Man United’s Fernandes, City’s Shaw named PFA Players of the Year

What the report says

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw were named the Professional Footballers’ Association’s men’s and women’s Players of the Year, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on 26 August 2026. The awards, announced on Tuesday, recognized standout individual seasons for both players despite mixed team fortunes.

Al Jazeera reported that Fernandes had a record-breaking Premier League campaign for assists, providing 21 goals and scoring nine himself as United recovered from a poor start to finish third under manager Michael Carrick and qualify for the Champions League. The article also noted that the Portuguese midfielder had already won the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award in May.

Shaw earned the women’s award for a second time after scoring 21 goals, winning a third consecutive Golden Boot and helping City capture their first Women’s Super League title in 10 years. The report said the club’s success also extended to the men’s side, with 21-year-old Nico O’Reilly named Men’s Young Player of the Year after contributing in City’s League Cup final win over Arsenal and their FA Cup triumph. The wider Team of the Year featured several Manchester City and Arsenal players, reflecting the strength of both clubs across the season.