The 2024 edition of the London Football Awards took place tonight, with a number of Chelsea players on display at the ceremony, with three of our players receiving awards.
For the men’s team, forward Cole Palmer won the Young Player of the Year title in a glamorous ceremony at Camden’s Roundhouse.
Palmer has proved an outstanding signing for the Blues since joining Stamford Bridge from Manchester City last summer, scoring 14 goals in all competitions for the club, including 10 in the Premier League. Palmer was also called up to the senior squad for the first time since his arrival, making his England debut in November.
The 21-year-old topped a list of five players, which also included: Striker Ali Al Hammadi (AFC Wimbledon, now Ipswich Town), Tottenham pair Papu Matar Sarr and Destiny Udogi, and AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Currie.
In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Chelsea dominated the shortlist with Guro Leiten, Niamh Charles and Lauren James all nominated. Arsenal’s Katie McCabe and Tottenham’s Martha Thomas were also considered for the award, but in the end it was James who scooped the gong.
The Chelsea forward is having another great season as WSL champions, fresh off her breakthrough in a major competition against England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
James is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals in 13 WSL games so far this season, and Chelsea are firmly in the hunt for another four trophies this season. Lauren has previously enjoyed success at the London Football Awards, with 12 months ago she won the Young Female Player of the Year award.
And James wasn’t the only Blues player from Emma Hayes to ring at the award ceremony, with Aggie Beaver-Jones receiving the Young Player of the Year award.
Beaver-Jones has had a breakthrough season at Kingsmeadow, scoring seven goals so far and winning Barclays’ November Player of the Month title earlier this term. This followed his run of five goals in five games since his debut goal against Brighton.
The 20-year-old striker beat off stiff competition from Arsenal’s Kyra Cooney-Cross and Tottenham’s Grace Clinton to win yet another title in what has been an incredible year.
Hayes won a special award for his outstanding contribution to London football in 2022, but this time he was nominated for the title of Manager of the Year, which was won by Ange Postecoglou.
Congratulations to all award winners and nominees!