Fernandes and Shaw Crowned PFA Players of the Year

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have been honored with the Professional Footballers' Associations (PFA) Players' Player of the Year awards for the men's and women's games. This recognition follows their earlier accolades as the Football Writers' Association footballers of the year for the 2025-26 season.

Fernandes achieved a remarkable individual season, despite Manchester United finishing trophyless. He shattered the Premier League record for assists in a single campaign, tallying 21, surpassing previous records held by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry. The Portuguese midfielder also contributed nine goals, finishing with 31 goals and 22 assists in 37 matches across all competitions. He was instrumental in United securing a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.

Shaw, meanwhile, had a dominant season for Manchester City Women. She clinched her third consecutive Women's Super League (WSL) golden boot, scoring 21 goals in 22 appearances as City were crowned champions. Shaw also became the first player to score 20 or more goals in three different WSL seasons, setting a new benchmark for consistent goal-scoring prowess.

In the young player categories, Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly claimed the men's award, impressing with his contributions to the team's defense and attack. Arsenal's Olivia Smith successfully defended her title as the women's young player of the year, marking her second consecutive win in the category.