Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, was honoured as the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season, while Manchester City forward Bunny Shaw captured the women's award for the second time in a row. Fernandes' season was nothing short of spectacular. He shattered 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 brilliance, the 31‑year‑old Portuguese international found the back of the net nine times, helping United recover from a tentative start to the campaign and secure a third‑place finish that guarantees a return to the Champions League under the stewardship of Michael Carrick.
When asked about the accolade, Fernandes expressed genuine pride, noting that the award was voted on by his peers – the very players he competes against week in and week out. "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. This recognition makes Fernandes the first United player to lift the PFA Players' Player of the Year trophy since Wayne Rooney's triumph in the 2009/10 season, adding to his recent Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award received in May. On the women's side, Manchester City’s prolific striker Bunny Shaw was again celebrated 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, scoring 21 goals to claim her third consecutive Golden Boot and playing a pivotal role in City’s maiden Women's Super League title. Shaw's consistency and knack for delivering in crucial moments have cemented her status as one of the premier talents in the women's game.
The awards ceremony also highlighted emerging stars. Arsenal midfielder Olivia Smith earned the women's PFA Young Player of the Year title for the second consecutive season, following her breakthrough performances for Liverpool in 2025 and her continued excellence after moving to the capital. In the men’s category, Manchester City’s versatile youngster Nico O'Reilly was named PFA Young Player of the Year after a campaign that saw him contribute to England's World Cup bronze medal finish.
O'Reilly, who also featured in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, summed up his feelings: "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 PFA 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, with Shaw joined by Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa. Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, last year’s PFA Women's Player of the Year, completed the squad with teammates Emily Fox and Alessia Russo.
Tottenham defender Toko Koga, United’s Jess Park, and a Chelsea trio – 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 £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, took home the award, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan was honoured as the League Two Player of the Year. The evening concluded with merit awards for two footballing icons.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and former England international Karen Carney were celebrated for their lifelong contributions to the sport. Dalglish, a 75‑year‑old legend who amassed 102 caps for Scotland and enjoyed a trophy‑laden playing career with Celtic and Liverpool, has recently disclosed a battle with cancer while reflecting on his managerial successes, which include three league titles with Liverpool and guiding Blackburn Rovers to Premier League glory.
Carney, a 144‑cap England veteran, was a key figure in the Lionesses squad that secured third place at the 2015 World Cup. Rising through Birmingham’s academy, she later achieved a historic quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and added a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018. These accolades not only celebrate individual brilliance but also underline the depth of talent across both the men’s and women’s games in England. They reflect a season where established stars reinforced their legacies, while younger players announced themselves on the biggest stages.
The PFA awards serve as a reminder of the competitive spirit that drives the sport forward, honoring those who excel on the pitch and those who have devoted their lives to football’s growth and success.