Ranking the favourites to win PFA Young Player of the Year 2023

Two players each from Arsenal and Brighton find a place in the six-man nominees

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year award is a notable prestige that is awarded to a footballer in England. To have a place among the nominees the player must be aged 21 or under at the beginning of the season. In theory, to stand a chance and win the PFA Young Player of the Year 2023, a footballer must be 21 or under on July 1st 2022. All members from England’s 92 Premier League and Football League clubs vote and decide the eventual winner of the PFA awards.

Last time around Phil Foden from Manchester City took home the Young Player of the Year award for the 2021-22 season. He was 21 years 1 month and 4 days on July 1st 2021. And after a brilliant 2021-22 season, ended up being voted the 2022 PFA Young Player of the Year. However, if you missed out. Before the 2019-20 season, the PFA Young Player of the Year award was open to players 24 or under at the start of the season.

As for the 2022-23 season, the nominees have been revealed. The six players that found a place on the final list are Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Moisés Caicedo, Evan Ferguson, and Jacob Ramsey. The voting and award ceremony will be done on 29th August. We now will try and rank the final outcome:

6. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa)

Jacob Ramsey, a rising Aston Villa talent, eyes the PFA Young Player of the Year accolade. If he claims his hands on the award, it will mark the fifth win for a Villa player. Also, his second consecutive nomination speaks to his impact. Ramsey, a skilled England Under-21 international, logged 34 matches and netted six goals, contributing to Villa’s UEFA Conference League qualification.

Operating as an offensive-minded central midfielder under Unai Emery’s guidance, Ramsey’s quiet brilliance shone through with six goals and seven assists. His versatility and intelligence underpin his potential across various positions, as he aspires to surpass his own impressive records in the upcoming campaign.

5. Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Evan Ferguson, Brighton’s prodigious talent, clinched the spotlight by becoming the youngest Seagulls player to strike in the Premier League. At just 18, in a 4-2 duel with Arsenal, he tucked in the goal to claim this recognition. The Irish forward’s promising season encompassed five more league goals. Despite his tender age, the towering centre-forward notably delivered six goals and two assists. Across 19 Premier League matches, this averaged out to a goal every 158 minutes.

Impressively, he’s carried this form into the new season as well, already scoring against newly promoted Luton Town. Ferguson’s goal-scoring prowess extends to the FA Cup, with three goals in four matches. Brighton wisely manages his minutes and potential, considering his powerhouse performances. Partnered with Joao Pedro this season under Roberto De Zerbi, Ferguson’s radiant future is undeniable.

4. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal FC)

Gabriel Martinelli, a vital Arsenal asset, seeks the PFA Young Player of the Year honour after a breakout season. Teaming up with Saka and Odegaard in a formidable attack, he notched 15 goals and five assists. A potential pioneer as the first Brazilian to claim the award, Martinelli’s brilliance often shone amidst Saka and Odegaard’s acclaim. The relentless now 22-year-old marked significant growth from his prior 12-goal contributions. His electrifying pace and cunning moves rendered him a dominant force, despite ending the season without silverware.

His teammate though is placed second on our list and was seemingly a step ahead in gear.

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3. Moises Caicedo (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo and Evan Ferguson surely surprised the South Coast and the entire English football’s first division. Caicedo excelled in his first full season under Roberto De Zerbi as a midfield powerhouse. An instrumental part in Brighton’s sixth-place finish for the 2022-23 season which gave them a ticket to Europa League qualification for this term.

The Ecuadorian midfielder’s combative play and composed possession define him as one of the Premier League’s finest holding midfielders. The new Chelsea midfielder resembles the departed N’Golo Kante in a way. His remarkable efforts led to a record-breaking £115m transfer to Chelsea and also earned him the iconic Gianfranco Zola’s No. 25 shirt.

2. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal FC)

Bukayo Saka is an Arsenal standout. The London boy is currently vying for both the PFA Young Player of the Year award and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. After a prolific season with 14 goals and 11 assists, he ended up being nominated for the fourth year straight. He hopes to break his runner-up streak against Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Saka if ends up winning both could make history as the first player since Gareth Bale in 2013 to clinch both PFA Players’ Player and Young Player titles in one season. A victory would also end Arsenal’s drought since Leah Williamson, in the 2015 women’s category and Jack Wilshere, 2011 in the men’s category for the PFA Young Player award.

1. Erling Haaland (Man City)

Erling Haaland shined in his debut Man City season and is now vying for the 2023 PFA Young Player of the Year award. His record-breaking 52 goals spurred City’s historic Treble. The striker is also up for the Players’ Player accolade alongside teammates John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne. The Norwegian star undoubtedly headlines the Young Player shortlist, where he is contending with Saka, Martinelli, Caicedo, Ferguson, and Ramsey.

With Man City player Phil Foden’s recent dominance in achieving 2021 and 2022 accolade for the same. We now expect the former Borussia Dortmund man, Erling Haaland to get his hands on the trophy for the 2023 PFA Young Player of the Year. Haaland’s victory seems likely, with the announcement slated for August 29 via PFA’s social platforms.

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