Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2025/26 Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year, beating Arsenal’s Declan Rice by 28 votes, with Erling Haaland finishing third.
The Portuguese midfielder becomes the first United player to win the award in 16 years, since Wayne Rooney claimed it in 2010, and only the ninth overall in the club’s history.
Fernandes claimed over 45% of votes cast by the 900-member association — the only United player on the shortlist — continuing a proud Portuguese tradition in the award, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s two wins and Ruben Dias’ victory.
The award caps a remarkable season for the 31-year-old, who has been the driving force behind United’s resurgence to third place in the Premier League, securing Champions League football for next season.
His 19 assists this season leave him just one short of equalling Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20, with three matches still to play.
Fernandes has also contributed eight goals, 27 goal involvements in total, and created 29 big chances in the league this campaign.
He is also the first player outside the top two clubs to win the individual honour since Gareth Bale in 2013 — a testament to the scale of his influence in a season United needed him most.
The former Sporting Lisbon playmaker joined United in January 2020 and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent creative forces.
The Football Writers’ Association, founded in 1947, is widely regarded as the custodian of English football’s oldest and most prestigious individual award.
