OFFICIAL: Man City left-back Nico O'Reilly named Premier League Young Player of the Season award

  /  autty

Manchester City left-back Nico O'Reilly has been named the Premier League's Young Player of the Season following a breakout campaign.

O'Reilly – who was named in England's World Cup squad on Friday and looks likely to start at the tournament – has made 34 appearances in the Premier League so far this term.

With one game still to play, a home match against Aston Villa that will prove to be a City farewell for Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, O'Reilly has scored five goals and supplied three assists in the competition.

Only Erling Haaland (27 goals), Phil Foden (seven) and Antoine Semenyo (six) have netted more often for City in the top flight this campaign.

"I'm very proud to have won this award," the 21-year-old told City's website. "After my first appearances in senior football last season, I knew this year I could have the opportunity to play more and help the team as much as possible if I worked hard.

"To get so many minutes and earn the trust of the manager and my team-mates has
been the greatest achievement in my career so far.

"I am so grateful to my family and everyone at City because this wouldn't have been possible without them. 

"I'm excited to finish the season strong tomorrow and then head to my first World Cup before joining back up with City and working hard again next season."

The other nominees for the award were O'Reilly's City team-mate Rayan Cherki, Bournemouth duo Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott, Brentford's Michael Kayode, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes.

O'Reilly also helped City win both domestic cups in their final campaign under Guardiola, scoring both goals as they defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup showpiece in March.

Three City players have now won the Young Player of the Season award since it was introduced in 2019, with Foden doing so in both 2020-21 and 2021-22 before Haaland did so in 2022-23.

Related: Manchester City Guardiola Haaland Foden Nico O'Reilly
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