Footage from his Netflix documentary showed Conor McGregor using just six words in his dressing room to show his frustration after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229; a loss that sent his career in a different direction to that coming into the fight.

Khabib won the grudge fight via a fourth-round neck-crank submission, having also put McGregor down early in the first. There were then ugly scenes after the fight as The Eagle exited the Octagon, as he turned his venom, along with his team, on McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis outside the cage.

Conor McGregor’s Journey After Khabib Defeat

Since that loss, McGregor has suffered two serious leg injuries. The first came in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier, which sidelined him for a few years. Then, when he was ready to fight again, his return fight earlier this year against Max Holloway only lasted a matter of seconds, as the Irishman suffered yet another serious injury just moments into the fight.

But the loss to Khabib seemed to hit McGregor hard, as even though the Russian retired in 2020, McGregor, for a while, seemed intent on goading his rival into a rematch, despite being outclassed in their fight.

“I fight on,” McGregor wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted. “Your father’s plan is never complete because you quit and ran, brother. God bless. I’m still here if you want to go again. But your fear of defeat means you’ve already lost. Run from it all you want. We all lose in the end. Death takes us all. I fear nothing but God.”

For the first time since his loss at UFC 229, McGregor publicly confessed that he lost a couple of years ago, as for years he defended himself and argued his case.

The Conor McGregor Documentary

McGregor bared all in a four-part documentary called McGregor Forever that was shown exclusively on Netflix. The series focused on McGregor post-Poirier and through his rehabilitation. The series, however, also showed never-before-seen footage of McGregor’s reaction to the Khabib fight.

It showed Khabib dropping McGregor while a voice said: “You’re going to face setbacks.”

The former two-weight champion then sat down backstage with UFC president Dana White next to him and his family in the background. A visibly disappointed McGregor said, “I was beat and that’s that,” before lying on his back and looking up at the ceiling.

McGregor is now seemingly willing to admit to past mistakes and move forward, and the documentary aimed to show the Notorious One in a different light.

At the time of release, he tweeted: “McGregor Forever is out May 17th only on @Netflix. You’ll get a ringside seat for some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, how I bounced back, and why I’m still the man to beat in the UFC.”

For years, the Premier League has been a proving ground for the world’s best footballers and it is undeniably one of the biggest stages of a sport that amasses billions of viewers each year.

It is home to some of the most glittering talents in the game and, for many, it is where their careers are defined. For American players, breaking into England’s top flight has always been a tough barrier, but it always carried an extra weight, in terms of representing a growing football culture back home.

Each season, a new wave of USMNT internationals test themselves against the intensity of the toughest league in the world, and bring more eyes onto the game back in their home country.

Below is every US player competing in the Premier League during the 2026/27 season.

Tyler Adams – Bournemouth

Tyler Adams has carved out one of the most resilient and upward-tracking careers of any American midfielder in Europe, and his time at Bournemouth has only sharpened that reputation. Adams was a product of the New York Red Bulls academy, breaking into MLS as a teenager, before earning a move to sister-club RB Leipzig, where he became one of the best ball-winning midfielders in the league and lifted the DFB-Pokal.

Adams first came to the Premier League in 2022, representing Leeds United under Jesse Marsch. Despite the club falling towards relegation during that season, Adams showed enough promise for Bournemouth to pay his release clause and bring the US midfielder to England’s south coast in August 2023.

Adams has developed into one of Bournemouth’s key players, covering ground and breaking up play, and even having the versatility to fill in at full-back. Internationally, Adams continues to be a central figure for the USMNT, with over 50 senior caps, and featuring in the most recent World Cup in his home nation.

Matai Akinmboni – Bournemouth

Another Bournemouth player, Matai Akinmboni, is one of the most intriguing young Americans to arrive in the Premier League. At just 19, he’s already built a foundation of senior experience in the US system, coming through the ranks at DC United, and earning minutes through their MLS side.

The defender made his professional debut in 2022 and accumulated over 10 MLS appearances, as well as making 13 appearances at DC United’s affiliate side Loudon United. He plays as a left-footed centre-back with strong physical attributes. His performances at youth level also earned him call-ups to the national team’s youth setup.

Bournemouth signed Akinmboni on a long-term deal in 2025 and is thus viewed as a long-term project, and has recently been training with Dundee ahead of a potential loan move to the side.

Akinmboni may not have featured in the Premier League just yet for Bournemouth, but he is a long-term investment for the Cherries and someone to keep an eye on.

Haji Wright – Coventry City

Haji Wright’s path to the Premier League has been anything but linear, but he is now one of the most compelling American forwards playing in Europe right now. A product of the LA Galaxy academy, Wright moved abroad as a teenager, spending time in Schalke’s youth setup before bouncing through stints in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Each stop added something to his game, and has shaped him into the physical, clinical player that he is.

His real breakthrough came in Turkey, scoring 15 league goals for Antalyaspor in the 2022-23 season, which earned him a move to Coventry City. His time in the Championship was a complete success, becoming one of the division’s most dangerous attackers. His blend of pace, power and composure made him a constant threat, and his ability to play across the front line gave Coventry tactical flexibility.

That form played a vital role in the Sky Blues’ promotion to the Premier League under Frank Lampard. Wright scored 17 goals during the promotion season, winning the Championship.

On the international stage, Wright has featured at the previous two World Cups, even scoring in the 2022 tournament.

Chris Richards – Crystal Palace

Chris Richards has become one of the most reliable American defenders in the Premier League, with a reputation for composure and pedigree that was honed at Bayern Munich. After developing at FC Dallas, Richards earned a move to Bayern as a teenager, a rare pathway that saw him spend his early European years splitting time between Bayern’s first team, their reserves, and even a successful loan spell at Hoffenheim.

The Eagles signed him in 2022, and has since become a key part of their defence, being a consistent performer across the campaign.

For the USMNT, Richards has grown into a first-choice centre-back, forming the core of the national team’s defensive future. His blend of European schooling and Premier League experience makes him one of the most polished American defenders currently in the league.

Antonee Robinson – Fulham

Antonee Robinson is another in this list who has become one of the best in his position in England. After being born in Milton Keynes to his American father, Robinson grew up in Liverpool, developing in Everton’s academy. He built his career on strong loan spells at Bolton and Wigan, which earned him a move to Fulham, where he has been a cornerstone of their team ever since.

Last season was his best, making 37 Premier League appearances, delivering six assists, and ranking among the best for his progressive carries, interceptions, and chances created from wide areas. His blend of relentless energy, defensive reliability, and improved end-product has made him essential to Fulham’s system.

Robinson is also a locked-in starter for the USMNT, with consistent performances across major tournaments.

Brenden Aaronsen – Leeds United

Brenden Aaronson remains one of the most energetic midfielders in Europe, even if his Premier League spell hasn’t been as strong as hoped. Like others on the list, Aaronsen spent time in the Red Bull system, featuring for RB Salzburg and winning Austrian titles before moving to Leeds.

He became one of the most expensive American transfers, but his first season in the Premier League showed few flashes of what he can do. He only assisted three times and scored once, but there were further issues beyond the midfielder as Leeds fell to relegation.

After a loan spell at Union Berlin, Aaronsen returned to Leeds’ push for promotion back to the Premier League, and in the club’s first season back in the division he scored four goals and assisted five times.

Brandon Austin – Tottenham

Brandon Austin has been at Spurs since his youth, but he has never become a mainstay of the team. Born in Hemel Hempstead but eligible for the United States through his father, Austin has spent time on loan in Denmark and Orlando.

He serves a regular member of Tottenham’s matchday squads, serving as a reliable backup option behind the club’s main keepers. Austin has been involved with the national setup, but it is a similar story to his club career, as he often falls behind other goalkeepers in the pecking order.

Austin is still only 27, so there is time for him to become a starter, whether it be at Tottenham or another club.

Gabriel Slonina – Chelsea

Much like Brandon Austin, Gabriel Slonina has struggled to become a Premier League player, with his time at Chelsea often spent on loan elsewhere or featuring for youth squads.

Slonina has often been touted as one of America’s biggest goalkeeping prospects, becoming the youngest starting goalkeeper in the MLS at 17 years old. Chelsea moved for him in 2022, sending him straight back to Chicago Fire on loan, before integrating him into their system. With Chelsea’s first team pathway crowded, Slonina has spent time on loan at Barnsley, earning valuable minutes.

Whilst he shows promise, the goalkeeping department at Chelsea remains overcrowded, and it is reported that Slonina could soon be on his way out of the club, and recently has been training at fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg.

Caleb Wiley – Chelsea

Another Chelsea product, Caleb Wiley is a young left back whose blend of pace and composure made him a standout talent in the MLS and a major prospect for the USMNT.

Wiley made over 60 MLS appearances for Atlanta United, which saw Chelsea bring him to Stamford Bridge in 2024, joining as part of their wider long-term squad planning and youth-driven recruitment strategy. He spent time training for the U21S before going on a loan spell to Watford.

For now, Wiley remains at Chelsea, but with multiple left-backs sitting above Wiley in the Chelsea ranks, he could be another young American star on his way out of the club.

Michael Carrick will have some big decisions to make when it comes to naming his first starting XI of the new 2026/27 Premier League season.

Carrick was installed as the permanent manager at Old Trafford following an impressive spell as caretaker boss in the second half of last season when taking over from the sacked Ruben Amorim.

He guided United to third in the table and qualification for this season’s UEFA Champions League, with the Red Devils actually enjoying the best record of any team in the calendar year of 2026, outperforming champions Arsenal by one point.

Marcus Rashford could make things difficult for Amad Diallo

Heading into the 2026/27 campaign, expectations are high and Carrick will have a job of managing his players through domestic and European campaigns this time around.

Carrick may welcome Marcus Rashford back into the fold this season, having been frozen out by Amorim before him and being sent out on loan to Barcelona.

The Spanish giants failed to complete a permanent deal for the 28-year-old, however, and he is back in training with his United teammates now in pre-season, following England’s run to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Carrick is keen to integrate Rashford back into the squad and give him just as much of a chance as anyone else, and that could impact Amad Diallo’s game time.

Diallo had to compete with Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko for a place in the frontline of Carrick’s side last season and throwing Rashford into the mix could make things even more difficult for the Ivorian.

Much was made of the front three of new signings Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko all reaching double figures for goals in their first season in the Premier League, something which had not been done since 2012/13.

Diallo has a big role to play under Michael Carrick

via Reuters

Diallo was well utilised by Carrick, however, playing 17 games under the Englishman, although he only managed one assist during that time, that coming on the final day of the season against Brighton. But Carrick has admitted he is a “big fan” saying the forward has “so much talent” and his “attitude is fantastic”.

The 24-year-old has also started each of United’s last three pre-season friendlies against Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Leeds United, showing he is trusted by Carrick.

Diallo’s stats under Carrick

Against Leeds, the Manchester Evening News gave him a seven out of ten rating, saying: “Quicksilver feet on a couple of occasions and could have scored after good work from Zirkzee. Has made an impact since his return from the World Cup.”

He was also handed a seven in the Sun’s ratings, who said: “Has got better with each of his three starts. Nearly matched Bryan Mbeumo for directness as he gave Leeds youngster Rhys Chadwick a grilling. Seems well-placed to start the season.”

Joshua Zirkzee, who has been linked with an exit from the club, may have taken the plaudits for scoring the goal in the 1-1 draw with Leeds that United won 5-4 on penalties, but Diallo has quietly shown he should be challenging Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko, Fernandes and Rashford for a starting spot in the team.