Arsenal stars win PFA Player of the Year awards with four Gunners also named in the WSL Team of the Year | OneFootball

(Sven Beyrich/SPP)

Arsenal stars won the PFA Players’ Player and Young Player of the Year awards on Tuesday night, while four Gunners also made the WSL Team of the Year selection.

Men’s and women’s awards for the 2024-25 season were handed out on Tuesday night at a gala dinner in Manchester.

Here, we reveal the winners of the two main women’s awards and also reveal who made the WSL team of the year.

Arsenal WSL star Mariona Caldentey wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year award

Arsenal and Spain star Mariona Caldentey won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

SheKicks predicted that Caldentey would beat her Alessia Russo to the award, after an impressive first season in the Women’s Super League following her move from Barcelona last summer.

Caldentey, who scored nine goals and five assists in 21 WSL games, was voted as the Player of the Year by her peers.

After winning the award she said: “I am thankful for that (winning an award voted for by players). There is nothing better than when your teammates or opponents recognise your job and it’s really nice.”

Arsenal finished second in the WSL but would go on to beat Barcelona to win the Champions League.

She added: “We had some ups and downs over the whole year. Ending like that was the best feeling. Barcelona are a great team so it was not an easy job but I think we deserved it and now we just want to go for more.”

Caldentey beat Russo, Erin Cuthbert, Mary Fowler, Yui Hasegawa and Phallon Tullis-Joyce to win the award.

PFA Young Player of the Year award winner

Canadian star Olivia Smith won the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award after a brilliant season at Liverpool.

The 21-year-old scored seven goals in 20 games, before sealing a world record £1m move to Arsenal this summer.

In an exclusive interview with SheKicks, her former Canadian youth coach, Rhian Wilkinson – now at Wales – said Smith could become football’s equivalent of basketball star Caitlin Clark.

Smith beat Aggie Beever-Jones, Grace Clinton, Maika Hamano, Mary Fowler and Wieke Kaptein to the award.

Speaking to the BBC after winning the award, Smith said she does not “look too much” into her transfer fee.

She said: “I think for the most part, a lot of like what people are looking at the money, that goes between clubs.

“I’m really there just to learn and grow for my teammates and getting to play for the best club in the world, and learn from the best players day in day out.

“Honestly, I’m hoping for another Champions League with the girls. I think I’m looking more so from a team perspective. I think there’s so much excitement around this team and we have a great chance of winning everything.

Smith has gained an award but could be set to lose a world record. Mexican international Lizbeth Ovalle is set to break Smith’s £1m world record, with Orlando Pride looking to sign her from Tigres.

Who made the PFA WSL Team of the Year?

Arsenal also had four stars named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year, including Players’ Player of the Year Mariona Caldentey.

Defender Emily Fox, midfielder Kim Little and striker Alessia Russo were also named in the XI.

Chelsea, despite winning the title as part of a domestic treble, only had two players named in the squad.

Captain Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert made the squad, while Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce beat Hannah Hampton to the goalkeeping spot.

Three of the back five in the XI were from Manchester United, with defenders Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere also in the team.

Manchester City pair Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa were the final two inclusions in the squad.

Emma Hayes wins PFA Merit award

United States coach Emma Hayes won the PFA Merit award for her contributions to women’s football.

Hayes won five league titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups during her time at Chelsea.

She also went on to win Olympic Gold at the Paris Games last summer with the United States.

Gareth Southgate also won a PFA Merit award for his contributions to men’s football, after guiding England to two Euros finals.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah won the men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, while Morgan Rogers was named the men’s Young Player of the Year.