Kevin De Bruyne wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year

The Belgian playmaker wins the award for the second time in a row.

Manchester City’s talisman Kevin De Bruyne has been named the PFA Players’ Player of the year for the 2020-21 Premier League season.

De Bruyne has seen off competition from team-mates Ruben Dias, IIkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, as well as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Tottenham’s Harry Kane to win the award for a second time running.

The 29-year old has now joined United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry as the only players to scoop the award in back-to-back seasons.

In what was a stellar campaign for Pep Guardiola’s side, De Bruyne contributed 6 goals and 12 assists to help City lift a fifth Premier League title alongside a fourth successive Carabao cup. The only disappointment, however was not winning the Champions League.

“The fact the players chose me for this award means that I’ve done very well.” De Bruyne said

“You want to win all the trophies with the team and this is probably the most important one as an individual trophy in the league. To be voted by your competitors, by players who you compete with every game – to choose you, that says a lot.

“They’re the people in my view who know the most about the game.

“When you have these things you can show your kids and say ‘Look! this is what Daddy did when he was younger’.”

Meanwhile, another star in the making has been recognised for a stellar 2020-21 campaign in the Premier League.

Phil Foden has scooped the award for the PFA Young Player of the Year becoming the 39th recipient of the award.

Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, West Ham’s Declan Rice, Chelsea’s rising star Mason Mount, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold were all nominated for the award, but Foden came out triumph after enjoying a breakthrough season under Pep Guardiola.

“I’m really honoured,” Foden said of his PFA win.

“There have been some great players in the past who have won it, and I feel so lucky because there have been so many great young talents this year.

“I’m feeling really happy to win it and it’s a special moment. I would like to thank my parents, all of the coaches and the players as well, because without them creating chances for me, I wouldn’t score, and maybe I wouldn’t win the awards.

“Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible.”