Phil Foden has beaten off stiff competition to claim the Premier League Player of the Season award for the 2023/24 season.
The Manchester City attacker was named the top flight’s best performer over the campaign on Saturday after registering 17 goals and eight assists in the league, including two hat-tricks.
Foden saw off teammate Erling Haaland to win the prestigious award, as well as Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, Alexander Isak of Newcastle, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, and Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer.
The latter was considered Foden‘s biggest threat to the award following a stellar breakout season in which he scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists. The 22-year-old did win the Young Player of the Season for his efforts.
The pair were teammates at Man City for several years before Palmer left the club to move to Stamford Bridge last summer in a deal worth over £40m.
After it was announced Foden had won the award, Palmer tweeted: “Congratulations to my friend Phil Foden for winning the Premier League Player of the Season.”
Foden is the first Englishman to win it since Jamie Vardy did so after Leicester City’s famous Premier League title win in 2015/16. The award has now gone to a Man City player in each of the last five campaigns.
Foden said: “To win this award is an achievement that I am extremely proud of.
“The Premier League is acknowledged as the greatest league in the world, and it is a pleasure to have been nominated with so many other great players who have all enjoyed special seasons for their clubs.
“Overall, I’ve been very happy with the way I have played this season and really pleased that I have been able to contribute with the goals and assists throughout the season.
“I’d like to thank all of the City staff, coaches and especially my teammates because without them this wouldn’t be possible. And I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me as the award means a lot.”
