LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Chelsea forward João Pedro has emerged as the leading Premier League scorer during pre-season, finding the net seven times as clubs complete their preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
The Brazilian striker’s impressive run of form has placed him at the top of the pre-season scoring chart, giving Chelsea supporters plenty of reason for optimism ahead of the new Premier League season.
João Pedro’s seven goals include a nine-minute hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers and braces against AC Milan and Real Sociedad. His latest two-goal performance came in Chelsea’s final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad, helping the forward finish preparations in prolific fashion.
The 24-year-old has quickly become one of the standout attacking players during the build-up to the new campaign, with his finishing and movement providing an early indication of the threat he could pose once competitive fixtures begin.
While João Pedro leads the goalscoring standings, Arsenal’s new signing Christos Tzolis has emerged as the leading assist provider, recording six assists during pre-season.
Tzolis was particularly influential in Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City, where he registered two assists. He also earned a Fantasy assist after winning a penalty during Arsenal’s pre-season meeting with Borussia Dortmund.
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo follows Tzolis with five assists, while Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia has recorded four, underlining the strong creative form shown by several Premier League players during the summer preparations.
João Pedro’s seven-goal haul puts him clear at the top of the scoring standings. Aston Villa’s Brian Madjo is next with five goals, while Crystal Palace’s Matheus França and Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus have four each.
A number of other Premier League players have also found the net regularly during pre-season. Evanilson and Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, Crystal Palace’s Eddie Nketiah, Everton’s Thierno Barry and Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among those who have scored three goals.
Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kalimuendo, Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fée and Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison also finished pre-season with three goals apiece.
The performances provide an early indication of which players could enter the new campaign in strong form. However, pre-season statistics do not always translate directly into competitive success, with league matches bringing greater pressure and significantly higher stakes.
Premier League clubs have now completed their pre-season schedules, with the 2026/27 campaign set to begin on Friday, August 21.
For Chelsea, João Pedro’s goalscoring form will be particularly encouraging as new manager Xabi Alonso prepares for his first Premier League campaign with the club. The forward’s sharp finishing could prove valuable as Chelsea look to improve on their previous league performance.
At Arsenal, Tzolis’ creativity has similarly generated excitement, with his ability to create chances offering another attacking option for Mikel Arteta’s side.
With the new season now just days away, attention will shift from friendly matches to competitive football. João Pedro and Tzolis will enter the campaign among the players attracting considerable attention after making strong impressions during the summer.
Whether they can maintain that momentum when the Premier League begins remains to be seen, but their pre-season numbers have already placed them firmly among the players to watch as the new campaign gets underway.
