
Chelsea's
N'Golo Kante has been named the EA Sports Premier League Player of the Year,
the third major award he has collected after an outstanding season for the
champions.
The 26-year-old Frenchman had already been named Player of the Year by the
Football Writers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association.
The dynamic midfielder has become just the second player to win the Premier
League with different clubs in back-to-back seasons, having been an integral
part of Leicester's title-winning campaign last term.
As well as Kante, the eight-man shortlist for the award comprised his team
mates Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta, Tottenham Hotspur trio Harry Kane,
Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen, Everton's Romelu Lukaku, and Arsenal's Alexis
Sanchez.
And Kante won the most combined votes from a panel of experts, Premier
League captains and fans.
He told the Premier League website: "It's a huge honour to be named player
of the year by such big names in football and I want to thank everyone who
voted for me.
"I work hard in training, I try to give my best, and I work with so many
very good players - that's why we won the league two times.
Asked about his favourite memories of the season, he added: "We played many
good games but we won 5-0 against Everton, which was a very beautiful game,
and also my goal against Manchester United (in a comprehensive 4-0 victory).
"It is always good to score and I am happy for these two games."