FWA Footballer of the Year 2025/26: Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Man City striker Khadija Shaw claim awards

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw have been voted the 2025/26 Football Writers' Association Footballers of the Year.

Fernandes becomes the first player at Old Trafford to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2009/10 after recording eight goals and 19 assists in the Premier League this season.

He joins an illustrious list of United players to secure the accolade, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Teddy Sheringham, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Johnny Carey among those who have previously received the honour.

• Got Sky? Watch the Premier League and more on the Sky Sports app?
• Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract?
• Premier League table | Fixtures | Results

The 31-year-old playmaker needs just one assist in the remaining three games to match Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's record for most assists in a top-flight campaign (20) after already helping United secure their return to the Champions League.

Shaw at the double! City striker wins it again

Shaw joins Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby to secure the award for a second time, after previously winning in the 2023/24 season.

The Jamaica striker has scored 19 goals in 21 Women's Super League games this season, helping City secure their first title in 10 years and is on course to win the WSL Golden Boot for a third consecutive season.

Sky Sports News has reported Shaw is set to leave City at the end of her contract this summer, with the striker eager to explore her options despite winning the title.

The 29-year-old striker has scored a remarkable 110 goals in 133 appearances for City since joining from Bordeaux in 2021 and there is believed to be interest in Shaw from Chelsea among other clubs, including from the USA.

Why did Fernandes get the nod?

Sky Sports' Adam Bate:

Declan Rice could power Arsenal over the line to a historic title win. There is still time for Erling Haaland to fire Manchester City there. But Bruno Fernandes' case has already been made. He has been the exceptional player in the Premier League this season.

With 19 assists already in the competition, the Manchester United captain is one shy of the record set by Thierry Henry and equalled by Kevin De Bruyne. Whether he surpasses them or not, his creativity in this campaign has been on another level to everyone else.

Fernandes has created 120 chances this season, according to Opta. He topped the Premier League charts in all but one of his previous five complete seasons at United - one behind Trent Alexander-Arnold in the other - but this is already his highest total.

For context, it is almost double the number of chances created by the second man on the list. And while his ability to make things happen from set-pieces is a feature of his game - and of this season - he has created more in open play than anyone else in total.

There will be critics even now. The customary abuse at away grounds. Former players who question him. But any suggestion that Fernandes lacks leadership qualities should have been dismissed long ago. He has been a victim of United's malaise not the cause.

Like Bryan Robson before him, Fernandes has been a shining light in an awkward period in the club's history. But his own standards have remained. Both the supporters and his team-mates appreciate that. "I feel like he deserves so much," said Matheus Cunha recently.

"He helps everyone. He is a beautiful captain for the club. He passed through hard moments and he deserves to have these beautiful moments also. What a player, what a guy. He deserves the Player of the Year." The Football Writers' Association agree.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: FWA Footballer of the Year 2025/26: Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Man City striker Khadija Shaw claim awards