Gvardiol Crowned Etihad Player of the Season After Stellar Campaign

Croatian defender beats De Bruyne and Haaland to win prestigious fan-voted award

MANCHESTER, England , After an outstanding 2024–25 campaign, Joško Gvardiol has been voted Manchester City’s Etihad Player of the Season, edging out club legends Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland in the final shortlist.

The 23-year-old Croatian international, who joined City in the summer of 2023, made an instant and lasting impact in just his second season, racking up 53 appearances across all competitions the most of any player under Pep Guardiola this term.

Versatility, consistency, and goals

Gvardiol played across both left-back and centre-back roles and emerged as one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders, while also contributing offensively with six goals in total five in the league and one in the FA Cup.

Among his standout moments was a stunning right-footed curler against Wolves in October, which earned him City’s Nissan Goal of the Month. He also found the net in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, showcasing his prowess on big occasions.

His performances were particularly instrumental towards the end of the season, forming a formidable defensive duo with Ruben Dias as City secured a third-place Premier League finish and sealed Champions League qualification.

Fan favourite and history maker

Cityzens from around the world cast thousands of votes, with Gvardiol capturing nearly 50% of the final vote, beating multiple-time winner De Bruyne and last season’s top scorer Haaland.

“It’s a huge honour to win this award, especially considering the amazing players in this team,” Gvardiol said. “I feel at home here, and I want to keep improving and helping the team.”

This marks the first time Gvardiol has won the club’s top individual honour, following Phil Foden (2022–23) and Erling Haaland (2023–24). De Bruyne remains the joint record-holder with four Player of the Season awards, tied with former defender Richard Dunne.

Club World Cup preparations underway

With the season concluded, Gvardiol now shifts focus to City’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the USA, where they’ll compete in Group G against Juventus, Wydad Casablanca, and Al Ain, starting on June 18.