Every winner of United Women’s Player of the Year

The Manchester United Women’s Player of the Year award has been an end-of-season staple since the team’s professional creation in 2018.

Recognising the Reds’ standout performer across a single campaign, it is now solely voted for by the supporters, although our players and coaching staff have previously been involved in deciding who takes home the trophy.

Former captain Katie Zelem was the inaugural recipient having dictated United’s midfield during the Championship-winning campaign of 2018/19, edging out fellow fan-selected nominees Leah Galton and Millie Turner on a three-player shortlist that the squad cast their own choices from.

Then, in 2019/20, Welsh midfielder Hayley Ladd’s consistent displays in her debut season at the club – our first in the top flight – saw her top a players’ poll to win the second edition of the prize.

A year later, full-back Ona Batlle followed in Ladd’s footsteps by capping a fine first term on the red side of Manchester with the accolade – the winner again selected by the squad, along with the coaching staff. This was the last instance of the victor being picked by those in the dressing room, as a designated Players’ Player of the Year award was introduced for the following season.

It means the destination of the trophy has been in the hands of our supporters since 2021/22, with homegrown star Ella Toone the fan selection for the first of those online votes. Tooney then won it for the second time in three years upon claiming the crown for 2023/24, as her midfield goalscoring and creative capabilities were appreciated once more.

In between Ella’s successes, her good friend and striker Alessia Russo was honoured with the award at our 2023 ceremony, having netted a team-high 13 goals in a campaign that we registered our highest-ever WSL finish (second) and points tally (56).

At the end of each season, every player that has made at least one appearance for the team in that term is eligible to be selected and the official poll is ran on ManUtd.com and in the United App.

Every Women’s Player of the Year winner

2018/19: Katie Zelem
2019/20: Hayley Ladd
2020/21: Ona Batlle
2021/22: Ella Toone
2022/23: Alessia Russo
2023/24: Ella Toone

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