Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has been honoured as the male PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season, while Manchester City’s prolific forward Bunny Shaw secured the women’s accolade for a second consecutive year. Fernandes, a creative midfielder renowned for his vision, shattered the Premier League’s all‑time assist record during an extraordinary campaign, delivering 21 assists and overtaking the tallies 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 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 recognised by his peers, noting, “It’s a very proud moment. The players you face week in week out are the ones voting, and it isn’t easy to pick someone you compete against, so this means a lot.” His award marks the first time a United player has taken home the PFA Players' Player 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, Manchester City’s sharpshooter Bunny Shaw, also a recipient of the FWA award, repeated her success as the PFA Women’s Player of the Year. The 29‑year‑old forward claimed the prize after a stellar 2023‑24 season and repeated the feat in 2025‑26, scoring 21 goals, securing a third consecutive Golden Boot, and guiding City to a maiden Women's Super League title.
Shaw’s consistency and clinical finishing have cemented her status as one of the premier attackers in the women's game. Arsenal’s rising star Olivia Smith was named the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year for the second year running.
After winning the 2025 award for her impressive spell at Liverpool, Smith continued her development in London, contributing significantly to Arsenal’s performances. In the men’s category, Manchester City’s versatile youngster Nico O'Reilly earned the PFA Young Player of the Year title after a breakthrough season that also saw him help England secure a bronze medal at the World Cup. The 21‑year‑old was also 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, saying, “I had a great season.
I’m very proud of what I accomplished – two club trophies and a World Cup appearance. 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 rounded out 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 secured places in the lineup.
In the lower divisions, former Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackey, who transferred to Everton for £24 million this summer, was named the Championship PFA Players' Player of the Year. Dom Ballard, who moved from Leyton Orient to Bristol City earlier in the season, captured the League One award, while Swindon striker Aaron Drinan received the League Two honour. The PFA also presented merit awards to two footballing legends. Sir Kenny Dalglish was recognised for his immense contributions as a player and manager.
Dalglish’s illustrious career includes starring roles for Celtic and Liverpool, becoming Scotland’s most‑capped player with 102 appearances, and later guiding Liverpool to three league titles and masterminding Blackburn Rovers’ surprise Premier League triumph. In June, Dalglish disclosed that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, a battle he faces with the same determination he displayed on the pitch.
Former England women’s international Karen Carney also received a merit award. Carney earned 144 caps for England and was part of the Lionesses squad that finished third at the 2015 World Cup.
Rising through Birmingham’s youth system, she later won a historic quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and added a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018, cementing her legacy as one of the game’s most decorated female players. The awards ceremony highlighted the breadth of talent across English football, from top‑flight stars to emerging prospects in the lower leagues, and honoured those who have left an indelible mark on the sport. As the season draws to a close, fans can look forward to new challenges, with United aiming to build on their Champions League qualification, City defending both the men’s and women’s titles, and the newly‑crowned young talents eager to make their mark in the seasons ahead.