Every Premier League 2 Player of the Year Award Winner

If the Premier League is where the best battle it out each and every week, then Premier League 2 is where the next generation of superstars begin to make their mark in competitive football.

Some of the biggest teams in the country are blessed with having top talent rise through the ranks of their academy to make an impact on the first team. Manchester City have Phil Foden. Meanwhile, Arsenal boast Bukayo Saka.

Of all these exceptional young players, only one can be crowned the Premier League 2 Player of the Year each season. We have looked at whom these names are and analysed how their careers have developed since.

2016/17

Oliver McBurnie

Back in 2017, a fresher-faced Oliver McBurnie was just 20 years old and playing for Welsh giants Swansea. While the Swans’ first-team barely managed to survive in the top flight, their youth team were on fire as they bagged the PL 2 Division 2 title and the Premier League Cup.

McBurnie was at the heart of things, grabbing 23 goals and beating the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold to the award. After ecxelling in the Championship with Swansea, he made the move to Sheffield United in 2019. He scored just 13 goals in 96 Premier League goals for the Blades, highlighting how big the jump is for certain players. He’s now a free agent after a spell with Las Palmas.

2017/18

Reiss Nelson

There was a lot of talk that Reiss Nelson had the potential to be a future England international when he was younger. At the time of writing, this hasn’t come to fruition. Although he has had big moments, such as a late winner against Bournemouth back in 2023, he hasn’t hit the heights that his 2017/18 campaign indicated he could.

Nelson lifted the honour after scoring 10 goals in all competitions as Arsenal won the PL2 Division 1 title and reached the Premier League International Cup final. The winger would make his first senior appearance the same year thanks to his string of impressive performances at youth level.

He returned to Arsenal this summer after an unsuccessful loan spell at Fulham. His days with the north London side look numbered, with a permanent move away from the club likely.

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2018/19

Aaron Connolly

Six years ago, was a young, Irish attacker, beginning to blossom at Brighton. What is most impressive about this award, though, is that Connolly didn’t even complete a full season. Injuries and then a loan move to Luton Town meant that the diminutive forward’s impact was restricted. That didn’t stop him scoring 11 goals that year though, pipping the likes of Eddie Nketiah to the honour.

He has been unable to live up to his lofty potential, though. The Irishman left Brighton in 2022 and, after short spells in the Championship with Hull, Sunderland and Millwall, he dropped down to League One this summer as he signed for Leyton Orient.

2019/20

Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones is the only individual on this list to have a Premier League winners’ medal to his name. It’s safe to say that out of everyone who has won this award, he has gone on to be the most successful in first-team football.

Back in 2020, the teenage midfielder stole the show at youth level. Jones was the second-highest PL 2 scorer that season, whilst also registering four assists. He also broke through into the Liverpool senior squad in the same season, where he has featured regularly ever since.

Despite not always being a first-choice option, the now 24-year-old is clearly well-liked by Arne Slot. Thomas Tuchel is a fan too, with the Liverpool midfielder picking up six caps for his country.

2020/21

Liam Delap

Being the son of a professional footballer is bound to put high expectations on a player. While Liam Delap may lack the throwing capabilities of his father, Rory, he was certainly a goal machine at youth level for Manchester City.

With challengers such as Cole Palmer and Louie Barry, the striker found the net 24 times in the 2020/21 campaign. Unsurprisingly, after struggling to break into the first team at the Etihad, he left to join Ipswich Town in 2024.

After scoring 12 Premier League goals in what was a superb debut season with the Tractor Boys, he made the £30m move to Chelsea this summer. A first England cap looks to be on the horizon.

2021/2022

James McAtee

The 2021/2022 campaign was an exceptional one for James McAtee. With Manchester City establishing themselves as the premier youth set-up in the country, the midfielder became their shining light. Managing 25 goal contributions in 23 games, the Englishman beat Liverpool starlet Connor Bradley to the award.

McAtee would make his Premier League debut that season, and then spent the next two seasons on loan at Sheffield United. Now 22, Guardiola gave McAtee more chances to impress in the 2024/25 campaign as he made 27 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven goals.

2022/23

Carlos Borges

Borges’ 19 goals helped the Citizens to a third consecutive title, something never before achieved. While at some clubs this would be enough to make his way into the first team, this was not possible for Borges, who had to look elsewhere and he joined Ajax in the summer of 2023.

On paper, this would allow him to compete for titles and develop as a player. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. After managing three goals in 32 games in his debut season for the Dutch giants, he joined Wolves on loan for the 2024/25 campaign. He struggled to make an impact at the club as he played just 233 minutes across the whole Premier League campaign. Despite his limited game-time, he was able to showcase his blistering pace as he recorded the fifth highest top-speed among Premier League players in 2024/25.

2023/24

Will Lankshear

The Tottenham youngster had a prolific campaign in 2023/24, scoring 23 times as the north London side were crowned Premier League 2 winners for the first time.

Ange Postecoglou decided it would be best to promote him to the first team rather than send him out on loan for the first half of the 2024/25 season. He netted his first goal for his boyhood side in the Europa Conference League against Galatsaray, a game where he was also sent off.

The Englishman joined West Bromwich Albion on loan for the second half of the campaign, but he struggled to make much of an impact as he failed to hit the back of the net in 11 appearances. Still just 20 years old, Lankshear has plenty of time to fulfill his lofty potential.

2024/25

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

The sky is the limit for Simpson-Pusey, who became the first defender to win the award this year. He played an instrumental role as Man City finished top of the table in the regular season, conceding only 23 goals in 20 matches and keeping six clean sheets. He also recorded two goals and bagged an assist.

Pep Guardiola has clearly been keeping a keen eye on the 19-year-old’s progress as he has already given him numerous chances to shine at first-team level. He played six times for the club across all competitions in the 2024/25 season and has already appeared in both the Premier League and the Champions League,