Fernandes and Shaw Honoured
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been recognised as the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year. This marks the first time a Red Devils player has received the award since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10. Fernandes also received the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in May.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Fernandes set a new record for Premier League assists, providing 21 goals. He also scored nine times, contributing to United’s third-place finish in the Premier League under Michael Carrick, which secured a return to the Champions League.
Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw claimed the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award for the second time, having previously won it in 2023-24. Shaw scored 21 goals, leading to her third consecutive Golden Boot and her first Women’s Super League title.
Young Player Recognition and Team of the Year
Arsenal‘s Olivia Smith was named the women’s PFA Young Player of the Year for the second season in a row. She previously won the award in 2025 for her performances at Liverpool before continuing her form in the capital. Smith scored 10 goals in 38 matches across all competitions during the 2025/26 season.
Manchester City‘s Nico O’Reilly received the men’s PFA Young Player of the Year award. The 21-year-old was part of the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, alongside City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Antoine Semenyo. O’Reilly also contributed to England securing World Cup bronze.
The PFA Premier League Team of the Year included several players from Champions Arsenal: David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber, and Declan Rice. Fernandes of United and Brentford’s Igor Thiago completed the team.
The PFA WSL Team of the Year featured three players from triumphant City: Shaw, Kerstin Casparij, and Yui Hasegawa. Mariona Caldentey, the previous year’s PFA Women’s Player of the Year, was also included, along with fellow Arsenal players Emily Fox and Alessia Russo. Other members of the team were Tottenham defender Toko Koga, Manchester United’s Jess Park, and the Chelsea trio of Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter, and Lauren James.
Other Awards and Special Recognition
Hayden Hackney, now with Everton, was awarded the Championship PFA Players’ Player of the Year for his performances with defeated play-off finalists Middlesbrough. Dom Ballard, who recently scored for Bristol City, collected the League One award for his goal-scoring season at Leyton Orient.
Swindon striker Aaron Drinan received the League Two award, while Lily Crosthwaite of Birmingham was given the WSL2 player accolade.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney were presented with the PFA merit awards, acknowledging their contributions to football. Dalglish had a successful playing career with Celtic and Liverpool, and went on to manage Liverpool to three league titles before leading Blackburn to a Premier League triumph. Carney played 144 times for England, including being part of the Lionesses squad that finished third at the 2015 World Cup. She won the quadruple with Arsenal in 2007 and a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2018.
Source: theguardian.com
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