All six names on the shortlist for this year's accolade are promising young England players who shone in the 2023-24 Women's Super League season
Chelsea star Lauren James could be set to follow in the footsteps of England team-mate Lauren Hemp and become just the second footballer to retain her Women's PFA Young Player of the Year award this month, after being named to a shortlist made up entirely of Lionesses.
The PFA Awards have been an important event in English football culture for 50 years now and more big names will be added to its illustrious history books when this year's accolades are dished out on August 20. It's a night that will see the positive state of women's football in the country well-illustrated, likely in no better way than by the Women's PFA Young Player of the Year nominees. All six are exciting young England players that the nation will hope can deliver success for the Lionesses in years to come, as well as their contributions at club level.
James is one of two Chelsea starlets up for the accolade, alongside Aggie Beever-Jones after her breakthrough campaign with her childhood club. It's over to Manchester for the rest of the names battling it out for the chance to earn individual recognition, with Man City represented by Khiara Keating and Jess Park, while Man Utd have Maya Le Tissier and Grace Clinton, whose place on the shortlist comes after a fruitful loan spell with Tottenham, in the running.
Find out more about the six-woman shortlist below…
GettyAggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)
After loan spells with Bristol City in the second-tier and Everton in the WSL, Beever-Jones finally enjoyed her breakthrough at Chelsea in the past 12 months, scoring a remarkable 11 goals in the league in 2023-24 despite starting just six times. Those contributions helped the Blues win a fifth successive title, and they didn't go unnoticed by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman, who handed the 21-year-old her senior England debut in July.
AdvertisementGettyGrace Clinton (Man Utd)
It was no surprise to hear Tottenham head coach Robert Vilahamn express his interest in signing Clinton on a permanent deal earlier this year, such was the impact she made on loan from Man Utd. In her first season as a regular starter in the top-flight, the versatile 21-year-old played a key role in a historic season for Spurs, one which consisted of a top-six finish and an FA Cup final. Like Beever-Jones, Clinton earned a chance with England as a result and she took that opportunity with both hands, scoring on her debut in February.
GettyLauren James (Chelsea)
Man City star Khadija Shaw, an out-and-out striker, was the only player to score more goals in the WSL last season than James. As Chelsea dealt with a heap of injuries, most significantly in the absence of star centre-forward Sam Kerr, the 22-year-old stepped up and delivered massive contributions as the Blues won yet another league title. A match-winning hat-trick against former club Man Utd was a particular highlight as this incredible young talent enjoyed another wonderful year.
GettyKhiara Keating (Man City)
Few expected Keating to be Man City's No.1 goalkeeper when the 2023-24 season began. However, the then-teenager managed to usurp two England internationals, in Ellie Roebuck and Sandy MacIver, to that status and she never looked likely to lose it throughout an outstanding campaign. No goalkeeper kept more clean sheets in the WSL last season than Keating, who also boasted the highest save percentage in the division and earned herself a regular spot in Wiegman's England squads as a reward.