Bruno Fernandes named FWA Footballer of the Year | OneFootball

Bruno Fernandes has been voted the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for 2025–26, crowning a record-breaking season in which the Manchester United captain has arguably played the finest football of his career.

The Portuguese midfielder edged out Arsenal's Declan Rice, and Manchester City's Erling Haaland to win the award. 

Restored to his natural attacking role under manager Michael Carrick, Fernandes leads the Premier League in assists with 19, nearly twice as many as any other player.

Along the way he broke David Beckham's long-standing Manchester United record for most assists in a single Premier League season, surpassing the former England captain's mark of 15 set in 1999–2000.

"This means everything," Fernandes said at the FWA dinner in London. "This has been the best season of my life."

The women's award went to Manchester City's Khadija "Bunny" Shaw, who claimed the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year prize for the second time.

Shaw broke the WSL record for the fastest hat-trick in league history in March, netting three times within 12 minutes and 37 seconds against Tottenham, and became the first Manchester City player to reach 100 goals for the club earlier in the season.

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