A quartet of African-born players made the final eight-man shortlist for the 2023–24 Premier League Young Player of the Season Award, which was announced on Thursday.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka and Tottenham Hotspur defender Destiny Udogie, who are both of Nigerian descent, Manchester United midfield prodigy Kobbie Mainoo (Ghana), and Newcastle United’s forward Alexander Isak (Eritrea), have all been shortlisted alongside four others for the award.
Taking the Premier League by storm 💥
Vote now for your 2023/24 @Hublot Young Player of the Season! 🗳️#PLAwards
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 9, 2024
Saka has been impressive for Premier League leaders Arsenal all season long with 16 goals and 9 assists in 34 matches; Isak has bagged 20 goals for Newcastle in 27 matches this season; Udogie has starred for Spurs in his debut season in England; and Mainoo, who burst into United’s senior ranks this season, has two goals and an assist, and he is the only teenager on the list of nominees for the award.
Other shortlisted players include Manchester City’s dynamic duo of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland; Arsenal defender William Saliba; and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
The eight nominees are players who were aged 23 years or younger at the start of this Premier League season.
The winner of the award will be announced on Saturday, May 18, after votes from the fans have been combined with those of a selected panel of football experts.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
