The PFA Awards 2026 delivered one of English football’s biggest individual honors to Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who was voted the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year after a record-breaking 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Fernandes emerged ahead of an elite shortlist that included Arsenal stars Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães, alongside Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki. The award carries particular prestige because fellow professional footballers choose the winner.
For Premier League followers in Tanzania, the awards offer a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable season and highlight the players worth watching as another campaign gets underway.
Bruno Fernandes Wins PFA Player of the Year 2026
Fernandes’ numbers made a compelling case. The Manchester United midfielder registered 21 Premier League assists, breaking the previous single-season record of 20 jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He also scored nine league goals as United finished third and secured UEFA Champions League football.
The victory completed an impressive collection of individual recognition after Fernandes had already been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
According to the official PFA Awards 2026 Premier League winners announcement, Fernandes received the award after his fellow professionals selected him.
His triumph also carries historical significance. Fernandes became the first Manchester United player to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award since Wayne Rooney in 2010 and only the second Portuguese winner after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester United PFA Awards coverage also celebrated Fernandes’ inclusion in the Premier League Team of the Year alongside his individual success.
Fernandes Beats Declan Rice in a Fierce PFA Race
The result followed an intriguing debate over whether outstanding individual statistics or success with the league champions carried more weight.
Declan Rice had a powerful claim after helping Arsenal win their first Premier League title in 22 years. He appeared in 36 of Arsenal’s 38 league fixtures and played a major role across midfield.
Before the ceremony, Heavy’s PFA Awards 2026 analysis highlighted Fernandes and Rice as two of the leading contenders, alongside Haaland, Cherki, Raya and Gabriel.
Ultimately, Fernandes’ record-breaking creativity won his peers’ approval.
Nico O’Reilly Named PFA Young Player of the Year
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly collected the Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year award following his breakthrough campaign.
The versatile 21-year-old established himself as an important member of City’s starting XI, recording eight goal involvements and contributing to nine clean sheets across 34 league appearances.
O’Reilly beat a talented group of young players, including Rayan Cherki, Max Dowman, Junior Kroupi, Kobbie Mainoo and Rio Ngumoha.
His performances also earned him selection in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2026
Arsenal’s title-winning campaign was strongly reflected in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, with five Gunners selected. Manchester City supplied another four players, leaving Fernandes and Brentford striker Igor Thiago as the only representatives from outside those two clubs.
The official XI was:
Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal)
Defenders: Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Igor Thiago (Brentford)
The selections underline Arsenal’s defensive excellence while also recognizing Manchester City’s attacking quality.
Bunny Shaw Wins Women’s PFA Player of the Year
Manchester City’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was named the Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year, adding another major achievement to her remarkable career.
Shaw scored 21 goals in 22 WSL appearances as Manchester City claimed the league title and became the first player to win three WSL Golden Boots. It was her second PFA Player of the Year victory in three seasons.
Arsenal’s Olivia Smith, meanwhile, retained the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award.
For a wider breakdown of the major winners, see the BBC Sport PFA Awards 2026 report.
What the PFA Awards Mean for Tanzanian Premier League Fans
The English Premier League remains one of the most closely followed football competitions in Tanzania, and the PFA results give supporters another perspective on the stars who defined the 2025/26 season.
Fernandes’ victory demonstrates that league position alone does not decide individual recognition. Arsenal were champions and Manchester City supplied several outstanding performers, but Fernandes’ creativity, consistency and record-breaking 21 assists earned the respect of the players who faced him.
The Team of the Year also provides Tanzanian football fans with several names to monitor closely during the 2026/27 campaign, from established stars such as Haaland, Rice and Fernandes to emerging talents such as O’Reilly.
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Conclusion
The PFA Awards 2026 belonged to Bruno Fernandes. In a season when Arsenal finally returned to the Premier League summit and Manchester City continued to produce outstanding individual talent, the Manchester United captain still managed to stand above the competition.
His 21-assist Premier League record, nine league goals and influence on United’s third-place finish earned him football’s ultimate compliment: recognition from his fellow players.
Nico O’Reilly’s Young Player of the Year award points towards English football’s next generation. At the same time, Arsenal and Manchester City’s dominance of the PFA Team of the Year illustrates just how influential the two clubs were during 2025/26.
For football supporters across Tanzania, the awards close one memorable Premier League chapter while providing plenty of reasons to look forward to the next.
