Mo Salah makes PFA history as Isak skips ceremony amidst transfer row | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah, undoubtedly a household name for Liverpool fans, has once again made history by becoming the first-ever player to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award three times.

The Egyptian forward was already part of an elite group of double winners featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry, but now stands alone at the top with three wins.

In the standout 2024/25 Premier League season, Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s title win, finishing as the league’s top goalscorer with 29 goals and providing 18 assists.

Elsewhere, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the game, the PFA Merit Award was presented to Sir Gareth Southgate and Emma Hayes.

Southgate was honoured for his tenure as England manager, leading the team to multiple finals and markedly elevating the national side’s performance.

Quietly but meaningfully, Hayes was recognised for her long-term impact in women’s football, having led Chelsea to sustained success in the WSL and becoming one of the domestic game’s most influential managers before taking up a new role as the Head Coach of the United States Women’s National Team.

Aston Villa’s dynamic midfielder Morgan Rogers took home the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year award, capping off a breakthrough campaign. His performances marked him as one of the most exciting emerging talents in English football.

Meanwhile, Mariona Caldentey was named Women’s Player of the Year. Olivia Smith — a rising star who will play alongside Caldentey at Arsenal this season after becoming the first £1m transfer in women’s football — clinched Women’s Young Player of the Year.

Liverpool dominated the Premier League Team of the Year selections, with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all making the cut.

Also in the team was Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who was prolific in the Magpies’ recent domestic success and proved instrumental in their 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

However, the 25-year-old — who has been linked with a big-money move to Liverpool — took to social media on Tuesday night, openly stating that he was not attending the awards ceremony because “with everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there”.

In response to Isak’s statement, Newcastle United reiterated that the forward “remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”