IT took Phil Foden just 77 seconds to extinguish any chance of an Arsenal triumph on the final day of the Premier League season. This was fitting considering the 23-year-old’s role in Manchester City’s charge to a fourth successive title. This was the season Foden finally became the main man at the Etihad Stadium. The 2023/24 Premier League title belongs to him.

Not so long ago, Pep Guardiola’s use of Foden was the subject of much debate among fans and experts. While Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne pushed City to an historic Treble last season, there were times during the campaign when Foden was a peripheral figure. Indeed, 13 Manchester City players received more league minutes last season.

This season, though, has been a different story. Foden has registered 27 goals and 11 assists in all competitions with the FA Cup final still to come this weekend. What’s more, many of those 27 goals have been match-winners. Without his contribution, Manchester City probably wouldn’t have been able to keep Arsenal at arm’s length in the title race.

Foden’s natural talent has been obvious years. He was part of the England team that won the U17 World Cup in 2017 and was spoken about as the country’s next big thing for years, making his senior City debut at the age of just 17. Technically, Foden has long stood out as someone who could reach the elite level for club and country.

For club, that rise has now firmly taken place. Guardiola placed his full trust in Foden to be a central pillar of Manchester City’s team this season. When de Bruyne and Haaland missed a stretch of the campaign, Foden was installed as City’s primary attacking hub – and it was a role he refused to let go of, playing in the number 10 position until the end of the season.

Increasingly, de Bruyne has to fit in around Foden in the City lineup. Guardiola has pushed the Belgian deeper into the midfield in order to give Foden more freedom closer to goal, and the 23-year-old has made the most of that freedom. This season has comfortably been the best goal-scoring season of his career to date.

“He has goals in his veins and he has to use this,” said Guardiola after Foden netted a hat trick in a crucial league victory over Aston Villa in April when the pressure of the title race was rising. “Phil, when he plays in central positions has a feel of goal. He can do whatever he wants. He’s a really top class player, we know it.”

For country, Foden has still to prove himself as a difference-maker with Gareth Southgate preferring to use the 23-year-old on the wing. In England’s relatively rigid set-up, Foden doesn’t have the freedom to drift into the half-spaces like he does for Manchester City. This restricts what he can do for the national team.

Even still, Euro 2024 will be an opportunity for Foden to carry his outstanding club form into the international game with England expected to be among the frontrunners to go the distance in Germany this summer. Alongside world class teammates like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Foden could make the Three Lions’ attack the strongest in the tournament.

Certain players are associated with certain triumphs. Last season was Haaland’s as he took the Premier League by storm in his debut season at City. The season before was de Bruyne’s as he hit 15 goals in just 25 league starts. This season, however, was defined by the brilliance of Foden and there is much more to come from him.

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