Watch: Phil Foden Wins PFA Player of the Year Award

Manchester City forward Phil Foden was awarded the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year on Tuesday, recognizing his crucial contribution to Manchester City’s historic fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.

Foden, 24, was instrumental in City’s success, scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists, helping Pep Guardiola’s side narrowly beat Arsenal to the title on the final day of the season.

Reflecting on the award, Foden expressed his gratitude, saying, “Winning this award is incredibly special, and I am both proud and thankful. Being acknowledged by my fellow professionals means a great deal, and I want to thank everyone who voted for me.” He also extended his appreciation to Guardiola, the coaching staff, and his teammates, stating, “Their support pushes me to improve every single day.”

With the new season underway, Foden is already focused on helping City secure a fifth consecutive Premier League title, following their 2-0 victory over Chelsea in their opening match. “Last season was remarkable for everyone at the Club, but our attention is now on achieving even more success this year,” he added.

In addition to the PFA Player of the Year, Foden also received the Premier League Player of the Season award for 2023-24 and was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, expressed the club’s pride in Foden’s achievement, noting, “Everyone at Manchester City is delighted to see Phil win this award. Being recognized by your peers in this way is incredibly special. Phil embodies the values of our club—his immense talent is matched by his relentless drive to improve. He is also a humble individual who is highly respected throughout the club.”

Foden’s teammates, including last year’s winner Erling Haaland and Rodri, as well as Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, were also shortlisted for the Player of the Year award.

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer was named the PFA Young Player of the Year. Notably, this marks the first time since 2009-10 that both the senior and young player awards were won by English players, with Wayne Rooney and James Milner being the last to do so.

Palmer, who recently moved from Guardiola’s squad to Stamford Bridge, finished second only to Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts, netting 22 goals in a standout season.

The awards ceremony in Manchester saw City dominate the accolades, with Khadija Shaw being named the Women’s Player of the Year. The Jamaican forward was the top scorer in the Women’s Super League with 21 goals, although City narrowly missed out on the title to Chelsea on goal difference.

Shaw expressed her joy at receiving the award, saying, “I am both happy and proud to have received this award. Being recognized by my peers in this way is a very special honor.”