'Means a lot' - Man City striker makes heartfelt admission after scooping prestigious award

Manchester City striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw says she wants to inspire the next generation of Caribbean footballers after being voted the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) women's player of the year.

The Jamaica international scooped the award at a star-studded ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday night, while City men's star Phil Foden was crowned the men's player of the year. Shaw was the Women's Super League (WSL) top scorer in the 2023/24 season with 21 goals in 18 games, before her campaign was curtailed by injury.

“I am both happy and proud to have received this award - to be recognised in such a way by my peers is a very special honour,” Shaw said. “I also want to thank my team-mates and the entire coaching staff because without them this would not be possible.

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“I’d also like to congratulate all my fellow nominees who are such amazing players. To have been voted the player of the year means a lot.”

Shaw joined City from Bordeaux in 2021 and helped the club to a second-place finish last term, with Chelsea pipping the Blues to the title on goal difference. As well as helping City to a superb collective campaign, the forward took her overall tally for the club to 72 goals, surpassing Georgia Stanway’s total of 67 to become City’s all-time women’s leading scorer.

Speaking about her achievements to BBC Sport, the 27-year-old added: "I always had a dream to be the best that I can be. Each and every day I try to do that, not just on the field but off the field and inspire young girls not just in Jamaica but the whole of the Caribbean to show that if