Arsenal's Caldentey, Smith Win PFA Women’s Player Awards

Mariona Caldentey and Olivia Smith, both Arsenal players, have been honored with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Women's Player and Young Player of the Year awards respectively, recognizing their outstanding performances during the 2024/25 season. Caldentey, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona, scored nine goals and provided five assists in the Women's Super League, playing a key role in Arsenal's second-place finish and their Champions League victory over Barcelona. She also secured the WSL Player of the Season and Arsenal's Player of the Year awards, becoming the first Arsenal player since Vivianne Miedema in 2019 to win the PFA Player of the Year. Olivia Smith, who became the most expensive signing in women's football history with her £1 million move from Liverpool to Arsenal, earned the Young Player of the Year award after scoring nine goals in 20 WSL matches. Other notable contenders included Arsenal's Alessia Russo, Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert, and Manchester City's Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa. Emma Hayes, the former Chelsea manager, was also recognized with the PFA merit award for her contributions to women's football.