Phil Foden has been awarded the 2024 Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year.
The 23-year-old received 42% of the votes from nearly 900 FWA Members, beating out Arsenal’s Declan Rice in second and his City teammate Rodri in third.
The top six were completed by Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, with the FWA voting for an additional 12 players.
Foden follows in the footsteps of teammate Erling Haaland, who won the prized trophy in 2023 after a standout debut season at Etihad Stadium, as well as Ruben Dias (2021) and former Citizens attacker Raheem Sterling (2019).
The academy graduate is in his ninth year with Manchester City’s senior team and has been praised for perhaps his best season yet under boss Pep Guardiola.
Phil Foden is “immensely proud” and “honoured” to have won the prestigious medal
Following his award, Foden told the FWA’s official website: “Being awarded Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a wonderful honour. I feel grateful to receive this honor, but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.
“We have a very exceptional squad of players at City, and I’m glad to be a part of it.
“I’d like to thank all of my teammates, Pep, and the coaches for their encouragement and wisdom.
“Every day, I aim to be the greatest version of myself.”
“It is all stems from the way my management and coworkers constantly strive to improve and grow.”
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me and my fellow nominees.
“I am quite proud to have received this honor. Now I’m focusing on finishing the season as strong as possible and helping City win more titles.”
Phil Foden is at the center of City’s 2023-24 success
Foden was in and out of Guardiola’s squad near the end of City’s record treble-winning season. However, he has since stepped up to become their standout performer in 2023-24.
The dynamic attacker, who has played both wide and centrally directly behind the striker, has 24 goals and 10 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.
Sixteen of those goals have come in 31 Premier League appearances. He is just five points behind Haaland (21) in the race for the Golden Boot with four games remaining.
Over a week ago, Foden scored his 50th and 51st Premier League goals in a 4-0 victory over Brighton FC.
Foden will turns 24 years in May. He has already won five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Club World Cup with Manchester City. Nevertheless, he hopes to lead the Citizens to two more trophies this season.
Manchester City are aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. The English Giant are currently one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
They will prepare for the Manchester Derby FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United, later this month.
