Salah and Caldentey win PFA awards

Mohamed Salah and Mariona Caldentey win the 2025 PFA players of the year awards marking milestone seasons for Liverpool and Arsenal.

Salah and Caldentey win PFA players of the year awards

Mohamed Salah has won the 2025 PFA players' player of the year award, becoming the first man to claim the honour three times. The Liverpool forward delivered a standout season with 29 Premier League goals and 18 assists as his team claimed the league title. The ceremony in Manchester highlighted a player who has sustained peak form over a long career, shaping Liverpool's success last season. In reflecting on his rise from Egypt to the world stage, Salah spoke of the pride his achievement brings.

Mariona Caldentey won the PFA women's players' player of the year award, marking a landmark season for Arsenal. She delivered 19 goals in all competitions, including seven in the Champions League, helping Arsenal end an 18-year wait for European glory by defeating Barcelona in Lisbon. Caldentey also featured for Spain at Euro 2025, scoring the opening goal in the final before a penalty shootout decided the title. Her remarks at the ceremony underscored a sense of belonging and focus on the team’s success. Olivia Smith took the women’s young player prize while Morgan Rogers won the men’s young player award, underscoring a broader push to recognize rising talent. James Trafford collected the Championship player of the year as Burnley earned promotion, and special merit awards recognized figures such as Gareth Southgate and Emma Hayes. The night thus offered a snapshot of a sport expanding its reach and its sense of achievement across leagues and genders.

Highlights

Talent continues to define the sport as it grows beyond the traditional centers of power.