Manchester City celebrated a historic night on Friday as both Phil Foden and Khadija Shaw were named Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year in their respective categories.
Foden, 23, has emerged as a key attacking threat for Pep Guardiola’s side this season. With Kevin De Bruyne sidelined with injury, the City academy graduate stepped up, playing a more central role and contributing an impressive 24 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. This stellar performance earned him the prestigious award with a significant 42% share of the votes by FWA members. He joins a prestigious club at City, becoming the third player in four years to win the men’s award, following defender Rúben Dias (2021) and forward Erling Haaland (2023).
Foden expressed his gratitude in a statement: “Being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honour. I’m incredibly happy to receive this award, but it wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates. We have an exceptional squad at City, and I’m privileged to be a part of it. Huge thanks to all my teammates, Pep, and the coaches for their constant support and guidance. They push me to be the best I can be every day. Finally, I want to thank everyone who voted for me and my fellow nominees.”
Meanwhile, Jamaican forward Khadija Shaw rewrote the record books by receiving the highest number of votes ever cast in the women’s award (53%). She secured the Women’s Footballer of the Year title, edging out Chelsea’s Lauren James and City teammate Alex Greenwood. Shaw currently sits atop the Women’s Super League (WSL) scoring charts with 21 goals and has become Manchester City Women’s all-time top scorer.
Shaw echoed Foden’s sentiments: “I am incredibly proud and honored to receive this award. This recognition is truly special. I want to express my gratitude to my teammates who create the opportunities for me to score. They played a huge role in this achievement. I also owe a lot to Gareth [Taylor], the entire coaching staff, and everyone at City. It’s a privilege to be part of such a fantastic team. Thank you to everyone who voted for me and to my fellow nominees. Winning this award means a lot. Hopefully, the team can finish the season on a high and celebrate more success together.”
Manchester City Women are poised to claim their first WSL title since 2016, currently leading second-placed Chelsea by six points with two games remaining. However, their title run-in will be without Shaw, who suffered a broken foot during their 5-0 win over West Ham in late April.
