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

Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, has been honored as the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign, while Manchester City’s prolific forward Bunny Shaw secured the women's award for a second consecutive season. Fernandes, the creative midfielder who shattered the Premier League's all‑time assist record this term, delivered 21 assists, overtaking legends Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in the process. In addition to his playmaking exploits, the 31‑year‑old Portuguese international found the net nine times, helping United recover from a sluggish start and climb to third place under the stewardship of Michael Carrick, thereby clinching a return to the Champions League. The award, voted on by fellow professionals, held special significance for Fernandes.

He remarked, "It’s an incredibly proud moment. The votes come from the very players you line up against on the pitch, and it isn’t easy to pick someone you compete with every week, so this makes it even more meaningful." His achievement marks the first time a Manchester United player has captured the PFA Players' Player of the Year accolade since Wayne Rooney’s triumph in the 2009/10 season, adding to Fernandes’ recent Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award earned in May. On the women’s side, Manchester City’s forward Bunny Shaw repeated her success, taking home the PFA Women's Player of the Year trophy for the second year running.

The 29‑year‑old, who also collected the Football Writers' Association award, netted 21 goals during the season, securing a third straight Golden Boot and guiding City to their inaugural Women’s Super League title. Shaw’s consistency and goal‑scoring prowess have cemented her status as one of the premier attackers in the women's game. Arsenal’s rising star Olivia Smith was named the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year for the second year in a row, after having captured the 2025 honor while representing Liverpool.

Smith continued her impressive form after moving to the capital, further establishing herself as a key talent in the league. In the men’s young‑player category, Manchester City’s versatile youngster Nico O'Reilly earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award following a standout season that also saw him contribute to England’s World Cup bronze medal campaign. The 21‑year‑old featured in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. O'Reilly reflected on his season, saying, "I’ve had a fantastic year.

I’m extremely proud of what I achieved – two club trophies and the chance to represent my country at the World Cup. I’m over the moon with how everything 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 Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, who was the previous year’s PFA Women’s Player of the Year, and 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 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, claimed the award, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan was honoured as the League Two Player of the Year. The PFA also presented merit awards to Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney in recognition of their lifelong contributions to the sport. Dalglish, now 75, enjoyed a glittering playing career with Celtic and Liverpool and remains Scotland’s most‑capped player with 102 appearances.

After revealing in June that he is undergoing treatment for cancer, Dalglish’s legacy includes three league titles as Liverpool manager and guiding Blackburn Rovers to a Premier League crown. Karen Carney, a former England international with 144 caps, was a key figure in the Lionesses squad that finished third at the 2015 World Cup. Rising through Birmingham’s academy, Carney won a historic quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and later added a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018.

The awards ceremony highlighted the depth of talent across English football, from the elite tiers down to the lower divisions, and celebrated both on‑field excellence and off‑field dedication. Fans were encouraged to stay connected through various Sky Sports platforms, including the Sky Sports app, WhatsApp service, and live streaming options for the Premier League and Women’s Super League.

The event also featured promotional opportunities such as the Transfer Centre LIVE on mobile devices and a chance to enter the Super 6 competition for a £1 million prize. Overall, the 2025/26 PFA awards underscored a season of remarkable individual achievements, historic milestones, and inspiring stories of perseverance, cementing the honored players’ places in football history while offering a glimpse into the bright future of the sport across all levels.