Fran Kirby named 2020-21 PFA Players’ Player of the Year

Chelsea Women had yet another amazing season, full of great individual and team performances. Chief among those had been the play of Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr, who were both nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award alongside Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and three Manchester City players.

The “Kerrby” duo was good for 37 goals and 19 assists combined, but there could only be one winner. And, as announced yesterday, it’s Fran Kirby who wins the award, for the second time in her career!

Kirby has already won the FWA Footballer of the Year award as was also named Chelsea Women’s Player of the Year. Don’t call it a comeback!

“I think what we’ve achieved has been incredible, so I’m really proud to be a part of it.

“Hopefully, I will be able to come back into the same kind of position I came into last year. I have been playing like I love the game again and when I enjoy it, that’s when you get the best out of me.”

-Fran Kirby; source: Sky Sports

Kirby was also selected into the PFA WSL Team of the Year, alongside the aforementioned Berger and Kerr as well as Chelsea defenders Magdalena Eriksson and Maren Mjelde.

Chelsea fullback Niamh Charles was a nominee for the PFA Young Player of the Year. But her chances of winning were slim with Manchester City striker Lauren Hemp also nominated. Hemp, still just 20, ended up with the prize again, for the third time (!) in her career.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side of the PFA awards, it was all Manchester City and little else. Former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for a second time in his career, while Phil Foden was chosen as men’s PFA Young Player of the Year. And there were seven City players in the Premier League Team of the Year, with Ederson at goalkeeper, João Cancelo, John Stones and Rúben Dias in defence, and De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan in midfield.