Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have been named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year respectively for the 2025-26 season.
The awards further cap impressive campaigns for both players, who were previously voted the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s and women’s footballers of the year.
Fernandes enjoyed a standout season for Manchester United, breaking the Premier League record for the most assists in a single campaign with 21.
The Portugal international becomes the first Manchester United player to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
For Shaw, the honour represents her second PFA Player of the Year award in three seasons.
The Manchester City striker also claimed her third consecutive Women’s Super League Golden Boot after scoring 21 goals, helping City secure the league title.
Meanwhile, Manchester City defender Nico O’Reilly was named the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old established himself as a regular in City’s starting XI, recording eight goal involvements, including five goals, and helping the club keep nine clean sheets in 34 league appearances.
O’Reilly also scored twice and was named Player of the Match as City defeated Arsenal in the League Cup final.
Arsenal forward Olivia Smith retained the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
The 22-year-old Canada international becomes only the second player, after England star Lauren Hemp, to win the award more than once.
Smith scored 10 goals in all competitions during her first season with Arsenal after joining the club from Liverpool for £1 million last summer.
The PFA awards are voted for by fellow professional footballers, making the honours a significant recognition of the performances of Fernandes and Shaw from their peers across the game.
