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Sports · Soccer · published 2026-08-25 · via BBC Sport

United captain and City striker claim top PFA honours

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United and Khadija Shaw of Manchester City were named the Professional Footballers' Association players of the year for the 2025-26 season. Fernandes set a Premier League record with 21 assists, while Shaw scored 21 goals to help City win the Women's Super League title. Nico O'Reilly and Olivia Smith took the young player awards.

Expanded Detail

Fernandes's 21-assist campaign surpassed the previous Premier League benchmark of 20 set by Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry, with his final-day contribution against Brighton sealing the record. His 35 league appearances yielded nine goals, helping United to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. Shaw's 21 goals came in just 22 WSL matches, including hat-tricks against Aston Villa and Tottenham, and she added five more in the FA Cup triumph. Both players had already claimed the Football Writers' Association honours earlier in the season.

Context

The awards may reinforce the growing visibility of women's football, with Shaw's repeated recognition highlighting the WSL's rising competitive standard.

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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