Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been honored as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year. The Portuguese international enjoyed a stellar 2025/26 campaign, setting a new all-time Premier League record with 21 assists, eclipsing the previous benchmarks held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. In addition to his playmaking, the 31-year-old netted nine goals, helping United recover from a difficult start to secure a third-place finish under manager Michael Carrick and a return to the Champions League.
Reflecting on the achievement, which follows his Football Writers’ Association award in May, Fernandes noted the significance of being recognized by his peers. “It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against and it’s probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment,” he said.
In the women’s game, Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw claimed the top honor for the second time. Her recognition followed a prolific season in which she scored 21 goals, earning her a third consecutive Golden Boot and helping City capture their first Women’s Super League title in ten years.
Manchester City also celebrated success in the men’s young player category, with 21-year-old Nico O’Reilly taking the award. O’Reilly played a pivotal role in City’s domestic success, scoring twice in the League Cup final victory over Arsenal and contributing to the club’s FA Cup triumph. “I’m very proud of the season I had,” the England international remarked. “I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I’m over the moon how it turned out.”
O’Reilly was joined in the PFA Team of the Year by City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Antoine Semenyo. The team also featured five players from league champions Arsenal—David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice—alongside Fernandes and Brentford’s Igor Thiago.
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