Revealed: The top six stars in the FWA Footballer of the Year voting as Phil Foden is crowned the winner - with just TWO foreign players included

Manchester City and England star Phil Foden has been crowned the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, picking up 42 per cent of the vote.

Foden, 23, has enjoyed his best season to date amid City's push for an astonishing fourth successive Premier League title, emerging Pep Guardiola's most important player with 24 goals and ten assists across all competitions with five games to go.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished second in the vote behind Foden, while his Manchester City team-mate Rodri was third.

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins finished fourth and fifth respectively, followed by Cole Palmer in sixth.

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot, Luton summer signing Ross Barkley and Villa midfielder John McGinn were among the surprise names to earn at least one vote in this season's FWA Footballer of the Year ballot.

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, Bruno Guimaraes, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Alexis Mac Allister, Son Heung-min and Jarrod Bowen completed the list of those to receive a vote. 

England international Foden is hoping to end his superb campaign with two domestic trophies, with City in control of the Premier League title race against Arsenal and favourites over rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final at the end of the month. 

His team-mate Erling Haaland claimed the historic award last term after smashing the Premier League scoring record with 36 goals in his debut season at the Etihad, while Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah won FWA Footballer of the Year in 2021-22.

Foden becomes the first Englishman to win the award since 2020, when former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson earned the honour for marshalling the Reds to a first league title in 30 years.

During his exclusive interview with Mail Sport last month, Foden admitted that he wants to be considered as one of the best players in England and pick up individual honours as a result.

'I hope I am up there in the conversation,' the City star said, when asked about the prospect of winning individual awards. 

'I am not gonna lie. I want to be one of the best Premier League players this season. I think I have the ability.'

Of those fighting for the Premier League Golden Boot, only Watkins has scored more than Foden this season without penalties, with the Aston Villa striker netting 19 from open play compared to his 16.

By comparison, during Manchester City's Treble-winning campaign last season, Foden netted eight Premier League goals, with just 15 across all competitions.

City take on Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham in their final four Premier League games this season, with leaders Arsenal currently a point ahead having played an extra match over the reigning champions.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal face a run-in of Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton on the final day of the season.