Fernandes Wins PFA Players' Player of the Year While Shaw Repeats as Women's Honoree

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has been honoured as the men’s PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season, while Manchester City forward Bunny Shaw secured the women’s award for a second consecutive year. Fernandes, the creative midfield maestro, shattered the Premier League’s all‑time assist record during an extraordinary campaign, delivering 21 assists and overtaking the likes of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. In addition to his playmaking feats, the 31‑year‑old Portuguese international found the net nine times, helping United recover from a tentative start to the season and clinch a third‑place finish that guarantees a return to the Champions League under the stewardship of Michael Carrick.

The award meant a great deal to Fernandes because it was decided by his peers – the very players he lines up against each week. He reflected on the honour, saying, "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." This accolade makes him the first United player to win the PFA Players' Player award since Wayne Rooney lifted the trophy in the 2009/10 season, adding to his recent Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year title awarded in May. On the women’s side, Manchester City’s prolific striker Bunny Shaw was again recognised as the PFA Women’s Player of the Year.

The 29‑year‑old, who also collected the Football Writers' Association award, repeated her success from the 2023‑24 season by scoring 21 goals, securing a third consecutive Golden Boot and guiding City to a maiden Women’s Super League championship. Shaw’s consistency and clinical finishing have cemented her status as one of the premier attackers in the game. The young talent pool also featured prominently at the ceremony.

Arsenal’s Olivia Smith captured the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second year running, after previously winning the 2025 prize for her performances with Liverpool and continuing her development in the capital. In the men’s category, Manchester City’s Nico O'Reilly, only 21, was named PFA Young Player of the Year following a breakout season that saw him contribute to England’s World Cup bronze‑medal run. O'Reilly, who also earned a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, praised his season: "I had a great season.

I'm very proud of the season I had. 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." The Premier League Team of the Year was dominated by Arsenal, who placed five players – David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice – alongside United’s Fernandes and Brentford’s striker Igor Thiago.

The Women’s Super League XI featured three City players: Shaw, defender Kerstin Casparij and midfielder Yui Hasegawa. Former Women’s Player of the Year Mariona Caldentey completed the squad with Arsenal teammates Emily Fox and Alessia Russo. Tottenham’s Toko Koga, United’s Jess Park, and Chelsea’s trio of Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter and Lauren James also earned spots.

Further recognitions were handed out across the English Football League. Former Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackey, who transferred to Everton for a reported £24 million this summer, was named the Championship PFA Players' Player of the Year. In League One, Dom Ballard – who moved from Leyton Orient to Bristol City earlier in the season – received the top individual honour, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan was celebrated as the League Two Player of the Year. The PFA also presented merit awards to two of the game’s most respected figures.

Sir Kenny Dalglish, a legend of Celtic and Liverpool and Scotland’s most‑capped player with 102 appearances, was honoured for his lifelong contributions. The 75‑year‑old, who disclosed in June that he is undergoing treatment for cancer, enjoyed a glittering managerial career after his playing days, guiding Liverpool to three league titles and masterminding Blackburn Rovers’ surprise Premier League triumph.

Former England Lioness Karen Carney was the other recipient. Carney, who earned 144 caps for the national side and was part of the squad that finished third at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, rose through Birmingham’s academy before winning a historic quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and later adding a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018. The ceremony highlighted the depth of talent across both the men’s and women’s games, underscoring how individual brilliance and collective success are celebrated side by side. As the season moves forward, the award winners will look to build on their achievements, while the younger stars aim to turn their breakthrough performances into sustained excellence.

Fans can stay updated via the Sky Sports app, watch live streams of the Premier League and Women’s Super League, and even follow the latest news on WhatsApp. The PFA awards continue to serve as a benchmark of peer‑recognised excellence, reminding players and supporters alike of the hard work, skill and dedication required to reach the pinnacle of English football.