- Bruno Fernandes Wins 2026 PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award
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Manchester United captain beats six nominees for prestigious individual honour.
- Nico O’Reilly and Olivia Smith win young player awards respectively.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2026 Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year.
- Full List of 2026 PFA Award Winners
- Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year
- Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year
- League Two PFA Players’ Player of the Year
- League Two PFA Team of the Year
- League One PFA Players’ Player of the Year
- League One PFA Team of the Year
- Championship PFA Players’ Player of the Year
- Championship PFA Team of the Year
- WSL 2 PFA Players’ Player of the Year
- WSL 2 PFA Team of the Year
- PFA WSL Young Player of the Year
- PFA WSL Team of the Year
- PFA Premier League Team of the Year
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Fernandes received the award at the 53rd annual PFA Awards ceremony held at the Manchester Opera House in Manchester, United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder was voted the best player of the 2025/26 season by his fellow professionals.
Fernandes won the men’s award ahead of five other nominees, including Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, as well as Arsenal trio Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães.
The 2026 PFA Awards also recognised outstanding performers across English football, with players from the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, Women’s Super League and WSL 2 receiving honours.
A total of 74 awards were presented during the ceremony.
Former England international Karen Carney and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish were also honoured with PFA Merit Awards.
Full List of 2026 PFA Award Winners
Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year
Winner: Nico O’Reilly, Manchester City
O’Reilly won the award ahead of Manchester City teammate Rayan Cherki, Arsenal youngster Max Dowman, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha.
Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year
Winner: Olivia Smith, Arsenal
Smith retained the award for a second consecutive year, finishing ahead of Laura Blindkilde Brown, Veerle Buurman, Freya Godfrey, Tōko Koga and Alyssa Thompson.
League Two PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Winner: Aaron Drinan, Swindon Town
Drinan claimed the award ahead of Sammy Braybrooke, Michael Cheek, Callum Paterson, Mitch Pinnock and Omar Sowunmi.
League Two PFA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Mathew Hudson, Oldham Athletic
Defenders: Omar Sowunmi, Bromley; Kelland Watts, Cambridge United; Jack Sanders, MK Dons; James Gibbons, Cambridge United
Midfielders: Alex Gilbey, MK Dons; Mitch Pinnock, Bromley; Sammy Braybrooke, Chesterfield
Forwards: Aaron Drinan, Swindon Town; Michael Cheek, Bromley; Callum Paterson, MK Dons
League One PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Winner: Dom Ballard, Leyton Orient
Ballard won the award after an impressive campaign, beating Amario Cozier Duberry, David McGoldrick, Jack Moylan, Oliver Norwood and Kyle Wootton.
League One PFA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: George Wickens, Lincoln City
Defenders: Sonny Bradley, Lincoln City; Tendayi Darikwa, Lincoln City; Perry Ng, Cardiff City; Carl Piergianni, Stevenage
Midfielders: Oliver Norwood, Stockport County; Lewis Wing, Reading; Jack Moylan, Lincoln City
Forwards: Dom Ballard, Leyton Orient; Kyle Wootton, Stockport County; Amario Cozier Duberry, Bolton Wanderers
Championship PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Winner: Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough
Hackney won the Championship’s top individual award ahead of Matt Grimes, Jack Rudoni, Carl Rushworth, Žan Vipotnik and Haji Wright.
Championship PFA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Carl Rushworth, Coventry City
Defenders: Milan van Ewijk, Coventry City; Bobby Thomas, Coventry City; Tristan Crama, Millwall; Taylor Harwood Bellis, Southampton
Midfielders: Hayden Hackney, Middlesbrough; Matt Grimes, Coventry City; Jack Rudoni, Coventry City
Forwards: Žan Vipotnik, Swansea City; Haji Wright, Coventry City; Femi Azeez, Millwall
WSL 2 PFA Players’ Player of the Year
Winner: Lily Crosthwaite, Birmingham City
Crosthwaite won the award ahead of Ellie Brazil, Abbie Larkin, Emily Syme, Ashleigh Weerden and Sophie Whitehouse.
WSL 2 PFA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Sophie Whitehouse, Charlton Athletic
Defenders: Aimee Everett, Crystal Palace; Neve Herron, Birmingham City; Rebecca McKenna, Birmingham City; Mari Ward, Bristol City
Midfielders: Emily Syme, Bristol City; Jordan Nobbs, Newcastle United; Annabel Blanchard, Crystal Palace
Forwards: Lily Crosthwaite, Birmingham City; Ashleigh Weerden, Crystal Palace; Emily Murphy, Newcastle United
PFA WSL Young Player of the Year
Winner: Olivia Smith, Arsenal
Smith became a two time winner of the award after another impressive season with Arsenal.
PFA WSL Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Hannah Hampton, Chelsea
Defenders: Kerstin Casparij, Manchester City; Tōko Koga, Tottenham Hotspur; Ellie Carpenter, Chelsea; Emily Fox, Arsenal
Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa, Manchester City; Mariona Caldentey, Arsenal; Jessica Park, Manchester United
Forwards: Bunny Shaw, Manchester City; Alessia Russo, Arsenal; Lauren James, Chelsea
PFA Premier League Team of the Year
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
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