Bruno Fernandes Crowned PFA Player of the Year After Record-Breaking Season
Bruno Fernandes has been named the PFA Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, becoming the first Manchester United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10. The Portuguese midfielder set a new Premier League single-season record with 21 assists, surpassing the previous benchmarks held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He also scored nine league goals as United finished third under manager Michael Carrick The Guardian.
The PFA award — voted for by fellow professionals, making it the game's most respected individual honour — caps a season in which Fernandes reached 200 goal involvements for Manchester United in just 314 matches. That figure breaks down as 110 goals and 106 assists since he arrived at Old Trafford Reuters.
On the women's side, Khadija Shaw of Manchester City won the PFA Women's Player of the Year award for the second time, having first claimed it in 2023-24. Shaw scored 21 goals in the Women's Super League this season, securing a third consecutive Golden Boot and her first WSL title The Guardian.
The young player categories produced their own storylines. Olivia Smith of Arsenal won the women's PFA Young Player of the Year for the second season running — she first took the prize in 2025 while at Liverpool. Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City was named men's Young Player of the Year.
The PFA Premier League Team of the Year featured Fernandes alongside David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Igor Thiago, Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. The WSL Team of the Year included Shaw, Kerstin Casparij, Yui Hasegawa, Mariona Caldentey, Emily Fox, Alessia Russo, Toko Koga, Jess Park, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter and Lauren James The Guardian.
Beyond the top flight, the PFA recognised standout performers across the English football pyramid. Hayden Hackney — now at Everton — won the Championship award for his performances at Middlesbrough, who fell short in the play-off final. Dom Ballard of Bristol City took the League One honour for a prolific season on loan at Leyton Orient. Aaron Drinan of Swindon Town won the League Two award, and Lily Crosthwaite of Birmingham claimed the WSL2 accolade The Guardian.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney received PFA merit awards for their contributions to football. The PFA also published a tribute to Bob Purkiss MBE, written by PFA Operations Board Chair Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE, recognising a lifetime of service to equality and inclusion in the game PFA.
For Fernandes, the award is the fullest recognition yet from his peers. He arrived at Old Trafford in January 2020 as a player who divided opinion — brilliant but demanding, prolific but prone to frustration. Six and a half years later, the numbers speak plainly: 200 goal involvements, a Premier League assist record, and a place in United's history alongside Rooney. Not many players get to hear their name read out by the union their fellow professionals built. Fewer still earn it the way Fernandes has — by being the one who makes everything happen.
