The Premier League season is set to commence in just 30 days, but clubs are facing varied levels of disruption due to the extensive minutes their players accumulated during the recent World Cup. Statistics show that Manchester City's squad members spent the most time on the pitch during the tournament, accumulating 5555 minutes. Arsenal followed closely, with their players logging 4734 minutes.
This increased player workload can affect pre-season preparations, as many international stars return to their clubs with limited holiday time. Some players may not rejoin their teams until just 11 days before the Premier League curtain raiser.
Manchester City's extensive World Cup participation is further amplified by the addition of Elliot Anderson, who joined the club for £116 million from Nottingham Forest during the tournament. Anderson played 634 minutes for England, partnering Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield.
Rodri, a key player for World Cup champions Spain, played every minute of their victorious campaign. He was one of seven Premier League players to return with a winner's medal. Arsenal also had a significant contingent, including trio David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino, who secured winner's medals. However, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta faces a blow as William Saliba reportedly suffered a back injury during France's semi-final defeat, potentially sidelining him for a considerable period.
Crystal Palace emerged as a surprise package, ranking fifth in terms of total minutes played by their players at the World Cup, with 2748 minutes. Their contingent included Yeremy Pino, who won the trophy with Spain, and Dean Henderson, who played in England's bronze medal match.
Other top clubs, including Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea, also had a substantial number of players involved. Liverpool has both a World Cup winner and runner-up in their squad. Fulham's Sander Berge and Oscar Bobb reached the quarter-finals with Norway, while Aston Villa's Amadou Onana suffered an ACL rupture during Belgium's last-16 match. Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez also went off injured in the World Cup final.
The newly promoted clubs had a smaller presence. Ipswich Town had no players feature, while Coventry City and Hull City accumulated a combined 220 minutes. Hull City lost goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to Rangers midway through the tournament.
The statistics highlight the varying impact of international tournaments on club readiness, with teams like Manchester City and Arsenal facing the most significant challenges in integrating their World Cup stars back into their domestic campaigns.