Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation who joined Manchester City this season, has been crowned the Premier League Player of the Year. Haaland’s outstanding performance saw him score an astonishing 36 goals in just 35 league appearances, breaking a 29-year record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League campaign. Notably, he also contributed to eight assists, playing a crucial role in Manchester City’s success as they clinched their third consecutive Premier League title and reached the finals of both the FA Cup and the Champions League, set to take place in June.
With a total of 44 goal involvements, Haaland has equalled the all-time joint record set by former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry during the 2002/03 season. This achievement further solidifies the 20-year-old striker’s place among the sport’s elite.
Remarkably, this marks the fourth consecutive season that a Manchester City player has claimed the Premier League Player of the Year award. Haaland follows in the footsteps of his teammates Kevin De Bruyne, who won the award in the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons, and Ruben Dias, who secured it in the 2020/21 season. Vincent Kompany, another Manchester City legend, previously won the accolade in the 2011/12 season.
Among the other nominees for this year’s award were Kevin De Bruyne, who showcased his exceptional playmaking abilities with 16 assists, as well as Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Tottenham striker Harry Kane, and Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier.
Haaland has already been named the 2023 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, garnering more than 80% of the votes.
