The Academy Graduate Award has been created to recognise former academy players who have gone on to achieve significant footballing success. Mount succeeds Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was the first recipient in 2018/19, and Marcus Rashford who took home the award last season.

Voted as the 2020/21 Chelsea Player of the Year by supporters and up for Premier League Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season, the 22-year-old’s on-field achievements have been recognised by many. Off the pitch, Mount became a patron of the Together for Short Lives charity back in January and has been helping raise vital funds to aid the charity's aim of reaching out to children with life-limiting conditions.

The panel consider all candidates’ individual record, integrity, sportsmanship, character and achievement. A player may only be eligible for recognition for the award if they have been involved with Academy football for five years or longer and a member of the academy system since 2012.

Scholar of the Year

To conclude the event, each club's Scholar of the Year was named and defender Alfie Gilchrist was handed the award at Chelsea. After playing 17 times for the youth team and making his Premier League 2 debut with the development squad, Gilchrist takes the 2020/21 award. The award recognises achievements both on and off the field, with the 17-year-old’s attitude and application cited as key to his recognition.