Arsenal at PFA Awards
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Arsenal Women star Mariona Caldentey has been named the 2024/25 Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year, capping an outstanding debut campaign in English football.
The 29-year-old Spanish international, who arrived from Barcelona last summer, collected the prestigious award at the 52nd annual PFA Awards at Manchester Opera House. The accolade, voted for by fellow professionals, recognises Caldentey’s influence as one of the WSL’s standout performers.
Caldentey registered nine goals and five assists in 21 league appearances, while also hitting eight goals during Arsenal’s triumphant UEFA Women’s Champions League run. Her versatility and technical excellence proved vital, with her spectacular strike against Lyon in the semi-final drawing widespread acclaim.
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She saw off competition from teammate Alessia Russo, Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, Manchester City duo Yui Hasegawa and Mary Fowler, and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to secure the honour.
Mariona Caldentey is the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. 🏆#PFAawards pic.twitter.com/JJbcCR0QYG
— PFA (@PFA) August 19, 2025
The Spaniard’s award adds to her growing list of accolades, which include being named the inaugural Women’s Professional Game’s WSL Player of the Year and Arsenal’s Player of the Season. She also becomes only the second Arsenal player to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, following Leah Williamson in 2019.
Arsenal’s dominance was underlined further with four players named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year. Caldentey was joined by Russo, veteran captain Kim Little and American full-back Emily Fox. Russo, the joint-top scorer in the league with 12 goals, impressed with her clinical finishing, including a Champions League quarter-final brace against Real Madrid.
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Little, 35, secured her third Team of the Year selection thanks to her leadership and midfield control. Fox earned recognition for her consistent displays and memorable long-range strike in the North London Derby, alongside her Olympic gold medal with the United States.
The quartet’s inclusion reflects Arsenal’s remarkable season, which saw them lift the Champions League and push Chelsea close in the domestic title race. Head coach Renée Slegers has also been nominated for Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year, while Arsenal are contenders for Women’s Club of the Year.
With momentum firmly behind them, the Gunners now turn their attention to the upcoming WSL as they bid to secure a first league crown since 2019.
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