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Bruno Fernandes wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year for the 2025/2026 season.

Fernandes received the award at the 2026 PFA Awards in Manchester yesterday after being voted for by his fellow professional footballers.

The Portuguese midfielder becomes the 12th Manchester United player to win the prestigious award in the club's history and the first in 16 years, since Wayne Rooney won it in 2010.

He is also only the second Portuguese player to receive the award, following Cristiano Ronaldo, who won it in 2008.

Despite Manchester United's difficult campaign, Fernandes enjoyed an outstanding individual season, breaking the Premier League record for assists.

The 31-year-old provided 21 assists in the league, surpassing the previous record of 20 jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He also scored nine Premier League goals as Manchester United recovered to finish third.

The PFA award completes a remarkable individual season for Fernandes, who had already been named Manchester United Player of the Season, Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year.

Other winners at the awards included Liverpool and Scotland legend Sir Kenny Dalglish and former England international Karen Carney, who both received PFA Merit Awards for their outstanding contributions to football.

Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly was named Men's PFA Young Player of the Year, while Arsenal midfielder Olivia Smith won the Women's PFA Young Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season.

Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw won the Women's PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for the second time, having previously claimed the honour in 2024.

Shaw becomes only the third player from the Women's Super League to win the award twice.