PFA Awards 2025: Mariona Caldentey and Olivia Smith win PFA player of the year awards

The Spain midfielder said "there is nothing better than when your opponents recognise your job" after picking up her first PFA award.

Caldentey told BBC Sport: "As a footballer, you want to win the trophies with the team and then when you are successful, this happens.

"It feels nice but I want to win trophies with the club."

Arsenal team-mate Alessia Russo, Manchester City pair Mary Fowler and Yui Hasegawa, Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert and Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce were also on the shortlist.

Spain international Caldentey was named the WSL player of the year in May, an award that was voted for by supporters.

Arsenal finished second in the WSL, behind champions Chelsea, but beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Champions League final with Caldentey playing the whole match.

Canada forward Smith said it "means the world to her" to become the first foreign player to win the award.

She told BBC Sport: "This genuinely means the world to me, knowing that no other foreigner has won this award.

"Whenever I go home it's so cool to see the girls that are inspired by me, and being a role model they look up to is massive for me and a huge privilege. I want this to help other girls and boys."

Smith, 21, became the most expensive signing in women's football history when she completed a £1m move to the Gunners from Liverpool in July.

Smith made her international debut at 15 and joined Liverpool from Portuguese side Sporting a year ago for a club-record fee of just over £200,000.

She scored nine goals in 20 matches in the WSL before agreeing a move to Arsenal in July.

Also in the running for the PFA young player of the year award were Chelsea trio Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano and Weikie Kaptein; Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton, who won the accolade in 2024; and Manchester City's Fowler.

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