The Premier League has released a list of eight nominees for the 2025-26 Player of the Season award, with two more gameweeks remaining before the campaign concludes, and the title race still undecided between Arsenal and Manchester City.

Arsenal players dominate the list with three nominees, while their rivals for the title Manchester City earned two nominations, with the other three coming from Manchester United, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest.

It has been a season highlighted by collective efforts for almost all the teams, but a few standout statistics from certain players have earned them standout shouts, while the nomination of others is credited to the success of their respective teams.

From Bruno Fernandes, who recently claimed the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award to the Arsenal trio of Declan Rice, David Raya, and Gabriel Magalhaes, we take a look at the journey of all eight to Player of the Season nominations.

Premier League POTS Nominees 2025-26

Bruno Fernandes Man United 

The highlight of Bruno Fernandes' season is his journey to 19 Premier League assists, which now leaves him two away from surpassing the record for most in a single season in the history of the competition.

The Portuguese has been an absolute class for Manchester United, especially since the appointment of interim coach Michael Carrick, and his playmaking has helped the club clinch a return to the Champions League after two years away.

Bruno Fernandes, with 124 chances created, leads the way for most in Europe's top five leagues, while he has also created 30 big chances, at least 13 more than anyone in the Premier League this season.

When it comes to playmaking, Bruno Fernandes has been a class above everyone, and is one of the frontrunners for the Premier League Player of the Season award, in a season where he is also set to win his first best playmaker award in the league.

Erling Haaland of Man City 

Even in a season where he wasn't really at his best, Erling Haaland is on the verge of winning another Premier League Golden Boot, after establishing a four-goal advantage over his closest rival, Igor Thiago.

His nomination is hardly questionable as the Manchester City man has had a hand in more goals than any other player in the league this season with 34, seven more than his closest rival, Bruno Fernandes.

He has also helped Pep Guardiola's team stay in the race for the league title with two games to go, scoring important winners against Liverpool and Arsenal, which directly impacted the title race and kept City in it.

Aside from being the Premier League leading goalscorer, only three players have assisted more goals than Erling Haaland (8), and after missing out on a nomination last season, the Norwegian will need the remainder of the season to help steer him above others.

Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal

Arguably the best defender in the world, Gabriel Magalhaes is having an incredible season that may get even better before the end of the season as Arsenal hunts for a Premier League and Champions League double.

Despite missing some games midway through the season due to injuries, the Brazilian has been a rock in the Arsenal defence that boasts the best records in the league so far with the most clean sheets and fewest goals conceded.

His contributions defensively have been immense, even though Arsenal is a well-set-up team in that aspect, his blocks, interceptions, well-timed tackles, and success in duels have helped them achieve those objectives.

Alongside William Saliba, Gabriel has formed the best defensive pair in the world, and has also nicked in some important goal contributions at the opposite end with three goals and four assists — just one non-penalty goal behind Bruno Fernandes.

Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest 

Things couldn't have turned out any better for Morgan Gibbs-White after his proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer failed. He now watches Spurs battle relegation while getting Premier League player of the season nomination.

With 13 goals and four assists in 31 Premier League appearances so far, the Nottingham Forest man ranks in the top seven for goal contributions in the competition, achieving this while helping the club reach the Europa League semi-finals.

He helped Forest get out of their relegation battle before things got complicated and led the way for goals and assists at the club with two games to go, and with England's attacking midfielders not having the best season, Thomas Tuchel may be considering him for the World Cup.

Declan Rice of Arsenal 

As Arsenal continues to hunt for what would be their first Premier League title in 22 years, Declan Rice has been a star in the team, with consistency at every part of the pitch, including in the most decisive areas — both ends.

Hardly is there a player who balances play as the English midfielder in world football today, and for Arsenal, whose attackers are having a subpar season to be at their current position, it takes something extraordinary from someone else in the team.

That something extraordinary has come from someone extraordinary in Rice. He leads the way for chance creation in the team, and has five assists and four goals to his name, but the highlight of his season isn't even in his attacking contributions.

Rice is the shield that makes the Arsenal defence so good that they rarely concede goals and even, at some point in the season, when on a run without conceding any shots on target.

Whether in tracking back or blocking passing channels, the former West Ham United man has been the difference maker for Arsenal, and will take some beating for the 2025-26 Premier League player of the year award, especially if Arsenal claims the league title at Selhurst Park later in the month.

Igor Thiago of Brentford 

Igor Thiago has set a new record for most Premier League goals by a Brazilian in a season by outscoring the 15 goals, and now at 22, it doesn't look like he is done yet, especially with a lot at stake in Brentford's remaining two games.

Still four goals behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot, the striker has also beaten the record for most goals by a Brentford player in a top-flight history, in a season where no one expected him to become a standout.

His incredible season has earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team, and a Premier League player of the season nomination is really deserved for a player who could potentially hand Brentford European football next season.

David Raya Martin of Arsenal

What a season David Raya is having between the sticks. The Spaniard already has both the Premier League and Champions League golden gloves wrapped up with games left to play, while he continues to pull incredible saves to help Arsenal sustain advantage in the title race.

While Arsenal's defensive solidity has been praised for their well-organized defence, David Raya's contributions can never be overemphasized, especially given the club has won seven league games by a scoreline of 1-0.

When called upon, he has been there for the team. One of his latest highlights came in the 1-0 win at West Ham, where he denied Mateus Fernandes with a point-blank save in the second half, with the score still goalless.

Raya's incredible performances are one of the reasons Arsenal are where they are and it's refreshing to see goalkeepers get rewarded for their brilliance with shots at such prestigious awards.

With 18 clean sheets with two Premier League games to go, David Raya could surpass the record for most clean sheets by an Arsenal goalkeeper in a 38-game season with clean sheets against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Antoine Semenyo of Brentford and Man City 

Despite having to move to Manchester City during the season, it didn't halt Antoine Semenyo's incredible form this season, and he has so far reached 16 goals and four assists in the Premier League so far.

The Ghanaian is one of the reasons Bournemouth could be playing in Europe next season, and why Manchester City are back in the title race despite their slow start to the season.

After moving to the Etihad in the January window, the forward has already had six goals and one assist in 15 league games for the Mancunians, and no winger has more than his 20 Premier League goal involvements.

For a player who started the season at Bournemouth, Semenyo has been a standout, and his nomination highlights his importance for both teams, and he could become the first Premier League player of the season winner having played for multiple teams in the same season.

Conclusion 

Manchester United having just one nominee opens up a great advantage for Bruno Fernandes, while Manchester City will not have many conflicts deciding between Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo.

It is a complicated one for Arsenal, who will have to choose among the trio of Declan Rice, David Raya, and Gabriel Magalhaes, a dilemma that could deny the club what could be a deserved award, especially if they ended up winning the Premier League title.

Who will win the Premier League Player of the Season? Cast your votes by clicking HERE!