Much like the PFA Player of the Year, the PFA Young player of the year is voted for by members of the Professional Footballers Association, the union for players in England and Wales.
As an award to recognise players at the start of their careers, there is an age restriction for those nominated. From 2021 players must be no older than 21 on the 1st July prior to that season starting. Previously the age limit was 23.
As with the PFA Player of the Year, the first PFA Young Player of the Year trophy was awarded during the 1973/1974 season. The winner that year was Ipswich Town’s Kevin Beattie.
List of PFA Young Player of the Year Winners: 1974 – 2022
| Season | Player | Club | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Phil Foden | Manchester City | Midfielder | English |
| 2020/21 | Phil Foden | Manchester City | Midfielder | English |
| 2019/20 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | Defender | English |
| 2018/19 | Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | Forward | English |
| 2017/18 | Leroy Sané | Manchester City | Forward | German |
| 2016/17 | Dele Alli | Tottenham Hotspur | Midfielder | English |
| 2015/16 | Dele Alli | Tottenham Hotspur | Midfielder | English |
| 2014/15 | Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur | Forward | English |
| 2013/14 | Eden Hazard | Chelsea | Forward | Belgian |
| 2012/13 | Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur | Forward | Welsh |
| 2011/12 | Kyle Walker | Tottenham Hotspur | Defender | English |
| 2010/11 | Jack Wilshere | Arsenal | Midfielder | English |
| 2009/10 | James Milner | Aston Villa | Midfielder | English |
| 2008/09 | Ashley Young | Aston Villa | Midfielder | English |
| 2007/08 | Cesc Fàbregas | Arsenal | Midfielder | Spanish |
| 2006/07 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | Forward | Portuguese |
| 2005/06 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | Forward | English |
| 2004/05 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | Forward | English |
| 2003/04 | Scott Parker | Charlton Athletic/Chelsea | Midfielder | English |
| 2002/03 | Jermaine Jenas | Newcastle United | Midfielder | English |
| 2001/02 | Craig Bellamy | Newcastle United | Forward | Welsh |
| 2000/01 | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool | Midfielder | English |
| 1999/2000 | Harry Kewell | Leeds United | Forward | Australian |
| 1998/99 | Nicolas Anelka | Arsenal | Forward | French |
| 1997/98 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | Forward | English |
| 1996/97 | David Beckham | Manchester United | Midfielder | English |
| 1995/96 | Robbie Fowler | Liverpool | Forward | English |
| 1994/95 | Robbie Fowler | Liverpool | Forward | English |
| 1993/94 | Andy Cole | Newcastle United | Forward | English |
| 1992/93 | Ryan Giggs | Manchester United | Midfielder | Welsh |
| 1991/92 | Ryan Giggs | Manchester United | Midfielder | Welsh |
| 1990/91 | Lee Sharpe | Manchester United | Midfielder | English |
| 1989/90 | Matthew Le Tissier | Southampton | Midfielder | English |
| 1988/89 | Paul Merson | Arsenal | Midfielder | English |
| 1987/88 | Paul Gascoigne | Newcastle United | Midfielder | English |
| 1986/87 | Tony Adams | Arsenal | Defender | English |
| 1985/86 | Tony Cottee | West Ham United | Forward | English |
| 1984/85 | Mark Hughes | Manchester United | Forward | Welsh |
| 1983/84 | Paul Walsh | Luton Town | Forward | English |
| 1982/83 | Ian Rush | Liverpool | Forward | Welsh |
| 1981/82 | Steve Moran | Southampton | Forward | English |
| 1980/81 | Gary Shaw | Aston Villa | Forward | English |
| 1979/80 | Glenn Hoddle | Tottenham Hotspur | Midfielder | English |
| 1978/79 | Cyrille Regis | West Bromwich Albion | Forward | English |
| 1977/78 | Tony Woodcock | Nottingham Forest | Forward | English |
| 1976/77 | Andy Gray | Aston Villa | Forward | Scottish |
| 1975/76 | Peter Barnes | Manchester City | Midfielder | English |
| 1974/75 | Mervyn Day | West Ham United | Goalkeeper | English |
| 1973/74 | Kevin Beattie | Ipswich Town | Defender | English |