Bruno Fernandes wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year after record-breaking Manchester United season

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year after setting a new Premier League record for assists during the 2025-26 season.

The Portugal international created 21 goals in the league, moving beyond the previous record held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Fernandes also scored nine times as Manchester United recovered from a difficult start to finish third in the Premier League under manager Michael Carrick.

That result secured Manchester United a return to the Champions League, while Fernandes’ individual campaign also earned him the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year award in May.

“It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against and it’s probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment,” said Fernandes.

The 31-year-old collected the award at the PFA ceremony at the Opera House in Manchester on Tuesday, where he also posed with the trophy for his place in the men’s team of the year.

Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw won the women’s PFA award for the second time. Shaw scored 21 goals as Manchester City secured their first Women’s Super League title in a decade, while she also claimed the Golden Boot for a third consecutive season.

Manchester City enjoyed further recognition in the men’s awards, with Nico O’Reilly named young player of the year.

The 21-year-old England international scored twice in the League Cup final as Manchester City defeated Arsenal. He was also part of the Manchester City side that won the FA Cup last season.

“I’m very proud of the season I had,” said O’Reilly. “I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I’m over the moon how it turned out.”

O’Reilly was selected alongside Manchester City team-mates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo in the men’s PFA team of the year.

Premier League champions Arsenal supplied five players for the side: goalkeeper David Raya, defenders Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, and midfielder Declan Rice.

Fernandes and Brentford forward Igor Thiago completed the XI.

Fernandes’ award caps a season in which his creative output helped Manchester United turn their campaign around. His 21 assists represented the highest total ever recorded in the Premier League, surpassing the previous benchmark established by Henry and later matched by De Bruyne.

The awards ceremony brought together recognition for the leading performers in both the men’s and women’s game, with Fernandes, Shaw and O’Reilly taking the three main honours.