By Daniel Edu
The 50th edition of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards, dedicated to footballers in England and Wales, took place at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester on August 29, 2023. Notable Nigerian music artist Davido was a standout performer at the event, impressing the star-studded audience with his hit song “Unavailable.”
The awards ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in football, particularly among players of Nigerian descent. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and former Middlesbrough player Chuba Akpom, now with Ajax, received significant recognition at the event. Saka was named the 2023 PFA Young Player of the Year, while Akpom, who scored 28 goals for Middlesbrough in the English Championship last season, won the PFA Championship Player of the Year award.
Erling Haaland, after contributing to Manchester City’s success in the previous season by scoring 52 goals across all competitions and helping secure the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League titles, was honored as the 2023 PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Below is the list of winners at the 2023 PFA Awards:
- PFA Players’ Player of the Year: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- PFA Players’ Young Player of the Year: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- PFA Players’ Women’s Player of the Year: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women)
- PFA Players’ Women’s Young Player of the Year: Lauren James (Chelsea)
- PFA Players’ Championship Player of the Year: Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough, now Ajax)
- PFA Players’ League One Player of the Year: Conor Chaplin (Ipswich)
- PFA Players’ League Two Player of the Year: Andy Cook (Bradford City)
- PFA Merit Award: Ian Wright
- PFA Merit Award: Jill Scott