Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has been voted the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year.

Portugal international Dias, 24, was a comfortable winner ahead of Tottenham forward Harry Kane and his City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.

Dias has enjoyed an outstanding first campaign at the Etihad Stadium since a club record £64.3million transfer from Benfica last September.

Dias is only the third player to win the FWA award in his first season in English football.

The last defender to collect the trophy, which has been presented since 1948, was Liverpool's Steve Nicol 32 years ago.

FWA chair Carrie Brown said: "Ruben Dias turned heads soon after his arrival in Manchester, belying his age with fortitude, steel, a relentless drive for perfection and an almost superhuman ability to read and anticipate phases of play.

"Pep Guardiola improves players, shapes them – but at no point has a new signing arrived into one of Pep's already trophy-laden teams and exerted such influence.

"Ruben Dias is our Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year for his leadership on and off the pitch as much as for the infectious joy he derives from executing the art of defending to perfection."