Chelsea Trio Named as Finalists for PFA Awards

WOMEN’S TEAM

Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr, and Lauren James have been selected as nominees for the prestigious Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to our triumphant 2022/23 season, where we secured the Double.

The combined efforts of our Chelsea trio played a pivotal role in securing our fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title and a third successive FA Cup victory. Their exceptional individual performances have merited their inclusion in the shortlist for these esteemed awards.

Each of the three players stands a chance of clinching victory in their respective categories, following votes from fellow players. Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr find themselves among the nominees for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, while Lauren James has earned a nomination for PFA Young Player of the Year.

During the previous season, Reiten showcased remarkable form, tallying 13 goals in 39 appearances. Her consistency, creativity, and exceptional play did not go unnoticed within domestic competitions, and her talents were recognized on the global stage as she was honored with the Golden Ball award by the Norwegian Football Association, an annual accolade bestowed upon the nation’s finest male and female players.

For Kerr, the past season marked another extraordinary chapter. She netted an impressive 29 goals in 38 appearances and reached her 100th appearance for Chelsea. Her achievements were manifold, including winning both the Chelsea Women’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards. Furthermore, she secured the FA WSL Player of the Year title at the London Football Awards for the second time and notably became the inaugural player to claim the Football Writers’ Association Women’s Footballer of the Year honor consecutively.

A shining young talent, Lauren James continued to dazzle throughout our successful WSL and FA Cup Double campaign. Her memorable solo run and goal against Tottenham Hotspur earned her the WSL Goal of the Month award for February. Additionally, she was crowned Women’s Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. Her contributions were further acknowledged with a new long-term contract after the season’s conclusion.

The PFA Players’ Player of the Year award nominees alongside Reiten and Kerr encompass Ona Batlle (formerly of Manchester United), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), and Khadija Shaw (Manchester City). In the PFA Young Player of the Year category, Lauren James contends with Laura Blindkilde (Aston Villa), Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), and Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion).

The winners of these honors will be unveiled at the PFA awards ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, August 29th.

By – Sahiba Suri

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