Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, has been honoured as the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign, while Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw secured the women’s award for the second consecutive season. Fernandes’ dazzling playmaking throughout the year saw him shatter the Premier League’s all‑time assist record, delivering 21 assists and overtaking legends such as Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
In addition to his creative exploits, the 31‑year‑old Portuguese international found the net nine times, helping United recover from a sluggish start to finish third in the league under the guidance of Michael Carrick and clinch a return to the Champions League. Fernandes expressed genuine delight at being voted the winner by his fellow professionals, acknowledging the difficulty of choosing a peer you regularly compete against on the pitch. “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,” he said. His achievement marks the first time a United player has taken home the PFA Players' Player of the Year trophy since Wayne Rooney’s triumph in the 2009/10 season, adding to the Portugal midfielder’s recent Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award earned in May. On the women’s side, Manchester City’s prolific forward 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 previous season after netting 21 goals, securing a third consecutive Golden Boot and playing a pivotal role in City’s maiden Women’s Super League title. Shaw’s consistency and lethal finishing have cemented her status as one of the premier attackers in English football. Arsenal’s rising star Olivia Smith was named the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for the second year running.
After winning the 2025 edition while representing Liverpool, Smith continued her impressive form after moving to the capital, demonstrating why she is considered one of the most promising talents in the women's game. In the men’s category, Manchester City youngster Nico O'Reilly captured the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year award after an outstanding season that also saw him contribute to England’s World Cup bronze medal win. The 21‑year‑old was selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside City 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 PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year featured three City players – Shaw, Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa – alongside Mariona Caldentey, last year’s Women’s Player of the Year, and Arsenal teammates 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 squad. Further down the English football pyramid, 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 accolade, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan was honoured 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 was recognised for his extraordinary contributions as both a player and manager. Dalglish enjoyed a glittering playing career with Celtic and Liverpool, earning 102 caps for Scotland, and later guided Liverpool to three league titles as a manager before leading Blackburn Rovers to their historic Premier League triumph. In June, Dalglish confirmed he was undergoing treatment for cancer, prompting an outpouring of support from the football community.
Former England international Karen Carney was the other merit award recipient. Carney earned 144 caps for the Lionesses and was part of the squad that secured third place at the 2015 Women’s 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 game’s most accomplished female players.
The awards ceremony highlighted the depth and diversity of talent across English football, celebrating both established stars and emerging prospects. It also underscored the growing prominence of the women’s game, with multiple high‑profile players receiving recognition for their contributions on and off the pitch.
As the season draws to a close, fans can look forward to the upcoming Champions League campaigns, the next edition of the Women’s Super League, and the continued rise of young talents poised to shape the future of the sport.