Chelsea Duo Shortlisted for PFA Young Player of the Year

Chelsea’s recruitment drive is already paying off. Two of their newest faces now stand on the brink of individual recognition, with Blues duo Alexia Buurman and Alyssa Thompson both shortlisted for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award after eye-catching debut campaigns in England.

The award, voted for by fellow professionals, carries weight in any career. To land on this list so early in their Chelsea journeys says plenty about how quickly both have imposed themselves on the domestic game.

Buurman’s patient route pays off

Buurman’s path has not been straightforward. She signed for Chelsea in September 2024, then immediately disappeared from English view, sent back to PSV on loan. Out of sight, but clearly not out of mind.

Last summer she finally walked into the first-team environment at Cobham and stayed there. Twenty-four appearances across all competitions tell the story of a player trusted in big moments, not just eased in around the edges.

Her breakthrough moment came with a flourish. In an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur, Buurman chose the perfect stage to score her first Chelsea goal, striking in style as the Blues pushed past their London rivals. It was the sort of contribution that sticks in opponents’ memories – and, crucially, in the minds of those casting PFA ballots.

Thompson hits the ground sprinting

If Buurman’s rise felt steady, Thompson’s impact was immediate.

Signed last summer from Angel City, the 21-year-old barely missed a beat in her first full season in England. She featured 33 times in the 2025/26 campaign, the joint-highest appearance tally in the squad alongside the ever-present Erin Cuthbert. That kind of durability is rare in a debut year; doing it while adapting to a new league and country underlines her mentality as much as her talent.

Thompson offered far more than work rate. She finished with nine goals in all competitions, second only to star striker Sam Kerr in the Chelsea ranks. For a young forward learning the nuances of the English game, that is serious output.

When teammates and opponents sat down to vote, those numbers – and the memory of a winger or forward constantly asking questions of defences – would have been hard to ignore.

Chelsea’s growing influence

A third of the six-player shortlist wears Chelsea blue. Buurman and Thompson are joined on the nominees list by Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Freya Godfrey (London Lionesses), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur) and Olivia Smith (Arsenal).

It is a cross-section of the league’s emerging core, but the Chelsea presence stands out. Two players, both in their first full seasons with the club, already operating at a level that commands respect from their peers. For a squad built to compete on multiple fronts, this is the next generation announcing itself.

The verdict now moves to Manchester. The winner will be revealed at the PFA’s annual awards ceremony at the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday 25 August, a grand stage for the game’s rising stars.

By then, Buurman and Thompson will be deep into preparations for another campaign. Whether or not one of them leaves with the trophy, the message from this shortlist is clear: Chelsea’s future isn’t just promising. It has already arrived.