Ruben Dias voted PFA Community Champion at 2025 Northwest Football Awards | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Ruben Dias has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to community work by being voted the PFA Community Champion at the 2025 Northwest Football Awards.

City’s Portuguese international central defender has been a tireless champion and advocate of the inspirational work undertaken by the Club’s charity, City in the Community.

CITC helps support people across Greater Manchester by empowering healthier lives through football. Our youth-led programmes place physical and mental wellbeing at their core, whilst also creating healthy futures and healthy communities.

Together with the Northwest Football Awards, the PFA wanted to recognise outstanding players, whose commitment to community work during the 2024/25 season went above and beyond expectations.

Dias, who was nominated alongside Everton’s Seamus Coleman, Alisson Becker of Liverpool and Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, proved a worthy and deserved winner.

“This is a real honour for me,” Dias said. “I approached City In The Community last year and said I wanted to be more involved in the work the charity do because the impact they have on the lives of people in Greater Manchester is absolutely incredible.

“When you are around the guys at CITC, you can’t help but be inspired. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to help the charity.

“As footballers, we have a responsibility to use our platform to help others. CITC is the perfect vehicle for me – and the other Manchester City players - to do this.

“I am so happy tonight, I really am. Thanks to everyone who voted for me.”

Time and again, Dias has used his platform and voice to make a meaningful difference off the pitch — supporting causes, inspiring individuals, and strengthening the Club's role in the community.

Earlier this year, his passion for the work undertaken by CITC also saw him named as the Club’s PFA Community Champions alongside Codie Thomas from our Women's team.

Across the course of the year, Dias has visited a CITC BTEC session, surprising participants before taking part in a smoothie-making challenge, as well as visiting a Premier League Inspires session, where he shocked one lucky participant, Randa, with a very special Community Matchday experience.

Dias also helped further raise the profile of City in the Community by recording special CITC-related announcements on matchday tram and bus routes.

All of the winners at tonight's awards ceremony have been chosen by the NWFA judging panel, together with the fans via a public vote.

Everyone at Manchester City sends Ruben their congratulations on this deserved award.