The Dutch international has played a crucial role in transforming Liverpool's defence this season, and has remarkably featured in every Premier League game this season as Liverpool have mounted an inspired title challenge with the joint-best defensive record in the league.
The 27 year-old is now the third defender to win the award after Nemanja Vidic and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
The winner was decided by a combination of votes from fans, the captains of the 20 Premier League clubs and a panel of football experts.
Liverpool and City have both kept 20 clean sheets apiece in their gruelling battle for the title, which will go down to the last game of the season on Sunday.
The announcement comes just hours before Liverpool face Wolves in their final Premier League game of the season, where they will be need to win and hope City drop points away at lowly Brighton if they are to end their 29 year-long league title drought.
Virgil van Dijk also won the PFA Players' Player of the Seaon award last month, edging out the impressive Raheem Sterling to take home the gong.
May 12, 2019