Phil Foden has been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the first time after his impressive performances helped Manchester City win a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Foden was named in the squad at the annual PFA awards on Tuesday, where the star was also named PFA Player of the Year.
His inclusion followed a string of impressive performances throughout last season, where he scored 19 league goals in 27 games, including a final-day brace against West Ham to secure the title for Manchester City.
The Player of the Year award is voted for by Premier League players, with the Team of the Year made up of the most popular choices.
Foden is joined by three Manchester City team-mates, with Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland earning his second successive selection after scoring 27 goals last season.
(L-R) Declan Rice, Ollie Watkins, David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Phil Foden, Rodri, Martin Odegaard, Virgil van Dijk, Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker have been selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Cole Palmer won the PFA Young Player of the Year award but did not make the Team of the Year.
Erling Haaland (left) and Virgil van Dijk were also in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year
Foden, pictured with his son Ronnie and partner Rebecca Cooke, won the Player of the Year award
Influential midfielder Rodri has also been named in the squad for the second time, while Manchester City right-back and captain Kyle Walker makes his fourth appearance having impressed in 47 games in all competitions last season.
Despite finishing as Premier League runners-up, Arsenal have more players (five) included in the Team of the Year than champions Manchester City.
Their solid defensive record has been highlighted: the Gunners conceded just 29 goals last season.
This has led to the inclusion of goalkeeper David Raya, who won the Golden Glove after keeping 16 clean sheets in the league.
Raya also succeeded teammate Aaron Ramsdale, who was named goalkeeper for last year’s team.
Arsenal’s centre-back duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been included. Saliba, who played every minute of the Premier League season, features for the second year in a row.
The defence is completed by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, whose fourth choice allows him to play alongside Walker, Saliba and Gabriel in the defensive line.
Two Gunners stars join Rodri in midfield, with Declan Rice earning the spot after his impressive performance debut season at the club following his £105m transfer from West Ham.
Rice joins Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian who earned his second consecutive selection.
Erling Haaland is included for the second year in a row after scoring 27 Premier League goals
The inclusion of David Raya and William Saliba followed Arsenal’s impressive defensive record
Virgil van Dijk has been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the fourth time
Ollie Watkins has been included in the forward line after helping Aston Villa finish fourth
There was no place in the team for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka despite another productive season
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer also misses out despite being named PFA Young Player of the Year
Champions Manchester City have four players in the squad, while five come from runners-up Arsenal.
Man City duo Foden and Haaland are joined in attack by Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
The English striker scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists to help Aston Villa finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League.
The inclusion of Watkins alongside Foden and Haaland means there is no room for Arsenal favourite Bukayo Saka and Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
Saka is missing out despite scoring 16 goals and providing nine assists during the campaign.
He was Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League last season, while only Odegaard surpassed his assist total for the team.
Palmer, who was confirmed as the PFA Young Player of the Year, was not selected for the squad.
The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive debut season at Stamford Bridge after his £42.5million move from Man City, scoring 22 times and assisting 11 goals for his team-mates despite the Blues’ mixed campaign.
FULL XI: Raya; Saliba, Van Dijk, Gabriel, Walker; Rodri, Rice, Odegaard; Foden, Haaland and Watkins
