Photo Credit: Manchester City’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw poses with the Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award backstage at the Opera House in Manchester, England, on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP)
PFA Awards 2026: Bruno Fernandes and Bunny Shaw Crowned Players of the Year
Manchester heavyweights dominated the 2026 PFA Awards held at the Opera House in Manchester on Tuesday night.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, while Manchester City striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scooped the Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year for a second time.

Fernandes, 31, was rewarded after an outstanding individual campaign where he broke the Premier League assists record. The Portuguese international set up 21 goals, surpassing the previous mark held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He also scored nine times as United recovered from a poor start to finish third and secure a return to the Champions League.

For Shaw, the award caps a historic season. The Reggae Girlz captain scored 21 goals to win a third-straight Golden Boot and lead Manchester City to their first Women’s Super League title in a decade. She becomes the first player to win three WSL Golden Boots and only the third woman to win multiple PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards.

Other major winners on the night:
• PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year: Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City • PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year: Olivia Smith – Arsenal
City’s O’Reilly was recognized after scoring twice in the League Cup final win over Arsenal and playing a key role in their FA Cup triumph.
“It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against, and it’s probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment,” Fernandes said.
The PFA Team of the Year was dominated by champions Arsenal with five players, including David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, alongside Fernandes and City’s Erling Haaland.
Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP) via Jamaica Observer and Al Jazeera