Bruno Fernandes Claims PFA Player of the Year with Record 21 Assists

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the PFA men's player of the year after a record-breaking 21-assist Premier League campaign.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes secured the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) men’s player of the year award on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The 31-year-old midfielder earned the peer-voted honor after registering a record-breaking 21 assists during the Premier League season. In addition to his creative output, the Portuguese international netted nine top-flight goals, helping his side clinch a third-place finish in the standings. This achievement represents the first time a representative from Old Trafford has hoisted the trophy since Wayne Rooney’s victory in 2010.

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Fernandes, who moved to England from Sporting CP in January 2020, reached a significant milestone in February 2026 by surpassing 200 total goal contributions for the Red Devils. To secure the PFA accolade, he finished ahead of fellow finalists Declan Rice of Arsenal and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. This latest individual prize completes a prestigious treble for the playmaker, who had previously been voted the Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year earlier this summer.

Manchester City’s Nico O'Reilly was crowned the PFA men’s young player of the year following a prolific breakthrough under Pep Guardiola. The academy graduate featured in 34 league fixtures for the reigning champions throughout the campaign. His domestic form earned him a spot in England’s FIFA World Cup squad. A defining moment of his season arrived at Wembley Stadium in February, where he scored twice against Arsenal to deliver the Carabao Cup to the Etihad club.

Arsenal players occupied five positions in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. The North London club’s representatives include goalkeeper David Raya, defenders Jurriën Timber, Gabriel, and William Saliba, plus midfielder Declan Rice. Manchester City followed with four inclusions, featuring O'Reilly and Haaland. The remaining spots in the elite eleven were filled by Fernandes and Brentford striker Igor Thiago.

Latest developments

The official lineup consists of David Raya between the posts; a defensive unit comprising Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, and O'Reilly; a midfield engine room of Rice, Fernandes, and Rayan Cherki; and a forward line featuring Antoine Semenyo, Haaland, and Igor Thiago. This selection highlights a diverse range of talent across the top four clubs, with Brentford and Bournemouth also represented in the final attacking trio.

In the Championship, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney was named the division's player of the year. The League One individual honor was presented to Dom Ballard of Leyton Orient following his influential performances. Swindon Town’s Aaron Drinan completed the EFL honors by winning the League Two player of the year award. These accolades were distributed during the gala held in Manchester, celebrating excellence across all four professional tiers of English football.

Fernandes’ victory ends a 16-year drought for Manchester United in the PFA’s primary category. His 21 assists surpassed the previous single-season record of 20, shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. The midfielder's consistency was a primary factor in United's return to the Champions League places, as he started 37 of the 38 scheduled league matches. His leadership as club captain coincided with a significant statistical upturn for the team's offensive efficiency during the latter half of the 2025-26 schedule.