Chelsea star N'Golo Kante voted player of the year by Football Writers' Association

Another award for the midfielder.

Mon, 08 May, 2017 - 11:30

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been voted the 2017 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association.

The France international topped the poll of the 340-strong membership ahead of Blues team-mate Eden Hazard, with Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli in third place.

Between them, Blues duo Kante and Hazard, who was the 2015 Footballer of the Year, collected more than 65 per cent of the journalists' votes, which were spread over a record number of 17 different players.

Kante was instrumental in Leicester's shock Premier League triumph last season and following his £32million summer switch to west London, the midfielder looks set to collect a second successive championship medal with Chelsea now needing just two more victories to secure the title.

The 26-year-old will receive the prestigious FWA accolade, which has been awarded since 1948, at a gala dinner in London on May 18 when the association marks its 70th anniversary.

"It is a fantastic honour to win this award. With so many great players in this Chelsea squad and in the Premier League, for the Football Writers' Association of this country to name me as their Footballer of the Year is a very proud moment in my career," said Kante, who last month collected the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year trophy.

Kante with the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year trophy

Five Chelsea players were nominated by FWA members, with David Luiz, Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta also receiving votes.

FWA chairman Paddy Barclay paid tribute to Kante's dynamic campaign at the heart of Antonio Conte's team.

"N'Golo Kante could not be a more deserving winner of English football's most prestigious individual award," he said.

"In the view of some FWA members, he would have been a worthy recipient last season for his contribution to Leicester's title success, but the almost unbroken excellent form of Chelsea since he changed clubs has left little room for further debate.

"Considering the competition of Eden Hazard and others from Chelsea in particular, this is a great achievement."

N'Golo Kante in numbers

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for 2017.

Here, we take a look at the numbers behind the France international's stellar Premier League season.

32million - Kante's transfer fee from champions Leicester - £3million less than Arsenal spent on Granit Xhaka and roughly a third of the fee Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba.
25 - Premier League wins for Kante this season in 33 appearances - two more than he enjoyed in 37 games for Leicester last term.
114 - tackles made, ranking him second in the Premier League behind Idrissa Gueye.
79 - interceptions, the joint-fifth highest in the league and most of any Chelsea player.
2,011 - passes completed, the sixth-highest in the league.
2,959 - minutes played, the third most of any Chelsea outfield player.
9 - yellow cards.
0 - red cards.
1 - league goal scored, against Manchester United - opponents he also scored against in the FA Cup.
1 - he is close to becoming the first player to win back-to-back Premier League titles with different clubs.