Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have been named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s men’s and women’s Players of the Year for the 2025-26 season, the PFA announced. Both stars had already been honoured as the Football Writers’ Association’s footballers of the year for the same campaign, completing a domestic double for each.
Fernandes, who set a new Premier League record for assists in a single campaign with 21, becomes the first United player to claim the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
For Shaw, the recognition marks her second PFA triumph in three seasons, arriving on the back of a third consecutive Women’s Super League golden boot, secured with 21 league goals as City were crowned WSL champions.
Elsewhere, City defender Nico O’Reilly succeeded Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers as men’s young player of the year after cementing his place in the club’s starting eleven, while Arsenal’s Olivia Smith retained the women’s young player crown, becoming only the second player after England’s Lauren Hemp to win the award more than once.
Fernandes Rewrites the Record Books
Although Manchester United endured another trophy-less season, Fernandes’s individual campaign was one of the standout stories of the year. The Portuguese midfielder surpassed the long-standing Premier League assist record of 20, previously held jointly by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry, finishing the league season with nine goals and 21 assists in 35 appearances.
He capped the campaign in fitting fashion on the final day against Brighton, setting up United’s opener before scoring their third himself. Across all competitions, Fernandes ended the season with nine goals and 22 assists in 37 matches, a return that helped fire United to a third-placed finish and a return to Champions League football.
Fernandes by the Numbers
21 Premier League assists, a new single-season record
9 goals and 22 assists in all competitions (37 appearances)
First United player to win PFA Player of the Year since Wayne Rooney (2010)
Second Portuguese winner after Cristiano Ronaldo’s back-to-back awards in 2007 and 2008
Beat Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya and Declan Rice, and City’s Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland, to the award
Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki was the closest challenger in the assist charts, registering 12 for the season. Fernandes, who arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, saw off competition from an Arsenal trio and two City forwards to claim the honour.
Shaw Sets a New Standard in the WSL
Shaw’s campaign was equally emphatic. The Jamaica international scored 21 goals in just 22 appearances as Manchester City secured their second Women’s Super League title, including hat-tricks against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, and a brace against West Ham United on the final day of the season.
In doing so, she became the first player in WSL history to score 20 or more goals in three separate seasons, and the first to win three golden boots outright, moving ahead of two-time winners Vivienne Miedema and Sam Kerr. Shaw added a further five goals in cup competition, including the opener in Manchester City’s FA Cup final triumph.
Shaw by the Numbers
21 WSL goals in 22 appearances; third consecutive golden boot
First player to reach 20-plus WSL goals in three different seasons
First player to win three WSL golden boots outright
Five further goals in cup competition, including the FA Cup final opener
Third player to win multiple PFA Women’s Player of the Year awards, after Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby
The 29-year-old, who previously completed the PFA and FWA double following the 2023-24 season, was shortlisted alongside teammate Yui Hasegawa, Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson, Chelsea’s Lauren James, Manchester United’s Jess Park and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.
Young Talent Recognised
Nico O’Reilly
Men’s Young Player of the Year, succeeding Morgan Rogers
8 goal involvements (5 goals) in 34 league appearances
9 clean sheets across the campaign
Named Player of the Match as City beat Arsenal in the League Cup final
Olivia Smith
Women’s Young Player of the Year, retaining her title
Second multiple winner after England’s Lauren Hemp
10 goals in all competitions, aged 22
Joined Arsenal from Liverpool for £1m last summer
O’Reilly, 21, has established himself as a fixture in City’s starting line-up this season, contributing across both ends of the pitch in a versatile role. Smith, meanwhile, has quickly justified her move to north London, with her tally of 10 goals in all competitions underlining a productive first season in Arsenal colours.