Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has paid tribute to Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian was named as the Premier League’s Player of the Year.
The 30-year-old Belgian won the accolade for the second time in the space of three seasons after playing a starring role in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side who are closing in on winning a fourth Premier League title in the space of five seasons.
An instrumental figure, De Bruyne has scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in his 29 Premier League appearances this season, averaging a goal or assist every 96.1 minutes.
Following the announcement of the award going to De Bruyne, who beat Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to the winner’s medal, Lineker congratulated the Belgian playmaker on the award and becoming only the fourth player in Premier League history to win it on multiple occasions.
“Congratulations to @DeBruyneKev on being voted Premier League player of the season,” Lineker tweeted. “It’s been a delight to watch this incredibly gifted and driven footballer. What a player.”
De Bruyne’s City teammate Phil Foden won the Premier League Young Player of the Season award for the second successive year. Foden, 21, has played a starring role again for Manchester City in their bid to win back-to-back Premier League titles, with nine goals and five assists.
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That tally matches his figures from last season and he could improve on them against Aston Villa in City’s final game on Sunday. Foden told City’s official website: “I’m very proud to have won this award for a second season in a row.
“There are so many talented young players in the Premier League this season and it’s a real honour to win it again.
“I have been really happy with my performances this season and it has been great to contribute to this team in what will hopefully be another successful year for us all.”
In the fans’ vote, Foden came out on top ahead of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea's Mason Mount, Arsenal duo Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka, West Ham's Declan Rice, and Crystal Palace pair Conor Gallagher and Tyrick Mitchell.
