Manchester City star Phil Foden has been named as the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.

Last season, Foden was instrumental in helping City win the Premier League for a historic fourth time in a row.

On the last day of the season, Pep Guardiola’s club defeated Arsenal to win the title, and the 24-year-old scored 19 goals and provided eight assists.

“To win this award is something very special and it is one that I am very proud of and grateful for. To be recognised this way by your fellow professionals means everything and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me,” Foden said.

“I also want to pay special thanks to Pep, the City coaches and all my teammates as they help me to try and get better every single day.”

Foden has already set his sights on winning the Premier League for a fifth time in a row after City defeated Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday to begin their title defence.

“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,” he said.

In addition, Foden was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the 2023–24 Premier League Player of the Season.

Txiki Begiristain, the City Director of Football, continued, “Everyone in this room is ecstatic that Phil received this honour. It is quite amazing to be acknowledged in this way by other professionals.

“Phil embodies everything we stand for at Manchester City. He is a supremely talented player but is someone who always strives to seek to improve.

“He is a very humble guy who is hugely popular throughout the Club. We are all very proud of him.”

The Player of the Year shortlist also included Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Martin Odegaard of Arsenal, Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, and Foden’s City teammates Erling Haaland, who took home the prize the previous year, and Rodri.

Palmer, a forward for Chelsea, won the title of PFA young player of the year for men.

With Foden and Palmer’s victories, English players won the senior and young player titles for the first time since Wayne Rooney and James Milner did so in 2009–2010.

After leaving Guardiola’s squad to join Stamford Bridge, England international Palmer had a breakthrough season, scoring 22 goals in the Premier League, second only to Haaland.

Khadija Shaw won women’s player of the year at the Manchester gala, giving City a perfect sweep of the major prizes.

With 21 goals, Jamaican attacker Shaw led the Women’s Super League in scoring as Chelsea defeated City on goal differential.

“I am both happy and proud to have received this award, to be recognised in such a way by my peers is a very special honour,” Shaw said.