August 20, (THEWILL) – Manchester City midfielder, Phil Foden, has been crowned the 2022/23 PFA Player of the Year, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer took home the Young Player of the Year award at Manchester’s Opera House on Tuesday evening. The ceremony marked the first time since the 2009/10 season that both top men’s awards have been won by English players.
Foden’s stellar campaign, which saw him net 19 goals in 35 English Premier League matches, played a pivotal role in City’s historic fourth consecutive title win. At just 23 years old, he became the youngest player to clinch six league titles. The Stockport-born midfielder has now added the PFA Player of the Year trophy to his collection, having previously won the Young Player award twice.
Foden’s dominance was further cemented by winning the EPL Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards. He beat out stiff competition from City teammates, Erling Haaland and Rodri, as well as Chelsea’s Palmer, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
While Palmer missed out on the top prize, his impressive debut season at Chelsea was rewarded with the Young Player of the Year award. The 22-year-old’s 22 goals in 34 EPL matches earned him a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024, where he found the net in the final. Palmer defeated Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Man United duo, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, former Crystal Palace player, Michael Olise, and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro for the accolade.
In the women’s categories, City’s Khadija Shaw claimed the Player of the Year award, while United’s Grace Clinton was named Young Player of the Year.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
