The English Premier League has shortlisted eight of its best players for the 2023/24 EA SPORTS Player of the Season award.
Fans have until 12:00 BST on Monday, May 13, to vote for their favorite candidates via the EA SPORTS website.
As reported earlier by the News Chronicle, the public votes will be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner, who will be announced on Saturday, May 18.
Phil Foden (Man City)
The 23-year-old Manchester City Academy graduate has been one of the standout players this season. The English midfielder has netted 16 Premier League goals plus 8 assists this season for the Cityzens, who push for their fourth title in a row. Foden has been involved in 32 games for City; they have won 22, lost 3, and drew 3 in all the league games he has featured in this season.
Credit: Facebook | Manchester City
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who broke the Premier League record for the most goals and claimed the golden boot last season with 36 goals, is on another mission to defend his award after netting 25 times in just 28 league appearances this season. Haaland scored four goals in his last league game, expanding the difference against his closest rival by four goals.
Credit: Facebook | Manchester City
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
The Swedish striker is the first Newcastle player to reach the 20-goal mark for the Magpies since Alan Shearer in 2002/03. Isak has 20 league goals to his name in his debut season, while his minutes-per-goal rate of 101.3 is second only to Haaland’s 91.8 among players with more than two goals.
Credit: Facebook | Newcastle United
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, has guided his side to a positive dream of lifting the title having lost it to City last season. The 25-year-old has scored eight goals, assisted eight goals, and created 94 chances, the second most in the league, while also being a key part of their pressing game.
Credit: Facebook | Arsenal FC
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Chelsea Men’s Players’ Player of the Year and Men’s Player of the Year, Cole Palmer, has been nominated for the Premier League’s best player award. Since making his switch to Chelsea from Manchester City, Palmer has single-handedly driven the Chelsea team off ignominy with his goalscoring prowess.
Remarkably, he has tied Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s Chelsea record of 16 home Premier League goals in a season while also becoming only the third player in history to reach 30+ goal involvements in a PL season while aged 21 or younger, after Robbie Fowler and Chris Sutton.
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
In his inaugural season, Declan Rice has been pivotal for the Gunners, playing all their 36 league games since his mega-switch from West Ham. West Ham Coach David Moyes could not help asserting that their difficulties began since Rice left the club. Mikel Arteta has transformed him from a holding midfielder into a superb box-to-box player, as shown by Rice directly contributing to 15 goals while also making 79 tackles and 43 interceptions.
Credit: Facebook | Arsenal FC
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s and Dutch Captain, Virgil Van Dijk, has been one of the most consistent center-backs this season. Regardless of Liverpool’s passing the baton to Arsenal and Manchester City after their inconsistency, Virgil Van Dijk has guided the team to 21 wins in all 34 league games he has played. The 32-year-old has made the third-most passes in the league and been dribbled past only twice all season, while his 186 duels won are the second most of any center-back.
Credit: Facebook | Liverpool FC
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
One of the breaking-in surprises of the season is Villa’s forward, Ollie Watkins. The Aston Villa striker, 28, has the most goal involvements in the league. His 19 goals put him fourth in the race for the Golden Boot, while his 12 assists put him two clear in the hunt for the Castrol Playmaker award.
Credit: Facebook | Aston Villa
