Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has been named the men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign, while Manchester City forward Bunny Shaw secured the women’s accolade for a second consecutive season. Fernandes, the Portuguese playmaker, shattered the Premier League’s all‑time assist record during an extraordinary year, delivering 21 decisive passes that pushed him past the likes of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. In addition to his creative exploits, the 31‑year‑old netted nine goals as United recovered from a sluggish start, ultimately finishing third in the league under the guidance of Michael Carrick and clinching a return to the Champions League. The award holds particular significance for Fernandes because it was voted on by his fellow professionals – the very players he lines up against each weekend.
He expressed his delight, 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 recognition makes him the first United player to lift the trophy since Wayne Rooney’s triumph in the 2009/10 season, and it adds to his recent Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year honour received in May.
On the women’s side, City’s prolific striker Bunny Shaw repeated her success, taking home the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award for the second time in a row. The 29‑year‑old’s consistency was evident as she scored 21 goals, earning a third straight Golden Boot and helping City secure their maiden Women’s Super League title. Shaw’s achievements were also acknowledged by the Football Writers’ Association, underscoring her status as one of the game’s premier talents. The awards ceremony also highlighted the next generation of stars.
Arsenal’s Olivia Smith was named the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, having previously won the 2025 title while representing Liverpool. Her continued excellence in the capital cemented her reputation as a rising force in English football.
In the men’s category, Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly captured the PFA Young Player of the Year award after a breakthrough season that saw him contribute significantly to City’s domestic dominance and to England’s World Cup bronze medal run. The 21‑year‑old also earned a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo.
O’Reilly reflected on his achievements, stating, “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.” Champions Arsenal were well represented in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, with David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice earning spots, while United’s Fernandes and Brentford’s striker Igor Thiago completed the eleven. The Women’s Super League Team of the Year featured three City players – Shaw, Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa – alongside Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey (the previous year’s PFA Women’s Player of the Year), Emily Fox and Alessia Russo.
Tottenham defender Toko Koga, United’s Jess Park, and Chelsea’s trio of Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter and Lauren James also made the lineup. Further down the English football pyramid, the PFA recognized outstanding performances in the lower leagues. Former Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackey, who transferred to Everton for a reported £24 million, was honoured as the Championship PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
In League One, Dom Ballard, who moved from Leyton Orient to Bristol City earlier in the summer, received the same accolade, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan was named the League Two winner. The ceremony also paid tribute to two distinguished figures with the PFA Merit Awards. Sir Kenny Dalglish, a legend of Celtic, Liverpool and the Scotland national team, was celebrated for his illustrious playing and managerial career, which includes three league titles with Liverpool and guiding Blackburn Rovers to Premier League glory. Dalglish, now 75, publicly confirmed in June that he is undergoing treatment for cancer, drawing widespread admiration for his resilience.
Former England international Karen Carney was the other merit recipient. Carney earned 144 caps for the Lionesses and was part of the squad that secured third place at the 2015 World Cup.
Rising through Birmingham’s youth system, she later helped Arsenal achieve a historic quadruple in 2007 and added a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018, cementing her legacy as one of the women’s game’s most decorated players. The awards night, streamed live on Sky Sports and accompanied by promotional offers such as a free trial of the PL & WSL streaming service, highlighted the depth and diversity of talent across English football. From record‑breaking veterans to emerging youngsters, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards continue to celebrate the sport’s finest performers and honor those who have shaped its history.