Manchester, Aug 20 (IANS) – Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey has been crowned the PFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2024/25 at the Manchester Opera House, capping off a remarkable debut season in north London.
The Spanish international topped the vote ahead of teammate Alessia Russo, Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, Manchester City duo Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa, and Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Caldentey becomes the third Arsenal player to win the prestigious award, following Kim Little in 2011/12 and Vivianne Miedema in 2018/19.
Her first season in the Women’s Super League was hugely impressive, yielding nine goals in 21 appearances. She added eight goals in 15 UEFA Women’s Champions League matches, helping the Gunners lift the trophy in Lisbon – her third consecutive Champions League triumph and fourth overall. She also contributed two goals and two assists in the Women’s League Cup and matched those numbers for Spain at Euro 2025, where she helped her nation reach the final.
Meanwhile, new Arsenal signing Olivia Smith, who joined from Liverpool this summer, was named PFA Young Player of the Year. The 19-year-old Canadian forward scored seven goals in 20 WSL games last season for Liverpool, her first in England after moving from Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal were also well represented in the PFA Women’s Team of the Year, with Caldentey, Emily Fox, Kim Little, and Alessia Russo all earning spots in the best XI.
PFA Women’s Team of the Year (2024/25):
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United); Jayde Riviere (Manchester United), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Millie Bright (Chelsea); Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Kim Little (Arsenal); Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Mary Fowler (Manchester City).
