Bruno Fernandes has been named PFA Player of the Year for the 2025-26 Premier League season, adding to his Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year prizes.
Portugal midfielder Fernandes helped Manchester United to a 3rd place finish last term – a significant improvement after they ended the previous season in 15th spot. By the end of the campaign, Fernandes made headlines by breaking the all-time Premier League assists record with 21 goals laid on for teammates.
At the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, Fernandes was presented with his latest recognition by former United teammate Juan Mata. Fernandes is the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, while also becoming the second Portuguese to be honoured after Cristiano Ronaldo, who won it back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.
“It’s a very proud moment. Obviously, I’m very thankful for all of those who voted for me. It was a special season individually for me. For all the votes I’m very proud, it’s something I’m very grateful for.”
Fernandes was modest when asked about his assists record, which saw him overtake English football legends Thierry Henry (Arsenal) and Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) to break the 20-assists barrier which had been unsurpassed for 23 years.
“I hadn’t thought about is much until you guys [in the media] started commenting on it so much. Obviously then when you start getting closer, you start thinking about it. But I think it got more into my strikers’ head than myself, because they were so eager to score a goal and give me that assist that sometimes they forgot about their own game.
“But I’m very happy because assisting means someone is getting goals and Manchester United is getting goals.
“Would I swap it for team success? That’s obviously and everyone would say the same. That’s the most important thing in football. We don’t play tennis that’s just by ourselves, we play in a team, we play for a club, we play for fans. There’s nothing more special than that.”
Bruno Fernandes presented with the PFA Player of the Year award by former teammate Juan Mata pic.twitter.com/yp2M7DIIHQ
— Sean Gillen (@SeanGillen22) August 25, 2026
