Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have been named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s men’s and women’s Players of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
The pair were previously recognised by the Football Writers’ Association, having won its men’s and women’s Footballer of the Year awards for the same campaign.
Fernandes becomes the first Manchester United player to win the PFA men’s award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, while Shaw claims the women’s prize for the second time in three seasons.
Fernandes Rewarded After Record-breaking Season
Fernandes enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign despite Manchester United ending the season without a trophy. The Portuguese international broke the Premier League record for assists in a single season, registering 21 in 35 league appearances. He surpassed the previous mark of 20 assists jointly held by former Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Fernandes finished the 2025-26 Premier League season with nine goals and 21 assists, helping United finish third and qualify for the Champions League. Across all competitions, the 31-year-old scored nine goals and provided 22 assists in 37 appearances.
He joined United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 and has since established himself as one of the club’s most influential players.
Fernandes beat an impressive shortlist to the PFA award that included Arsenal defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya, midfielder Declan Rice, as well as Manchester City forwards Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland. He is only the second Portuguese player to win the men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s back-to-back victories in 2007 and 2008.
Shaw Claims Second Award in Three Seasons
Shaw also continued her remarkable run of individual success by collecting her second PFA women’s Player of the Year award in three seasons. The Manchester City forward scored 21 goals to secure her third consecutive Women’s Super League Golden Boot as City were crowned champions. Her goals helped Manchester City claim the WSL title and reinforced Shaw’s status as one of the most prolific forwards in English women’s football.
The Jamaica international had already been named the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2025-26 campaign.
O’Reilly and Smith Win Young Player Awards
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly was named the PFA men’s Young Player of the Year, succeeding former winner Morgan Rogers.
The versatile 21-year-old established himself as a regular starter for City during the season, recording five goals and eight goal involvements in 34 league appearances. He also helped City keep nine clean sheets and scored twice in the League Cup, including during City’s victory over Arsenal in the final. A game where he was named player of the match.
In the women’s category, Arsenal’s Olivia Smith retained the Young Player of the Year award. The Canada international becomes only the second player, after England international Lauren Hemp, to win the award more than once.
Smith scored 10 goals in all competitions during her first season at Arsenal after joining the club from Liverpool for £1m last summer.
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