Bruno Fernandes and Khadija Shaw Win 2026 PFA Player Awards

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have won the Professional Footballers' Association men's and women's player of the year awards for 2026. BBC Sport reported the results on Tuesday, with both prizes recognising campaigns in which the winners set or extended major domestic records.

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Fernandes became the first Manchester United player to take the men's award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. The Portugal midfielder delivered 21 assists in the 2025-26 Premier League season, surpassing the previous single-season record of 20 shared by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry. He also scored nine league goals across 35 appearances as United finished third and secured Champions League qualification.

Across all competitions, Fernandes recorded nine goals and 22 assists in 37 matches, according to BBC Sport. The 31-year-old was selected ahead of Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya and Declan Rice, as well as Manchester City pair Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland. Fernandes is the second Portuguese winner of the men's prize, following Cristiano Ronaldo's successes in 2007 and 2008.

Shaw earned the women's award for the second time in three seasons after helping Manchester City win the Women's Super League. The Jamaica international scored 21 goals in 22 league appearances, securing a third successive WSL Golden Boot. She became the first player to score at least 20 goals in three different WSL seasons and the first to win the league's scoring award three times.

The 29-year-old added five goals outside the league, including the opener in the FA Cup final as City completed a domestic double. Shaw joined Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby as the only players to win the PFA women's player award more than once. Her fellow nominees included City teammate Yui Hasegawa, Aston Villa's Kirsty Hanson, Chelsea's Lauren James, Manchester United's Jess Park and Arsenal's Alessia Russo.

Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly was named men's young player of the year after establishing himself in the first team, while Arsenal forward Olivia Smith retained the women's young player award. Smith, a 22-year-old Canada international, became only the second multiple winner of that honour after Lauren Hemp. The awards were decided by votes from fellow professional players.