Bruno Fernandes Named PFA Players' Player of the Year

MANCHESTER, England —

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has won the Professional Footballers' Association's Players' Player of the Year award for the 2025-26 season, the players' union announced Tuesday.

Fernandes, 31, set up 21 goals in the Premier League this season, a single-season record, according to the BBC and Sky Sports. That number broke the previous mark of 20, shared by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry, the BBC reported. He also scored nine goals in 35 league appearances as United finished third and qualified for the Champions League, though the club went without a trophy, according to the BBC and Yahoo Sports.

Across all competitions, Fernandes finished the season with nine goals and 22 assists in 37 matches, the BBC reported. He has now scored 110 goals and set up 106 more since joining United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Channel NewsAsia reported. He reached 200 combined goals and assists in 314 matches, the second-fastest player to hit that mark in United's Premier League history behind Wayne Rooney, who did it in 295 games, according to Channel NewsAsia.

Coach Michael Carrick, speaking in February, credited the freedom given to United's front four for Fernandes' form. "Bruno can just create moments. He's bright. I think that little bit of freedom suits him. He's got a natural brain," Carrick said, according to Channel NewsAsia.

Fernandes is the first United player to win the award since Rooney in 2010, the BBC and Yahoo Sports reported, though United players have now won it 12 times overall, more than any other club in England or Wales, according to Channel NewsAsia. He is only the second Portuguese player to take the honor, after Cristiano Ronaldo won it in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008 while at United.

Shaw and the Young Player Winners

Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw won the Women's Player of the Year award for the second time, having also won in 2024, after finishing as the Women's Super League's top scorer with 21 goals as City won the league title, according to the BBC and Sky Sports. Shaw is the third player to win the women's award more than once, joining Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby, and the first to win three WSL golden boots, moving past two-time winners Vivienne Miedema and Sam Kerr, the BBC reported.

Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, 21, took the men's Young Player of the Year award after making 53 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals, Channel NewsAsia reported. Arsenal forward Olivia Smith, 22, retained the women's Young Player of the Year title for a second straight year, becoming only the second player after Lauren Hemp to win it more than once, according to the BBC.

Team of the Year

The Premier League Team of the Year, voted on by players, was dominated by Arsenal and Manchester City, with four selections apiece, according to Yahoo Sports. Fernandes and Brentford's Igor Thiago rounded out the lineup, which also included Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City.