Kevin De Bruyne beats Martin Odegaard to Midfielder of the Season award

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 05 June 2023

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne beats Arsenal's Martin Odegaard to the Midfielder of the Season award in the annual Sports Mole Readers' Awards.

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has been named the Premier League Midfielder of the Season for 2022-23 in the annual Sports Mole Readers' Awards.

The 31-year-old was once again instrumental in helping the Citizens to Premier League glory, topping the assists charts with 16 as Pep Guardiola's men lifted the trophy for the third time in succession, and the fifth time in the last six seasons.

De Bruyne also created the second-most big chances for teammates during the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, as well as helping Man City to FA Cup glory, assisting the winning goal in the final against Manchester United at Wembley.

The Belgium international could yet be part of a historic treble if Man City beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but his exploits this term have already been enough to earn 38% of your votes for best midfielder in our end-of-season awards.

That tally left De Bruyne comfortably clear of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who garnered 24.8% of the votes having led the Gunners' title charge.

Odegaard scored 15 goals from midfield, incidentally equalling De Bruyne's best-ever goalscoring season in the competition, while also adding eight assists to establish himself as one of the standout players this year.

Manchester United's Casemiro, whose arrival at Old Trafford was largely credited with helping them regain Champions League football, finished third in the voting with 12.1%, while his teammate Bruno Fernandes was fourth on 7.8% having created more chances than any other player this season.

Ilkay Gundogan, who scored some crucial goals in the run-in and also netted both of Man City's goals in the FA Cup final, makes up the top five.

PREMIER LEAGUE MIDFIELDER OF THE SEASON RESULTS

1. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 38%
2. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - 24.8%
3. Casemiro (Manchester United) - 12.1%
4. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.8%
5. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - 7.5%
6. Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion) - 6.3%
7. Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United) - 1.4%
8. Solly March (Brighton & Hove Albion) - 0.9%
9. Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United) - 0.6%
= Joelinton (Newcastle United) - 0.6%