N’Golo Kante was last night named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year after a formidable debut season at Chelsea, while Dele Alli of Tottenham has retained the Young Player of the Year award.
France international Kante has enjoyed an incredible rise in English football after joining Leicester City from Caen in 2015.
Having played a key role in Leicester’s remarkable Premier League title success last term, the midfielder has continued to star at Stamford Bridge for this season’s leaders, Chelsea.
He secured the most votes from his peers, seeing off competition from team-mate Eden Hazard plus Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal.
He said: ‘To be chosen by the players to be player of the year means a lot to me.
‘It means the world to be chosen and it’s been two beautiful seasons, one with Leicester, and we are in good form with Chelsea. To be player of the year, it’s a great honour.’
Alli won young player of the year He becomes the fourth player to be named Young Player of the Year in successive years, after Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney.
The 21-year-old England star has again been in scintillating form for the north London club this season as they challenge Chelsea for the Premier League
He won the vote of his peers ahead of Spurs team-mate Harry Kane, Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, Burnley defender Michael Keane, Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Manchester City winger Leroy Sane.
Beckham, who won 115 England caps and starred at club level for Manchester United, followed ex-Red Devils team-mate Ryan Giggs in winning the Merit prize. He also received the prize alongside his ‘Class of 92’ United team-mates in 2013.
