Has the League One Player of the Season Already Been Decided?

Has the League One Player of the Season Already Been Decided?

Despite being just the start of the League One season, the English third tier has already sprung a host of surprises, as ex-Championship side Plymouth Argyle sits at the bottom of the league table, while promoted Bradford occupies second place.

While there have been a number of standout individuals, one individual in particular has taken the league by storm. Bolton Wanderers' Amario Cozier-Duberry has come to life in Steven Schumacher's side, and there is reason to believe that he has already secured the Player of the Season award.

Red Hot Form

The 20-year-old has merited a lot of discussion in recent weeks, and it seems like a new goal clip is posted every time he steps onto the pitch. Just four goals and three assists in his last four appearances tell you what you need to know about this young talent on loan from Brighton, not to mention that four of those contributions came in the last league game at home to Port Vale.

During that spell, his side has gone on a five-game winning streak and climbed up to third spot in the league table, only topped by league leaders Stockport County and a Bradford side that has come back down to earth in recent matches. Cozier-Duberry has rightly been recognized for his brilliant displays after being named the EFL Young Player of the Month for October.

✨ @OfficialBWFC forward Amario Cozier-Duberry has been named @EASPORTSFC Young Player of the Month for October 👏

Read more here 👉 https://t.co/hKry29iXAl#EFL pic.twitter.com/fxCRXI4T0M

— EFL (@EFL) November 10, 2025

A Point to Prove

With six goals and six assists in 15 appearances, the winger is bouncing back after an unsuccessful loan at Championship club Blackburn Rovers last season. With one goal in 23 appearances for Rovers, Cozier-Duberry quickly fell out of favor and spent the latter stages of the loan spell as an unused substitute before returning to parent club Brighton & Hove Albion, which signed Amario from Arsenal on a free transfer last summer.

As a product of Hale End, expectations of the Englishman were unsurprisingly high. Yet, injury setbacks and managerial tactics prevented a strong run of games during this loan spell-he made seven starts and failed to complete 90 minutes in any of these appearances. However, having been given an opportunity at senior level, we began to see the pedigree of the player who flourished in the Arsenal U21 setup, scoring 11 goals and claiming four assists in 20 Premier League 2 appearances. The stats are very telling, and Cozier-Duberry , alongside teammate Mason Burstow, is loving life in blue and white.

📈 Most productive in #LeagueOne this season:

12⚽️: 🔥COZIER-DUBERRY (6G, 6A)🔥
9⚽️: Burstow (7G, 2A), Wootton (6G, 3A)
8⚽️: Norwood (4G, 4A), Connolly (6G, 2A), Tolaj (7G, 1A)#BWFC @OfficialBWFC pic.twitter.com/uAWop7kwFW

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) November 10, 2025

The Man for the Big Occasion

Numbers aside, what is even more impressive is how they have come about and , more particularly, when, as Bolton fans would not need any reminding. I'm not sure if the nickname 'Mr . Clutch' has been thrown around yet, but three stoppage-time goals, two of them being winners, are more than enough evidence to warrant this label.

As if that wasn't enough, the equalizing strike away at Leyton Orient and the winner against Cardiff may as well have their own battle for Goal of the Season now; that top left corner will never be the same again. However, it is hard to look past the winning strike against Huddersfield, the buildup play, and the finish that sent the 2,336 traveling Wanderers' fans into pandemonium. Any excuse to share that goal again.

Pure CHAOS at the Accu Stadium as just a minute after Bolton equalised, Amario Cozier-Duberry scores to win it 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jBCniT70ss

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 16, 2025

In For the Long Run

Rumors have recently circulated that Cozier-Duberry will remain at Bolton for the rest of the season, despite many expecting a second taste of Championship football to be on the cards in January. This only strengthens the player's claim to achieve the Player of the Season Award, previously won by ex-Peterborough and current Sheffield United defender Harrison Burrows.

Cozier-Duberry will have competition from the likes of Stockport's Oliver Norwood and Burton Albion goalkeeper Bradley Collins. Yet, if there is anything to take from a fan perspective, it would appear that the title is very much in safe hands for Bolton's star boy.

Cozier Duberry is the best footballer to ever live and I will burn Brighton football club to the ground before I let them take him back

— Wes (@Wesbwfcagain1) November 8, 2025