Cole Palmer Named Premier League Player of the Year 2025
Cole Palmer has been awarded the prestigious title of Premier League Player of the Year 2025 at the annual London Football Awards. In addition to this remarkable accolade, he also clinched the award for Goal of the Season. The talented 22-year-old stood out amongst a competitive field that included Arsenal’s Gabriel, Brentford duo Bryan Mbeumo and Mikkel Damsgaard, and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson to take home the men’s prize.
Palmer, who had previously won the Young Player of the Year at last year’s awards, was recognized for his stunning free-kick during Chelsea’s thrilling 4-2 triumph over Brighton in September. This remarkable performance made him the first player in Premier League history to score four goals in a single first half.
Recognition for Outstanding Management
In a notable achievement, Chelsea Women’s manager Sonia Bompastor was honored with the Manager of the Year award. She has successfully taken the helm following Emma Hayes’ departure and has maintained an unbeaten streak in the Women’s Super League. Other nominees for this prestigious category included Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Bromley’s Andy Woodman, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, and Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens.
The ceremony, which was held at the iconic Wembley Stadium and partnered with The i Paper, showcased some of the finest footballing talents from London, both past and present. Among the evening’s highlights was the recognition of Archie Gray, who was awarded Men’s Young Player of the Year for his exceptional performance at Tottenham Hotspur. Gray outshone fellow nominees including Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Crystal Palace’s Romain Esse, and Watford’s Rocco Vata. His adaptability during a challenging injury crisis for Spurs was particularly noteworthy, as he excelled in various positions across the pitch.
Women’s Achievements Recognized
In the women’s categories, Guro Reiten was named WSL Player of the Year, outperforming her teammate Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, as well as notable competitors like Arsenal’s Alessia Russo and Frida Maanum, and Tottenham striker Beth England. Additionally, Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones won the Women’s Young Player award for a second consecutive year, solidifying her position as her team’s second-highest goalscorer, just behind Reiten.
Additional Honors
AFC Wimbledon striker Matty Stevens was recognized as the English Football League Player of the Year, beating out contenders such as Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze, Leyton Orient’s Jamie Donley, Bromley’s Michael Cheek, and Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga. Off the pitch, Sir Gareth Southgate was celebrated with the Power of Football award after completing his tenure as England men’s manager last year, where he led the team to two European Championship finals.
Furthermore, former Queens Park Rangers manager and technical director Chris Ramsey received the Outstanding Contribution award for his significant impact on the sport, having been previously honored with an MBE in 2019 for his contributions to football and diversity in sports. The Brentford Community Sports Trust was awarded the Community Award for their commendable Bee a Hero campaign, which aims to boost the number of blood donors in the local community surrounding the club.
