Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden and Chelsea star Cole Palmer were the biggest winners in Tuesday’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards ceremony.
Foden was named the PFA Men’s Players’ Player of the Year for the first time, while Palmer took home the Young Player of the Year award following an outstanding debut season at Stamford Bridge.
It marked the first time in about 15 years that the two awards were won by English players since the 2009-10 campaign when Wayne Rooney and James’s Milner won the player and young player of the year prizes, respectively.
Foden, a two-time PFA Young Player of the Year award winner, was integral to City winning a record fourth consecutive Premier League title, scoring a career-high 19 league goals to go along with eight assists in 35 matches.
The 24-year-old saw off competition from club teammates Erling Haaland, who won the award in 2023, and Rodri, as well as the trio of Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), and Palmer, who all made the top six shortlist.
“To win this award is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for,” said Foden, who also won the 2023-24 Premier League player of the season award and was named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) footballer of the year..
“To be recognised this way by your fellow professionals means everything and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Palmer, who missed out on the player of the year award, beat Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, and Joao Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) to win the young player honour.
The 22-year-old former City man found the back of the net 22 times in 34 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season.
Elsewhere in the women’s category, Jamaica and City forward Khadija Shaw won the player of the year award, while Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, was named young player of the year.
