Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante won the inaugural Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for the 2016-17 season.
The 26-year-old was selected as the best player in the Premier League by his fellow peers and beat off competition from Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukako and Alexis Sanchez.
Kante proved instrumental for former outfit Leicester City when they clinched the 2015-16 Premier League title. The French international has replicated his performances for table-toppers Chelsea this season, and he could go on to become the first player to win consecutive titles at different clubs, if Chelsea are to stay ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the title race.
So proud for such a honour! So amazing. As I always said, it’s a team work: thx to my teammates, @ChelseaFC members and all the fans. pic.twitter.com/4tQXf1ROXH
— N’Golo Kanté (@nglkante) April 23, 2017
Kante revealed his delight at being acknowledged as the leagues’ best player at the award ceremony at Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday night.
‘It’s a huge honour to be chosen by the other players,’ he said, upon receiving the award.
‘It’s the biggest honour to get this award,’ he added.
Tottenham midfielder Dele Ali clinched his second consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year award, beating off competition from Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku.
Alli’s stock has soared since he signed for Spurs in 2015. He is already the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year, winning back-to-back young player awards, which is an achievement only matched by Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney.
Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze won Women’s Player of the Year award, whilst Birmingham midfielder Jess Carter secured the Women’s Young Player of the Year.
The England international was shortlisted for the 2016 FIFPro Women’s World XI, and picked up the WSL1 Player of the Year prize at the 2016 FA Women’s Football Awards.
Birmingham City Ladies defender Jess Carter has won the PFA Young Player of the Year in association with Sodexo at the PFA Awards in London.
Jess Carter’s phenomenal displays in Birmingham City’s back line earned the 19-year-old all the plaudits at her club’s award ceremony, as well as a recent senior international call-up for England.
After an outstanding 2016 and start to 2017, the future is looking very bright indeed for one of England’s most promising young defenders.
Image: PFA website