Bruno Fernandes Wins PFA Player of the Year Award for Remarkable Season
Bruno Fernandes has clinched the PFA Player of the Year title, recognizing his exceptional achievement during a record-breaking season of assists as captain of Manchester United.
The Portugal midfielder earned recognition from his fellow players, ultimately being voted the best in the Premier League for the 2025/26 season. He surpassed a competitive shortlist that included three members of the Arsenal title-winning team.
Previously, he also secured the Football Writers Association Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year awards, driven by his remarkable tally of 21 assists, the highest in Premier League history.
Fernandes played a crucial role in helping United recover from a slow start to the season, leading them to a third-place finish and a spot in the Champions League.
Joining him on the nominee list were Arsenal’s David Raya, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Magalhaes, alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly earned the Young Player of the Year award, edging out an accomplished group that included Cherki, Arsenal’s Max Dowman, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, United’s Kobbie Mainoo, and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha.
City’s Bunny Shaw claimed the Women’s Player of the Year honor, while Arsenal’s Olivia Smith was recognized as the Women’s Young Player of the Year.
Earlier in the event, Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney received special merit awards.
Premier League Team of the Year: David Raya (Arsenal); Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal); Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City); Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Igor Thiago (Brentford).
Player of the Year top six: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), David Raya (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Young Player of the Year top six: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Max Dowman (Arsenal), Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City).
Women’s Team of the Year: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea); Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea), Emily Fox (Arsenal); Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Jessica Park (Manchester United); Bunny Shaw (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea).
Women’s Player of the Year top six: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Bunny Shaw (Manchester City).
Women’s Young Player of the Year top six: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Veerle Buurman (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), Olivia Smith (Arsenal), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea).
Bruno Fernandes has been named PFA Player of the Year, with the Manchester United captain rewarded another individual gong for his record-breaking season of assists.
The Portugal playmaker was voted by his peers as the Premier League‘s best player for 2025/26, beating a six-man shortlist that featured three members of Arsenal‘s title winning squad.
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He had previously won the Football Writers Association Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year awards for his performances in a season where he registered 21 assists, the most in Premier League history.
Fernandes was integral to ensuring United overcame a sluggish start to the campaign as they climbed to third position and secured their return to the Champions League.
He was joined on the shortlist by Arsenal’s David Raya, Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes, and Manchester City pair Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly has been awarded the top flight’s Young Player of the Year, pipping a shortlist that featured Cherki, Arsenal teenager Max Dowman, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha.
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City goalscorer Bunny Shaw was the unsurprising winner of the Women’s Player of the Year award, while Arsenal’s Olivia Smith was named Women’s Young Player of the Year.
Shaw was named player of the year after leading City to double glory. (Getty)
Earlier Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney were given merit awards.
Premier League Team of the Year: David Raya (Arsenal); Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal); Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City); Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Igor Thiago (Brentford).
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Player of the Year top six: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), David Raya (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Young Player of the Year top six: Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Max Dowman (Arsenal), Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City).
Women’s Team of the Year: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea); Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea), Emily Fox (Arsenal); Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Jessica Park (Manchester United); Bunny Shaw (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea).
Women’s Player of the Year top six: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Bunny Shaw (Manchester City).
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Women’s Young Player of the Year top six: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Veerle Buurman (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), Olivia Smith (Arsenal), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea).
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