Premier League Player of the Season 2023/24: List of nominees, past winners as Foden sees off Rice, Haaland and Palmer

The nominees for the Premier League Player of the Season award for 2023/24 were announced on Thursday, May 9.

Although the season does not conclude until May 19, fans were invited to start voting for their favourites to be crowned as the best player in England's top division over the past 10 months.

Erling Haaland, who won the prize last year, was again named on the shortlist along with seven other stars of this season's competition. Manchester City and Arsenal had two players nominated each, while there were also candidates from Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa.

Haaland's team-mate Phil Foden emerged from the pack to win the approval of a public vote on the Premier League website and a panel of football experts. Foden adds the Premier League prize to the FWA Men's Footballer of the Year award he won earlier this month.

The England attacking midfielder has enjoyed the finest season of his career, frequently stepping forward to be City's difference-maker as Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne endured spells on the sidelines. Heading into the final weekend clash against West Ham, where victory would secure a record fourth consecutive Premier League title for City, the 23-year-old has scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists in 34 league appearances this term.

The Sporting News has also looked back at the past winners of the prize, stretching back to the mid-1990s, when the Premier League was still in its infancy.

MORE: Erling Haaland on course to win second consecutive Premier League Golden Boot

Premier League Player of the Season 2023/24: List of nominees

Seven other players were named on the shortlist for the Player of the Season award for 2023/24 but could not make a stronger case than Foden.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Although not quite at the levels of last season, when he smashed the record for goals in a single Premier League season, Haaland still leads the Golden Boot standings and sets the standard for strikers across Europe.

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)

Newcastle have been far less consistent than they were in 2022/23, but Isak has been outstanding. He became the first Magpies player in 21 years to score 20 goals in a single Premier League season.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Arsenal's captain has been key to their sustained title challenge this season. Odegaard may have recorded fewer goals and assists than last season (when he had 22 combined), but his all-round play has helped the Gunners keep up their impressive form.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Eyebrows were raised when Chelsea signed Palmer from Man City for an initial £40 million ($52.4m) last summer, but the England star looks like being the best bit of business of the past year. He's just the third player aged 21 or younger to record 30+ goal involvements in a single Premier League season, after Robbie Fowler and Chris Sutton.

MORE: Will Cole Palmer make the England squad for Euro 2024?

Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Arsenal paid an astonishing £105 million ($138m) to sign Rice from West Ham, but his imperious performances in midfield have made a real difference to the Gunners' title hopes.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Liverpool's title hopes may have faded, but Van Dijk has had something of a renaissance this season, looking at least somewhat close to his indomitable best in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge.

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

The spearhead of Aston Villa's amazing challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot, Watkins is still in the running to finish the season as the top goalscorer and assist-provider in the league.

Past winners of Premier League Player of the Season award

The award has run since the 1994/95 season and has seen 25 different winners in that time.

Only four players have won the award more than once: Kevin De Bruyne, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Nemanja Vidic have all been named player of the season twice. Foden's success means a City player has won the award for each of the past five seasons.

All-time Premier League Player of the Season award winners