Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the PFA Men’s Players’ Player of the Year following a standout 2025/26 campaign.
The Portugal international broke the Premier League’s all-time assists record, setting up 21 goals to surpass the previous benchmark held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Fernandes, 31, also scored nine league goals as Manchester United recovered from a difficult start to the season to finish third under Michael Carrick and secure a return to the Champions League.
The award adds to Fernandes’ Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year honour, which he won in May.
“It is obviously a very proud moment,” Fernandes said. “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.”
Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw claimed the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award for the second time.
Shaw scored 21 goals to win a third consecutive Golden Boot and played a key role as City secured their first Women’s Super League title in a decade.
There was further recognition for Manchester City as Nico O’Reilly was named PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old England international scored twice in City’s League Cup final win over Arsenal and also helped the club lift the FA Cup. He was part of England’s World Cup squad during an impressive individual season.
“I’m very proud of the season I had,” O’Reilly said. “I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I’m over the moon with how it turned out.”
O’Reilly was included in the PFA Team of the Year alongside Manchester City team-mates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo.
Premier League champions Arsenal had five players selected: David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. Fernandes and Brentford forward Igor Thiago completed the XI.
