The English Premier League (EPL) presents the Player of the Season award annually to recognize the most outstanding player in the league.
A panel assembled by the league’s sponsors, consisting of members from football governing bodies, the media, and fans, selects the recipient of this revered award.
For sponsorship reasons, the award was named the Carling Player of the Year from 1994 to 2001, the Barclaycard Player of the Year from 2001 to 2004, and the Barclays Player of the Season from 2004 to 2016.
Since the 2016–17 season, it has been known as the EA Sports Player of the Season.
Moreover, public votes will be combined with those of a panel of football experts to decide the winner, who will be revealed on Saturday 18 May.
Footballers Shortlisted for EPL Player of the Season Award
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
This season’s top scorer has netted 25 times in just 28 appearances, leading by four in the race for the Castrol Golden Boot.
23-year-old Erling Haaland has also set up five goals for his team-mates, making him one of only three players this season to reach 30 goal involvements.
While playing with Man City, he has won 19 games, lost three matches and provided five assists.
He aims to retain the award he won last season.
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Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Alexander Isak has 21 goal involvements (2o goals and one match) in only 27 matches.
Isak, 24, is the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2002/03 to reach 20 goals in a Premier League season.
His minutes-per-goal rate of 101.3 is second only to Haaland’s 91.8 among players with more than two goals.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Plamer has had a remarkable debut campaign at Stamford Bridge after joining from Man City.
He has had 21 goals in 31 matches he has played with ten assists.
Palmer has matched Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s Chelsea record of 16 home Premier League goals in a season.
He also become only the third player in history to reach 30+ goal involvements in a Premier League season while aged 21 or younger, after Robbie Fowler and Chris Sutton.
The 22-year-old was recently named the Player of the Month, the first Chelsea player to win the award since Eden Hazard in 2018.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Watkins 28 has the most goal involvements in the league. His 19 goals put him fourth in the race for the Golden Boot, while his 12 assists put him two clear in the hunt for the Castrol Playmaker award.
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Phil Foden (Man City)
The 23-year-old Academy graduate has been one of 2023/24’s standout midfielders.
He has been utilized in a more central attacking role by Pep Guardiola this season, directly contributing to 24 goals (16 goals and 8 assists) in 32 matches he has played.
This included two hat-tricks, in Manchester City’s push to be the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s captain has led by example this season as the Gunners continue their pursuit for a first league title in 20 years.
The 25-year-old has scored eight goals, assisted eight goals, and created 94 chances, the second most in the league, while also being a key part of their pressing game.
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
25-year-old Declan Rice has enjoyed a superb debut campaign for Arsenal since signing from West Ham United.
Mikel Arteta has transformed him from a holding midfielder into a superb box-to-box player, as shown by Rice directly contributing to 15 goals (7 goals and 8 assists) while also making 79 tackles and 43 interceptions.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s Dutch center-back, has been back to his best in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at the club.
The 32-year-old, who won the award in 2018/19, has made the third most passes in the league and been dribbled past only twice all season, while his 186 duels won are the second most of any center-back.
