Bruno Fernandes has added another prestigious accolade to his cabinet ahead of the new campaign, securing the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year award. The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder was voted the standout performer of the season by his fellow professionals across English football, confirming his status among the game’s elite talent.
Fernandes enjoyed an extraordinary individual campaign, orchestrating Manchester United’s midfield with ruthless efficiency. The Portuguese international recorded a remarkable 21 assists alongside nine goals, serving as the central figure in the club’s dramatic tactical revival under manager Michael Carrick. Under Carrick’s leadership, the Red Devils mounted an impressive domestic recovery to finish third in the Premier League, successfully securing their return to the UEFA Champions League.
This latest recognition follows Fernandes previously picking up the official Premier League Player of the Season award. By securing the PFA honour, he becomes only the second Portuguese footballer to win the prestigious trophy. The first was his former international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who claimed back-to-back awards in 2007 and 2008 during his first spell at Old Trafford. Fernandes’ victory brings Manchester United’s overall tally to 12 PFA Player of the Year winners, an all-time record across English and Welsh football.
Carrick’s arrival proved pivotal in reinvigorating the captain’s form. Granting his forward line greater tactical flexibility and creative license, the manager positioned Fernandes as the primary playmaker, a role he executed with devastating effect. Since transferring to Old Trafford from Sporting CP in 2000, Fernandes has accumulated 110 goals and 106 assists for the club. Reaching 200 direct goal contributions in just 314 appearances, he stands as the second-fastest player to achieve the feat for Manchester United in the Premier League era, surpassed only by club icon Wayne Rooney, who reached the milestone in 295 matches.
The PFA Premier League Team of the Year was heavily dominated by the division’s top two clubs, with champions Arsenal contributing five players and runners-up Manchester City supplying four.
The full PFA Premier League Team of the Year features David Raya (Arsenal) in goal. The defensive line comprises Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), and Jurriën Timber (Arsenal). The midfield trio features Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City). The attacking line is led by Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), and Igor Thiago (Brentford).
