PFA Announces Player of the Year Shortlists
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has unveiled the nominees for this year’s Male and Female Player of the Year awards, celebrating outstanding talent in football.
In the men’s category, three players from Arsenal’s Premier League-winning squad are featured among the six contenders: Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya, and Declan Rice. Joining them are Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, already recognized as the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year, and Manchester City’s dynamic duo of Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland—who dominated the league with 27 goals and clinched his third Premier League Golden Boot for the 2025/26 season.
Turning to the women’s division, the shortlist includes Chelsea’s Lauren James and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo. Notably, Bunny Shaw, the 2023/24 winner who recently signed a four-year contract with Manchester City, is also among the nominees. Her teammate, Yui Hasegawa, along with Manchester United’s Jess Park and Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson, complete the list of contenders.
The PFA awards ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, at the Manchester Opera House, promising an evening of celebration and recognition for the footballing community.
Men’s Player of the Year Nominees
The full list of nominees for the PFA Men’s Player of the Year award is as follows:
- Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Women’s Player of the Year Nominees
The contenders for the PFA Women’s Player of the Year are:
- Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
- Lauren James (Chelsea)
- Jess Park (Manchester United)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
- Bunny Shaw (Manchester City)
Men’s Young Player of the Year Nominees
Furthermore, the nominees for the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year award include an impressive group of rising stars:
- Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
- Max Dauman (Arsenal)
- Junior Crupi (Bournemouth)
- Coby Mainu (Manchester United)
- Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
- Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
With such high-caliber nominations across all categories, the PFA awards will undoubtedly highlight the exceptional talent shaping the future of football.
