Bruno Fernandes, Bunny Shaw, Nico O’Reilly and Olivia Smith headlined the 2025/26 PFA Awards, while Arsenal produced five players in the Premier League Team of the Year and honours were handed out across England’s football pyramid.

The 2025/26 Professional Footballers’ Association Awards provided a fitting celebration of the players who made the biggest impression across English football, with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes taking the headline men’s prize and Manchester City forward Bunny Shaw collecting the women’s equivalent. 

The awards, voted for by fellow professionals, give the winners particular weight inside the dressing room, and this year’s ceremony in Manchester also recognised the next generation, outstanding performers in the English Football League and two figures who have made lasting contributions to the sport.

Arsenal’s Premier League champions dominated their division’s Team of the Year with five selections, while Manchester City, United, and Brentford were also represented.

Bruno Fernandes — PFA Players’ Player of the Year

Bruno Fernandes completed a remarkable individual season by being named the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year. The Manchester United captain produced 20 Premier League assists, equaling the record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, while adding nine goals. 

His achievement was particularly notable because United did not lift a major trophy, but his performances still convinced his fellow professionals that he was the outstanding player in the division. Fernandes also became only the second Portuguese winner of the award after Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bunny Shaw — PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year

Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw claimed the women’s headline award after another prolific WSL campaign. The Jamaica international scored 21 league goals, finished as the division’s Golden Boot winner and played a major role as City ended Chelsea’s grip on the title. It was another major individual achievement for Shaw, who had previously won the PFA award in 2024.

Nico O’Reilly — Men’s Young Player of the Year

Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly was named Men’s Young Player of the Year after an impressive breakthrough season. The versatile youngster finished ahead of Rayan Cherki, Max Dowman, Junior Kroupi, Kobbie Mainoo and Rio Ngumoha, underlining the strength of the competition in a category filled with emerging talent. His inclusion in the Premier League Team of the Year made the achievement even more striking.

Olivia Smith — Women’s Young Player of the Year

Arsenal’s Olivia Smith retained the Women’s Young Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season. Her back-to-back success places her among the leading young talents in the women’s game and reflects another influential campaign at club level. She defeated Laura Blindkilde Brown, Veerle Buurman, Freya Godfrey, Tōko Koga and Alyssa Thompson.

Hayden Hackney — Championship Players’ Player of the Year

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney emerged as the Championship’s leading player after a standout campaign. His award came ahead of Coventry City trio Matt Grimes, Jack Rudoni and Carl Rushworth, Swansea City forward Žan Vipotnik and Coventry striker Haji Wright.

Dom Ballard — League One Players’ Player of the Year

Dom Ballard took the League One Players’ Player of the Year award for Leyton Orient after a productive season. The forward beat Amario Cozier-Duberry, David McGoldrick, Jack Moylan, Oliver Norwood and Kyle Wootton to the honour.

Aaron Drinan — League Two Players’ Player of the Year

Swindon Town forward Aaron Drinan was voted League Two’s outstanding player. He finished ahead of Sammy Braybrooke, Michael Cheek, Callum Paterson, Mitch Pinnock and Omar Sowunmi.

Lily Crosthwaite — WSL 2 Players’ Player of the Year

Birmingham City’s Lily Crosthwaite won the WSL 2 Players’ Player of the Year award, beating Ellie Brazil, Abbie Larkin, Emily Syme, Ashleigh Weerden and Sophie Whitehouse.

Premier League Team of the Year

The Premier League Team of the Year reflected Arsenal’s dominance, with David Raya, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber and Declan Rice all selected. Raya’s consistency behind the champions’ defence earned him a place in goal, while Gabriel and Saliba formed the central defensive pairing. Timber completed Arsenal’s defensive representation, with Rice occupying a midfield position.

Manchester City are represented by Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, while Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Brentford striker Igor Thiago completed the XI. Thiago’s inclusion was one of the most notable selections after his breakthrough season, while his goalscoring form also helped push him into Brazil’s World Cup picture.

WSL Team of the Year

The women’s XI featured Hannah Hampton in goal, with Manchester City’s Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa also selected. Tottenham’s Tōko Koga and Chelsea’s Ellie Carpenter joined Arsenal’s Emily Fox in defence, while Mariona Caldentey and Manchester United’s Jessica Park completed the midfield alongside Hasegawa. Up front, Bunny Shaw, Alessia Russo and Lauren James formed an imposing attacking trio.

Championship Team of the Year

Coventry City dominated the Championship selection. Carl Rushworth was named goalkeeper, with Milan van Ewijk and Bobby Thomas also included in defence. Millwall’s Tristan Crama and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis completed the back line. Hackney, Matt Grimes and Jack Rudoni formed the midfield, while Žan Vipotnik, Haji Wright and Femi Azeez made up the attack.

League One Team of the Year

George Wickens took the goalkeeper spot, while Lincoln City were heavily represented through Sonny Bradley, Tendayi Darikwa and Jack Moylan. Perry Ng and Carl Piergianni completed the defence. Oliver Norwood and Lewis Wing joined Moylan in midfield, with Ballard, Kyle Wootton and Amario Cozier-Duberry selected in attack.

League Two Team of the Year

Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Mathew Hudson led the League Two XI, with Omar Sowunmi, Kelland Watts, Jack Sanders and James Gibbons forming the defence. Alex Gilbey, Mitch Pinnock and Sammy Braybrooke occupied midfield, while Drinan, Michael Cheek and Callum Paterson completed the forward line.

WSL 2 Team of the Year

Charlton Athletic’s Sophie Whitehouse was selected in goal, with Aimee Everett, Neve Herron, Rebecca McKenna and Mari Ward forming the defence. Emily Syme, Jordan Nobbs and Annabel Blanchard made up midfield, while Crosthwaite, Ashleigh Weerden and Emily Murphy were chosen in attack.

Merit Awards — Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney

The ceremony also celebrated two outstanding careers with Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney OBE receiving PFA Merit Awards. 

Dalglish was recognised for an extraordinary career as both player and manager, including six league titles and three European Cups with Liverpool, while Carney’s 18-year playing career included spells with Arsenal and Chelsea and 144 England appearances. She has since become a prominent broadcaster and played a major role in shaping discussions around the future of women’s football.

PFA Awards 2025-26

The 2025/26 PFA Awards ultimately offered a snapshot of English football at several levels: established stars such as Fernandes and Shaw were rewarded for outstanding campaigns, emerging talents O’Reilly and Smith strengthened their reputations, and players from the Championship through to WSL 2 received recognition from their peers. 

With the awards decided by footballers themselves, the night provided an important endorsement of the individuals who left the strongest impression on their fellow professionals throughout the season.