Bruno Fernandes, Khadija Shaw Win 2026 PFA Player of the Year Awards
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw have been crowned the 2026 Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players of the Year after outstanding 2025/26 campaigns.
Fernandes was rewarded for a record-breaking season in which he established himself as the Premier League’s leading creative force, while Shaw retained the women’s award after another prolific campaign with Manchester City.
Fernandes makes history with 21 assists
The Manchester United captain finished the 2025/26 Premier League season with nine goals and a record 21 assists in 35 appearances, surpassing the previous mark of 20 assists jointly held by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
His contribution was instrumental in United’s third-place finish and their return to the UEFA Champions League.
Fernandes recorded 22 assists and nine goals in 37 appearances across all competitions, earning him his first PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
He becomes the first Manchester United player to win the men’s PFA award since Wayne Rooney in 2010 and only the second Portuguese player to receive the honour after Cristiano Ronaldo won it in 2007 and 2008.
Fernandes defeated Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya and Declan Rice, as well as Manchester City duo Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland, to claim the prestigious award.
Shaw retains PFA Women’s award
Shaw continued her remarkable scoring form as she was named the PFA Women’s Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
The Jamaica international scored 21 goals in 22 Women’s Super League appearances, helping Manchester City secure the league title.
The 29-year-old also made history by winning her third consecutive WSL Golden Boot, becoming the first player to score 20 or more goals in three different WSL seasons.
Shaw added another five goals in cup competitions, including the opening goal in Manchester City’s FA Cup final victory.
Her latest PFA success puts her alongside Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby as the only players to have won the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award more than once.
O’Reilly and Smith win Young Player awards
Manchester City defender Nico O’Reilly was named the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year after establishing himself as an important member of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The 21-year-old made 34 league appearances, contributing five goals and eight goal involvements while helping City keep nine clean sheets.
Arsenal forward Olivia Smith retained the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award, becoming only the second player after England international Lauren Hemp to win the prize more than once.
Smith scored 10 goals in all competitions during her first season with Arsenal.
The PFA awards are voted for by professional footballers, making Fernandes and Shaw’s recognition a significant endorsement from their fellow players following exceptional 2025/26 seasons.
