Declan Rice named BBC Premier League Player of the Year as Arsenal end 21-year title drought

Declan Rice has been named the BBC’s inaugural Premier League Player of the Year following Arsenal’s first league title in more than two decades, with the England midfielder edging out Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in a vote conducted by journalists, pundits and experts from the BBC.

Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions in the penultimate round of fixtures after Manchester City were beaten by Bournemouth, ending three consecutive seasons in which the Gunners had finished as runners-up. Rice was central to that breakthrough, and the recognition marks a personal milestone to accompany the club’s collective one.

The award was decided by a panel that included Chris Sutton, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Glenn Murray, Pat Nevin, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Theo Walcott, Ellen White and Fara Williams, among others.

Rice’s win formed part of a double honour for Arsenal, with head coach Mikel Arteta voted Premier League Manager of the Year — recognition for overseeing the club’s return to the summit of English football for the first time since 2004.

Brentford’s Igor Thiago claimed third place in the player vote after an impressive individual campaign, while Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly was named Young Player of the Year.