Bukayo Saka faces Cole Palmer & Kobbie Mainoo competition in bid to land back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards as Arsenal, Chelsea & Manchester United stars lead race for prestigious prize

Bukayo Saka is aiming to land back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards, but faces competition from the likes of Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Arsenal star out to defend individual crown
• Chelsea, United, Brighton & Palace aces recognised
• Players of promise catching the eye in England

• Table of Contents

  Toggle

  WHO ARE THE NOMINEES?

  The Arsenal winger enjoyed another standout campaign in 2023-24 and is joined on the shortlist for the prestigious individual prize by star turns from Chelsea, Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Brighton – with all of those getting the nod fully deserving of the recognition.

  Saka starred for Arsenal as they fell narrowly short in another Premier League title bid, while Palmer has become a talismanic presence for Chelsea as they look to find consistency as a collective. Mainoo, meanwhile, has enjoyed a meteoric rise that has allowed senior international recognition with England to be achieved.

  His club colleague, Alejandro Garnacho, is another of those unlocking undoubted potential at Old Trafford, while Joao Pedro has become a priceless source of goals at the Amex Stadium and Michael Olise’s exploits at Selhurst Park mean that he is now on the books of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

  Find out more about the six-man PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist below…

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Cole Palmer | Club: Chelsea | Nationality: England

  Having decided against fighting for minutes at Manchester City, Palmer hit the ground running at Chelsea. The talented 22-year-old playmaker got to break out his iconic ‘cold’ celebration on 22 occasions while teeing up a further 11 efforts for grateful team-mates – with nobody managing more goal contributions.

• Getty Images
  

  Bukayo Saka | Club: Arsenal | Nationality: England

  The Gunners may have fallen narrowly short in their bid for the Premier League crown, but Saka played his part in keeping them in contention. The England international, who graced another European Championship final this summer, registered 16 goals and nine assists to further underline his value to Mikel Arteta’s cause.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Joao Pedro | Club: Brighton and Hove Albion | Nationality: Brazil

  The Brazilian striker’s first taste of life in English football came at Watford, but it is on the south coast where he has really thrived. The Seagulls have been crying out for a regular marksman, and they now have one in Pedro after seeing him hit 20 goals in all competitions – allowing him to become a full international.