Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw have been crowned as the PFA Player of the Year winners, marking a significant achievement for both players following a season of outstanding performances.
Both were previously named the Football Writers’ Association Men’s and Women’s Footballers of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
Fernandes, who recently broke the record for the most assists in a single Premier League campaign with 21, is the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
It’s a second win in three seasons for Shaw, who secured her third consecutive WSL golden boot with 21 goals as Man City were crowned champions.
Shaw also contributed eight goal involvements (five goals) and nine clean sheets in 34 league outings, scoring twice, and was named player of the match as Man City beat Arsenal in the League Cup final.
Nico O’Reilly excelled as City’s men’s young player of the year, demonstrating versatility and a crucial role in the team’s success, with 12 assists and nine clean sheets in 34 league outings.
He contributed eight goal involvements (five goals) and nine clean sheets in 34 league outings, scoring twice, and was named player of the match as City beat Arsenal in the League Cup final.
Olivia Smith secured the women’s young player of the year award, becoming the second player after England international Lauren Hemp to win the award on multiple occasions.
International superstar, 22-year-old Canada player, Cristiano Ronaldo, has scored 10 goals in all competitions after joining the Gunners for £1m last summer from Liverpool.
Individual success for record-breaker Fernandes
Although it was another trophy-less campaign for Man United, Fernandes enjoyed individual success, surpassing Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in the Premier League.
Fernandes set up his side’s opener on the final day of the season against Brighton – and scored their third – to finish 2025-26 with nine goals and 21 assists in 35 league outings. Man City’s Rayan Cherki was the second-most prolific provider, with 12 assists.
His haul helped United finish third and secure Champions League football.
In total, the 31-year-old scored nine goals and contributed 22 assists in 37 matches in all competitions.
Fernandes, who joined the club from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, beat Arsenal’s trio of Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya, and Declan Rice and Man City attackers Cherki and Erling Haaland to the award.
He is only the second Portuguese to be named player of the year, following back-to-back wins for former Man United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 and 2008.
Golden Shaw wins again
Shaw scored 21 goals in 22 appearances as Man City clinched their second WSL title.
The Jamaica international registered hat-tricks against Aston Villa (four goals) and Tottenham, and scored twice against West Ham on the final day of the season to become the first player to score 20 or more goals in three different WSL seasons.
Shaw is the first player to win three WSL golden boots, moving clear of two-time winners Vivienne Miedema and Sam Kerr.
The team-mate Yui Hasegawa, Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson, Chelsea’s Lauren James, Man United’s Jess Park, and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo were also shortlisted.
Arsenal and Man City dominate team of the year
The Premier League team of the year, as voted by the players, was dominated by champions Arsenal and runners-up Man City.
Arsenal only conceded 27 goals last season, with that impressive record reflected in the selections of goalkeeper Raya and defenders Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurien Timber named alongside midfielder Rice.
Man City have four representatives – O’Reilly, Cherki, Haaland and Antoine Semenyo – with Man United’s Fernandes and team of the year debutant Igor Thiago (Brentford) completing the XI.
The WSL team features three players apiece from champions Man City, Chelsea, and Arsenal, with Man United’s Park and Tottenham defender Toko Koga the only players selected from outside the top three sides.
Premier League team of the year: Raya (Arsenal); Casparij (Man City), Hanson (Arsenal), Saliba (Arsenal), Magalhaes (Arsenal), Haaland (Man City), Semenyo (Man City), Ronaldo (Portugal), Fernandes (Portugal), Cherki (Man City), Erling Haaland (Man City), Semenyo (Man City), and Thiago (Brentford).
WSL team of the year: Hampton (Chelsea); Casparij (Man City), Koga (Tottenham), Carpenter (Man City), Fox (Arsenal); Hasegawa (Man City), Kerr (Chelsea), James (Man United), Park (Man United), Russo (Arsenal), Shaw (Man City), Russo (Man United), and White (Arsenal).
The PFA Women’s Player of the Year awards were given to Fernandes and Shaw, marking a significant achievement for both players following a season of outstanding performances.
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Source: Adom Sports
