpool 2-3 Monaco
• Liverpool 0-0 Como
• Liverpool 2-0 Como

Manchester City

• Manchester City 1-1 Inter Milan
• K-League All-Stars 1-3 Manchester City
• Manchester City 3-1 Atletico Madrid
• Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City (Community Shield)

Manchester United

• Manchester United 0-1 Wrexham
• Rosenborg 0-5 Manchester United
• Manchester United 2-1 Atletico Madrid
• PSG 1-1 Manchester United
• Manchester United 1-1 Leeds
• Manchester United 2-4 AC Milan

Newcastle United

• Newcastle 3-0 Darlington
• Gateshead 1-1 Newcastle
• Newcastle 1-4 Bristol City
• Valencia 1-2 Newcastle
• Newcastle 1-3 Everton
• Newcastle 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
• Newcastle 1-1 Strasbourg

Nottingham Forest

• Notts County 0-2 Nottingham Forest
• Nottingham Forest 3-0 Blackburn
• Vitoria 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• Sporting 4-1 Nottingham Forest
• Portimonense 1-2 Nottingham Forest
• Udinese 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• Barcelona 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• Nottingham Forest 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
• Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brest

Sunderland

• York City 1-5 Sunderland
• Liverpool 4-2 Sunderland
• Sunderland 0-1 Leeds
• Sunderland 1-0 Wrexham
• Lens 4-1 Sunderland
• Lens 0-2 Sunderland
• Sunderland 2-1 Rennes

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham 1-0 MK Dons
• Auckland FC 0-2 Tottenham
• Tottenham 1-1 Sydney FC
• Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham
• Tottenham 1-1 Getafe
• Tottenham 3-0 Hoffenheim
• Tottenham 2-2 Hoffenheim

The new Premier League season is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 21, with defending champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City.

By Abigail David

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the political crisis in Rivers State prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara from pursuing a second term, blaming the situation on what he described as poor political advice and the influence of external interests.

Speaking during his monthly media chat aired on Tuesday, Wike said he repeatedly advised Fubara to preserve the political structure that supported his emergence as governor rather than distance himself from it.

The former Rivers State governor said he expected his successor to build on the foundation laid by his administration, adding that continuity would have benefited the state.

Wike also claimed that individuals who initially opposed Fubara’s governorship later became his close associates and encouraged him to challenge those who supported his rise to office.

According to the minister, the political fallout ultimately affected Fubara’s chances of seeking another term in office.

He disclosed that attempts were made to reconcile both camps but said political considerations prevented a lasting resolution.

Wike further alleged that some external interests sought to influence political developments in Rivers State for personal gain, accusing them of giving the governor advice that deepened the crisis.

Despite the disagreement, Wike said his support for Fubara at the time of his election reflected the confidence he had in him.

The political dispute between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023 and later escalated into a prolonged crisis involving the Rivers State House of Assembly. The conflict eventually drew federal intervention before political tensions eased.