William Saliba has been included on an eight-man shortlist for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award for 2024/25.
It is the second successive year William has been a contender for the prize, and it is no surprise after he has helped us to register the best defensive record in the division, with no team conceding fewer than the 33 we’ve let in this term.
He has also contributed to 12 clean sheets in his 34 league appearances, which have seen him on the brink of hitting 100 games for us in the Premier League against Newcastle United on Sunday. The 24-year-old has also weighed in with two goals at the other end, which came in successive matches in December against Manchester United and Fulham.
He has made the second-most passes of all players in the top-flight, and no-one has a better rate at defending one-v-one battles than William, who has been involved in 78 such situations but dispossessed his opponent 79.5% of the time without committing a foul.
The seven other players recognised for the Young Player award are Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and wingers Morgan Rogers and Anthony Elanga of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro is also a contender, as is Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, who has starred in his first season at this level.
Supporters can vote for their favourite now until midday on Monday, May 19, with their votes added to a panel of experts to determine the victor.
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