Mohamed Salah has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year, while Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has taken the young player prize. Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate was recognised with the PFA merit award for his impact on the national side and his wider contribution to the game.
Salah, 33, becomes the first footballer to win the main men’s award three times, having been central to Liverpool’s title triumph last season. The Egypt forward topped the Premier League scoring charts with 29 goals and also supplied 18 assists, underlining his influence in Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge. Reflecting on his journey, Salah said he always dreamed of playing professionally and supporting his family but only later began to “see the bigger picture” and set loftier ambitions.
The Liverpool forward headed a shortlist that also featured team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. Salah’s season haul is further embellished by the Premier League’s player of the season award and the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year.
Rogers capped a breakout year by becoming the fifth Aston Villa player to win the PFA young player award, following Andy Gray, Gary Shaw, Ashley Young and James Milner. The 23-year-old said he wants to join the ranks of the “incredible players people speak about” and views the accolade as a marker rather than a destination. It continues a seven-year run of English winners of the prize.
Signed from Middlesbrough for a fee in the region of £15m in February 2024, Rogers established himself under Unai Emery last season. He made 54 appearances in all competitions and scored 14 goals as Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, reached the Champions League quarter-finals and the FA Cup semi-finals. His progress was rewarded with a senior England debut against Greece in November, and he has since earned six caps. Arsenal pair Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, who have moved from Bournemouth to Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively, and Chelsea forward Liam Delap were among the other contenders.
There was recognition across the divisions as well. Goalkeeper James Trafford, who joined Manchester City last month, was named Championship player of the year after keeping 29 clean sheets to help Burnley finish second and secure automatic promotion. In League One, striker Richard Koné, now at Queens Park Rangers, collected the award following an 18-goal campaign with Wycombe. Bromley’s Michael Cheek took the League Two honour after winning the Golden Boot with 25 goals.
Southgate’s merit award reflects an eight-year England tenure from 2016 to 2024 that delivered sustained tournament runs. He guided the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals and to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Only two other managers have taken charge of more than 100 England matches; Southgate led the team 102 times, winning 64. He handed debuts to 42 players, almost twice as many as any other England manager, and is credited with refreshing the squad while maintaining performance levels.
The PFA Premier League team of the year was dominated by champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal. Liverpool had Salah, Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch included, while Arsenal were represented by Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel. Nottingham Forest pair Matz Sels and Chris Wood were selected for the first time, with Isak and left-back Kerkez completing the XI. The line-up reads as Sels in goal; a back four of Saliba, Gabriel, Van Dijk and Kerkez, who was at Bournemouth last season and has since joined Liverpool; a midfield of Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Rice; and a front three of Salah, Isak and Wood.
Salah’s historic third PFA crown and Rogers’ rapid ascent bookend a season defined by Liverpool’s resurgence, Villa’s momentum under Emery and a changing of the guard within England’s ranks that continues to bear fruit.
