The Premier League Player of the Year awards — voted by fellow professionals (PFA) and football writers (FWA) — are among the most prestigious individual honours in English football. For Irish punters, these outright markets offer an entire season's worth of live betting opportunity as reputations are built and torn down across 38 gameweeks.
The Two Main Awards
The PFA Players' Player of the Year is voted by all Premier League players — it rewards consistent excellence recognised by peers. The Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year is voted by journalists and often rewards a player whose story has captured the imagination of the season, not just the most statistically dominant performer. Both markets run separately at most bookmakers, though they frequently have the same winner or a narrow shortlist in common.
Who Wins and Why
The Player of the Year is typically the standout performer from a successful club — a title-winning midfielder, a prolific striker from a top-four side, or occasionally a goalkeeper from a club that has achieved something exceptional. Winning the award from a mid-table club is rare, though not unprecedented. The PFA vote tends to favour attacking players; the FWA vote occasionally rewards longevity and character as well as pure output.
Ante-Post Market Strategy
- Pre-season: Longest prices; highest variance. The previous winner is often overrated in the new market.
- November–December: Leading the Golden Boot and playing well in a title-chasing club is the most reliable profile for a PotY winner.
- February shortlists: PFA voting begins in February — once a name dominates pre-vote coverage, prices shorten rapidly.
Responsible Betting
Player of the Year bets run until April when awards are announced. Budget ahead. No outcome is certain. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
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Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
The PFA Players' Player of the Year is typically announced in April at the PFA Awards ceremony. The FWA Footballer of the Year is also announced in April or early May. Both markets are settled after official announcements.
Most major bookmakers offer separate markets for the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year. The two awards often share favourites but are distinct markets and should be treated separately.
Yes — the PFA Young Player of the Year award has its own outright market. This award covers players under 23 and is a popular betting market, particularly when a young talent has an outstanding start to the season.
Bookmakers typically list all players who are nominated or strongly fancied for the award. Players who transfer out of the Premier League mid-season may be removed from the market or settled as losers — always check terms before placing.