Premier League end-of-season awards: Football Muse crowns the 2025/26 season’s heroes | OneFootball

Football Muse's end-of-season Premier League Awards feature Bruno Fernandes, Rayan Cherki and Igor Thiago.

Moment of the Season: David Raya's save vs West Ham

Arsenal had found themselves on the ropes in the run-in, with Declan Rice's 'It's not over' message, after the second of successive defeats at Manchester City, labelled performative by some and not genuine belief.

By the time the Gunners travelled toWest Ham in May, the ship had steadied, but a side scrapping for survival was keen to prey on any mental vulnerability.

The late VAR drama dominated the headlines at the London Stadium, but it was arguably Raya's save from Mateus Fernandes that was season-defining. Late on, with the game goalless, he came out on top in their one-vs-one to set the platform for Arsenal to earn a massive win.

Player of the Season: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Head and shoulders above his teammates for several seasons and, now, recognised as the finest footballer in the country. Some will argue this award should go to one of Arsenal's title-winning contingent, but the best player does not always play for the best team.

Fernandes led thePremier League for assists, expected assists, chances created, open play chances created, and big chances created, in what has been a record-breaking season.

His influence has returnedManchester United to the Champions League, a stage the club feel they belong on.

Young Player of the Season - Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

A toss-up between Rayan Cherki and Manchester City teammate Nico O'Reilly, there's often a bias of this award to homegrown talent.

It's easy to forget that Cherki was just 21 when the season got underway, such has been the ease of his adaptation at the Etihad.

He has been truly box-office, a maverick talent that is worth the admission fee alone. Cherki has combined that flair with an output that has delivered a Premier League goal or assist ever 109 minutes. A super talent.

Manager of the Season -  Regis Le Bris (Sunderland)

Sunderland started the season among the favourites for the drop but ended it in Europe for the first time in 52 years.

Sure, Sunderland spent heavily last summer, but that was necessary for a team who was in the third tier just four years ago, and who finished 24 points adrift of the automatic promotion places just last season.

Their underdog win in the Championship play-offs has kickstarted a run all the way to European football. Sunderland will play in the Europa League next season and Regis Le Bris deserves his flowers.

Goal of the Season - Harry Wilson vs Crystal Palace

Harry Wilson doesn't often score normal goals. The Welsh winger scored some stunning efforts during the 2025/26 season and this is our favourite.

It's a lovely little inter-change with Raul Jimenez and a gorgeous finish.

Save of the Season - Jordan Pickford vs Newcastle

A perhaps contradictory pick, having named a David Raya stop as our biggest moment, but Jordan Pickford's stop at Newcastle earns our Save of the Season award.

Sandro Tonali could not have hit that ball any better, but Pickford was equal to it.

Best transfer - Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin signed for Leeds last summer with his career at a crossroads. His latter time atEverton had been plagued by fitness and form issues, with the forward deciding he needed a fresh start.

His free transfer move to Leeds has been one of the success stories of the season. Calvert-Lewin's 14 league goals were just one fewer than he managed across his final four seasons at Everton combined, and earned him an England recall after five years in March.

Without those goals, Leeds would have struggled to survive.

Worst transfer - Yoane Wissa (Newcastle)

Newcastle needed to get their striker signings right last summer as Alexander Isak, fortunate to not be named here, headed for the exit door. But a summer-long saga meant the Magpies left their business late, overpaying on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

The latter was meant to be the Premier League proven guarantee, but a pre-season injury stalled his start and Wissa never recovered.

The 29-year-old ends his debut season with one league goal and firmly out of favour, failing to start a Premier League game since February. It would be a surprise if the £55m recruit is not moved on at a big loss this summer.

Biggest surprise - Igor Thiago (Brentford)

To come back from an ACL injury is hard for any player, it's even tougher in a new league. Igor Thiago's debut season atBrentford consisted of only 168 minutes of Premier League football, but he's made up for lost time.

An incredible return of 22 goals saw Thiago finish as runner-up for the Golden Boot and earn a place inBrazil's World Cup squad. Brazil's number nine, a position previously occupied by Romario and Ronaldo, plays his club football at Brentford.

Biggest disappointment - Liverpool

Arne Slot appeared to walk on water last season, as the Dutchman took on the sizeable task of replacing Jurgen Klopp and exceeded all expectations.

Slot ledLiverpool to the Premier League title, and after a record-breaking summer of recruitment, excitement and expectation were hig.

Instead, it's been a dismal defence of the title, with Liverpool limping to Champions League qualification but far adrift of the top. The Reds were beaten 19 times in all competitions, a monumental fall from last season's high.

Premier League Team of the Season

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, O'Reilly; Semenyo, Rice, Fernandes, Cherki; Thiago, Haaland.