Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s Player of the Year, while Chelsea winger Cole Palmer took home the Young Player of the Year award. This marks the first instance since the 2009-10 season that both prestigious accolades have been awarded to English footballers. During that season, Wayne Rooney claimed the Player of the Year honor, and James Milner received the Young Player award.
Expressing his gratitude, Foden said, “Winning this award is incredibly special, and I’m truly honored and thankful to everyone who voted for me. Being recognized by my fellow professionals means everything to me.” He added, “Last season was another extraordinary one for the club, but now our focus is on achieving more success in the current campaign.”
Foden’s performances were key to Manchester City’s success, as he found the net 19 times in 35 Premier League appearances during the 2023-24 season, helping his team secure a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title. At 23, Foden also became the youngest player to win six league titles. In addition to his PFA accolade, Foden was named Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year. He surpassed his teammates Erling Haaland and Rodri, as well as Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, to claim the Player of the Year title.
Though Palmer narrowly missed out on the main award, the 22-year-old Chelsea winger was honored with the PFA Young Player of the Year accolade following a breakout season. Palmer’s first year with Chelsea saw him score 22 goals in 34 Premier League matches, a performance that earned him a place in the England squad for Euro 2024. Palmer even managed to score in the final, although England was defeated 2-1 by Spain.
The young winger’s outstanding form helped him edge out notable competitors for the Young Player of the Year award, including Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, and Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
In the women’s categories, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw won Player of the Year, while Manchester United’s Grace Clinton was recognized as Young Player of the Year.
Manchester City and Arsenal players dominated the Premier League Team of the Year, with their players heavily represented in the lineup voted for by fellow professionals. Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, Rodri, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden were all included, reflecting their dominance during the 2023-24 season.
Arsenal was also well represented, with David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard making the team. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins completed the star-studded lineup, showcasing the elite talent spread across the league.
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