Summary:
- The PFA has named Manchester City’s midfielder Phil Foden as player of the year.
- The association handed over the young player of the year title to Cole Palmer.
- In the women’s section, Khadija Shaw and Grace Clinton won the corresponding awards.
The last time the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) handed over both player of the year and young player of the year to English players was during the 2009-2010 season with Wayne Rooney and James Milner as the recipients.
History is repeating itself this year, with the PFA acknowledging Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden as player of the year award and Chelsea winger Cole Palmer as young player of the year.
In the women’s section, Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw took home the women’s player of the year award while Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton was honored to receive the women’s young player of the year title.
Foden: “To Win This Award Is Something Very Special”
The Stockport-born player had previously received two young player of the year awards but is now grabbing the PFA’s player of the year for the first time.
“To win this award is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for,” commented Foden, adding that having fellow professionals; recognition “means everything”.
Last season was another very special one for everyone at the club, but now all our focus is concentrated on trying to achieve more success this term.
In the 2023-24 campaign, 23-year-old Foden managed to score no less than 19 goals in 35 top-flight appearances as his team scooped up a historic fourth successive Premier League. Can Foden lead City to a fifth title? Get the best odds with the best non UK betting sites for UK players.
Palmer Had a High-Scoring Season
The 22-year-old had no less than 34 dazzling appearances during his debut campaign with Chelsea, racking up a whopping 22 goals and 11 assists in his appearances.
He also joined the Three Lions at the Euro 2024 and scored in the final which the squad lost to Spain.
Palmer, who took the opportunity to pay tribute to former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino for his involvement in his growth, is the first Chelsea player to grab the prestigious award since Eden Hazard in the 2013/14 campaign.
Shaw: “I Am Both Happy and Proud”
Manchester City’s 27-year-old forward Shaw also received the Women’s Super League top scorer title in the 2023-24 campaign after scoring 21 goals in 18 games and was named player of the year at the Women’s Football Awards.
“I am both happy and proud to have received this award”, she said while thanking “team-mates and the entire coaching staff because without them this would not be possible”.
21-year-old Grace Clinton, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham where she recorded four goals and four assists and grabbed her first England caps, defeated Lauren James, Khiara Keating, Aggie Beever-Jones, Maya Le Tissier, and Jess Park in the women’s named young player of the year section.
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