Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year on Tuesday evening after a record-breaking 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
The Portuguese midfielder secured the prestigious award, voted for by his fellow professionals, at Manchester's Opera House after setting a new Premier League record for the most assists in a single season. Fernandes reached 21 assists on the final day of the campaign when he set up Patrick Dorgu's header against Brighton.
By reaching 21 assists, Fernandes surpassed the previous benchmark of 20 jointly held by former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The award is presented annually by the Professional Footballers' Association, the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales, with members voting for top performers across the domestic game.
The honor completed an individual award hat-trick for Fernandes, who had already collected the Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year trophies. He became the first Manchester United player to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
Fernandes attended the ceremony alongside his wife Ana, having also earned a spot in the division's Team of the Year.
"Winning this, being voted by the ones that every week go out on the pitch against me, is something that makes me very proud," Fernandes said after receiving the trophy.
"Because they've been there, they're playing against me, they've seen what I'm capable of doing, and for them to vote for me is something I'm very grateful for," he added.
"It's always nice to see the name of the club in these kinds of awards, and obviously the players stand out with the club behind them. That's very important for us," Fernandes said.
"I hope that from now on we can have even more players from our club having this kind of recognition, because it's also important and means that we're doing something very good," he continued. "Individually, you want to have these accolades to show that your game is helping the team and that there are a lot of good things you've been doing to help them."
Premier League Team of the Year
Fernandes was the sole Manchester United representative selected in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. He was joined by Brentford forward Igor Thiago as the only two players outside Arsenal and Manchester City to make the final XI.
Arsenal dominated the defensive positions in the lineup, featuring goalkeeper David Raya alongside defenders Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, with midfielder Declan Rice also included. Manchester City provided four players: defender Nico O'Reilly, midfielder Rayan Cherki, and attackers Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland.
While Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah claimed the PFA Players' Player of the Year award last year, no Liverpool players were selected for the Team of the Year this season.
The full Premier League Team of the Year features David Raya (Arsenal) in goal, behind defenders Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal) and Nico O'Reilly (Man City). The midfield comprises Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Rayan Cherki (Man City), with Erling Haaland (Man City), Antoine Semenyo (Man City) and Igor Thiago (Brentford) in attack.
Young Player and EFL Honours
Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly doubled his celebration on the night by winning the Men's Young Player of the Year award. O'Reilly claimed the honor ahead of City team-mate Rayan Cherki, as well as nominated contenders Max Dowman, Junior Kroupi, Kobbie Mainoo and Rio Ngumoha.
In the English Football League categories, Everton midfielder Hayden Hackney was named the Championship Player of the Year. Hackney received the award following a standout campaign with boyhood club Middlesbrough, helping them reach the Championship play-off final in May before completing a transfer to David Moyes' Everton side in July.
Dom Ballard took home the League One title after a standout season for Leyton Orient. In League Two, Swindon Town forward Aaron Drinan won the division's top player award.
WSL Awards and Bunny Shaw Triumph
In the women's game, Manchester City forward Bunny Shaw lifted the Women's Players' Player of the Year award for the second time in her career. Shaw, who previously won the honor in 2024, became only the third player in history to win it twice, joining Lucy Bronze (2014 and 2017) and Fran Kirby (2018 and 2021).
Shaw enjoyed a remarkable season, winning the Barclays Women's Super League Golden Boot with 21 goals in 22 matches to fire Manchester City to their first top-flight trophy in 10 years. She beat out fellow nominees Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) and Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa).
Arsenal winger Olivia Smith scooped the Young Player of the Year award following a fine season in North London. The 22-year-old Canada international became the first player in women's football history to surpass the seven-figure barrier when Arsenal signed her from Liverpool for £1 million last summer, scoring five goals and recording three assists in an impressive campaign.
The PFA WSL Team of the Year features Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, with Kerstin Casparij (Man City), Toko Koga (Tottenham), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea) and Emily Fox (Arsenal) completing the defense. Yui Hasegawa (Man City), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) and Jess Park (Man United) line up in midfield, behind a front line of Bunny Shaw (Man City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) and Lauren James (Chelsea).
