Dias named 2020/21 EA SPORTS Player of the Season

Ruben Dias has been voted the 2020/21 EA SPORTS Player of the Season.

The Manchester City centre-back follows in the footsteps of team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, who claimed the award in 2019/20.

Dias was pivotal to Man City's third Premier League title in four years as he made an immediate impact following his move from Benfica in September 2020.

The 24-year-old fitted seamlessly into Pep Guardiola's side and emerged as a leader at the back as City went on a 15-match winning streak, the fourth-longest such run in Premier League history.

Dias contributed to 15 clean sheets, winning 23 of his 32 matches played and making 35 interceptions, 24 tackles, 23 blocks and 135 recoveries.

He also helped City win the EFL Cup and reach the UEFA Champions League final. 

Emulating Kompany

Dias is only the fourth defender in history to be named Player of the Season, emulating Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, former City captain Vincent Kompany and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

He is also only the second Portuguese player to win the award, after Cristiano Ronaldo for Man Utd in 2006/07 and 2007/08.

The public vote was combined with those of the 20 club captains and a panel of football experts to determine Dias as the winner.

See: Carragher: Why I voted for Dias as Player of the Season

He beat seven other nominees to the award in De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Mohamed Salah and Tomas Soucek.

See: All Premier League award winners

Also in this series

Part 2: Guardiola claims Barclays Manager of the Season award
Part 3: Lamela rabona voted Budweiser Goal of the Season
Part 4: Foden wins Hublot Young Player of the Season award