Sunday, May 24, 2026 - Bruno Fernandes has been named the Premier League Player of the Season after a standout campaign for Manchester United F.C..
The Portugal international adds the award to the Football
Writers’ Association Men’s Player of the Year honour he received earlier this
month. Fernandes played a key role in helping Manchester United secure third
place in the Premier League and qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions
League.
The midfielder registered eight goals and equalled the
Premier League single-season assist record after providing his 20th assist
during United’s match against Nottingham Forest F.C. last weekend. Fernandes
also created 132 chances throughout the campaign, more than any other player in
the league and 43 more than the second-highest creator, Dominik Szoboszlai of
Liverpool F.C..
He becomes the first Manchester United player to win the
Premier League Player of the Season award since Nemanja Vidić claimed the
honour in 2011. The winner was determined through a combination of public votes
and selections from a panel of football experts.
Other shortlisted nominees included David Raya, Gabriel
Magalhães and Declan Rice of Arsenal F.C., Erling Haaland of Manchester City
F.C., Antoine Semenyo, Igor Thiago and Morgan Gibbs-White. Manchester United
are scheduled to face Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. in their final league
match of the season on Sunday.
Meanwhile, several members of United’s coaching staff,
including Steve Holland, Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion and
Craig Mawson, have signed new two-year contracts to remain part of manager
Michael Carrick’s backroom team. Carrick himself signed a permanent two-year
contract on Friday after initially taking interim charge following the
departure of Ruben Amorim in January.
In the Premier League Young Player of the Season category,
Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City claimed the award after an impressive
breakthrough campaign. The 21-year-old defender scored five goals and provided
three assists in 34 league appearances.
O’Reilly, who joined Manchester City’s academy at the age of
eight, also earned his first senior England cap in November and has been
included in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He beat
competition from fellow Manchester City player Rayan Cherki, Bournemouth pair
Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Lewis Hall,
Michael Kayode and Matheus Fernandes.
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