Eden Hazard has been named the best Belgian Player in a foreign league after he saw off the challenges of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli forward Dries Mertens, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Hazard had 326 votes to beat the winner of the last two editions De Bruyne (315), Mertens (270), Lukaku (126) and Courtois (29).

De Bruyne also topped the second round of voting, after Mertens had won the first round but Hazard emerged as the overall winner.

On winning his first honour in his country, Hazard, who led the Blues to a 2nd Premier League title in three years, said: “My first prize in Belgium and certainly not my last one.”

The former Lille forward added that he would have voted for Mertens. He said: “What a good year he had. With a lot of goals too. I go for him, because he also played in a position that was not actually his. He was not an attacker.”

Hazard, who was unable to attend due to commitments with Nike, has scored nine goals and weighed in with two assists for fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League.