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.

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 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.

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.

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.