PFA awards: De Bruyne wins top prize, TAA named best young player

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) unveiled its annual awards Tuesday, and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne took home the top prize for Player of the Year.

De Bruyne, the first City player to earn the honor since it was first presented in 1973-74, beat out teammate Raheem Sterling and Liverpool quartet Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and 2019 winner Virgil van Dijk.

The Belgian playmaker registered 20 assists as part of an excellent season, equaling Thierry Henry's Premier League record from the 2002-03 campaign.

"This is a big honor, to be voted by your colleagues, competitors from other teams who you always play against on the field. That they vote for you for best player; it's amazing," De Bruyne said.

"It's maybe strange that I'm the first one at City, seeing all the good players who played there before and who are still playing. But it's nice to represent the club."

A vote held among the members of the players' trade union also selected the Team of the Year, the Young Player of the Year, and a pair of distinctions for the top flight of women's football in England.

Team of the Year

Liverpool and Manchester City both featured prominently in a Team of the Year. Burnley 'keeper Nick Pope was rewarded for a stellar campaign at Turf Moor and is supported by a back-four that features Liverpool trio Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson, as well as surprise selection Caglar Soyuncu from Leicester City.

De Bruyne is joined in the midfield by former City teammate David Silva and Reds skipper Henderson, while Leicester's Jamie Vardy, Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Liverpool's Mane lead the attack.

Young Player of the Year

Alexander-Arnold was named Young Player of the Year, becoming the first Liverpool standout to get the nod since Steven Gerrard did at the completion of the 2000-01 campaign.

The 21-year-old was nominated alongside Manchester United forwards Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, Chelsea duo Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, and breakout Arsenal teen Bukayo Saka.

Women's awards

Chelsea forward Beth England was named the PFA Women's Player of the Year for the second season on the spin after her Blues nipped Manchester City for the WSL title. England is the first player to win the award in successive terms since it was first handed out in 2013.

Fellow Blues Guro Reiten, Sophie Ingle, and Ji So-Yun, along with Arsenal tandem Kim Little and 2018-19 Player of the Year Vivianne Miedema, were nominated as well.

Chelsea also dominated the Team of the Year. Shot-stopper Ann-Katrin Berger and defenders Millie Bright, Maren Mjelde, and Magdalena Eriksson made the cut, as did So-Yun and England. Arsenal's Little, Miedema, and central defender Leah Williamson were also selected, as were Manchester City's Caroline Weir and Chloe Kelly.