The Manchester City midfield maestro played 35 times in the English top flight last season, scoring 13 goals and matching Thierry Henry’s long-standing record of supplying 20 assists as Pep Guardiola’s men relinquished their Premier League crown to Liverpool.
De Bruyne came out on top in a six-man shortlist that also included last year’s winner Virgil Van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold and City teammate Raheem Sterling.
De Bruyne, who was also named Premier League player of the season last month, is surprisingly the first Manchester City player to win the PFA Player of the year since the award’s inception 46 years ago.
Liverpool duo Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah had won the award for the last two seasons. It marks the third season in a row that the winner of the award has not come from the reigning champions.
“It’s a huge honour. To be voted for by your colleagues and competitors from other teams who you play against and they vote for you for best player is amazing,” De Bruyne said.
"It's strange that I'm the first one at City given all the good players that have played here before and who are still playing here, but it's nice to represent the club.
"I think it is [the ultimate honour] because you compete against them, they want to win the trophies, they want to be the best. When they vote for you, and it’s everyone who is voting not just a few players, that means you’ve done really well during the season."
De Bruyne's City boss Guardiola added: "To win this award is an outstanding achievement, and Kevin is so deserving of it.
"To be recognised by other players is the most that any footballer can ask for, because they understand not only what it is to compete against you, but also the level of commitment it takes to play at the very top.
"There have been many great players in this club’s history, especially over the last decade working with Roberto [Mancini], Manuel [Pellegrini] and myself. We have won many titles, but Kevin is the first to receive this prestigious award. This recognition is also a tribute to all the fantastic players who have come before him.
Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold won the PFA Young player of the year award.
