Declan Rice has been named on the shortlist for the Premier League’s 2024/25 Player of the Season award, while William Saliba is among the nominees for Young Player of the Season.
It’s the second year in a row that Rice has been recognised, and it’s little wonder. The midfielder has made 50 appearances for Arsenal this season, chipping in with eight goals and 10 assists. After a slow start – not helped by a niggling toe injury and a long summer with England – he’s been the Gunners’ most consistent outfield performer since Christmas, with nine of his 10 league goal involvements coming in that period.
He also etched his name into Arsenal folklore with two stunning free-kicks to down Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, claiming Uefa’s Player of the Match award in both legs.
As was the case last year, Rice is likely to be an outsider. Liverpool dominate the main award’s shortlist with Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk all included. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has bagged 23 goals and is a strong contender, while Forest duo Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White, plus Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, complete the list.
The Young Player shortlist, meanwhile, continues to stretch the definition of ‘young’. Saliba, now 24, is still eligible (somehow!) while genuine teenage standouts like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly miss out, despite racking up a combined 46 league appearances.
Ipswich striker Liam Delap (22) and Bournemouth’s Real Madrid-bound defender Dean Huijsen (20) are solid picks, but some of the other names raised eyebrows – not least because we had to double-check their ages. They include Anthony Elanga (23), Ryan Gravenberch (23), Morgan Rogers (22), Joao Pedro (23), and last year’s winner Cole Palmer (23).
🗳️ Vote for the EA Sports 2024/25 Player of the Season here
🗳️ Vote for the Hublot 2024/25 Young Player of the Season here
Mikel Arteta wasn’t nominated for Manager of the Season.
Public votes will be combined with the views of a panel of football experts, with the winners revealed next week.