Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has claimed the 2025/26 Premier League Player of the Season award, marking the very first time he has taken home the honour. The midfielder has enjoyed an extraordinary run of form throughout the year, serving as the definitive catalyst for a resurgent squad that successfully booked its ticket back to the UEFA Champions League.
The Portuguese international was a constant threat, registering eight goals and a staggering 20 assists. This massive haul meant he directly accounted for 28 goals across 37 league outings, guiding the Red Devils to a secure third-place finish in the standings.
His historic 20th assist of the domestic campaign occurred during a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, where he set up Bryan Mbeumo. That decisive pass saw Fernandes equal the long-standing all-time single-season assist record, putting him level with legendary figures Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Overcoming the Ruben Amorim Tactical Hurdles
The playmaker’s award-winning year began under incredibly difficult circumstances as Manchester United initially struggled during Ruben Amorim’s first full season at the helm. Under the former manager’s tactical setup, the captain was uncharacteristically pulled into a deeper midfield role. Instead of operating as a primary final-third creator, he was asked to sit deep and control the tempo of the game.
However, the club parted ways with Amorim following a disappointing string of results. The subsequent appointment of interim boss Michael Carrick completely transformed the team’s fortunes. Carrick immediately restored Fernandes to his preferred number ten role, a tactical adjustment that instantly unlocked his elite creative output and supercharged United’s frontline.
Surpassing Club Legends in the History Books
“I’m very happy for the assist and for the win, and to finish the season on a high,” Fernandes remarked after matching the historic milestone. “I got to 20, let’s see—we have one more game! It’s the highest I’ve done in the Premier League so I am very happy with it.”
Fernandes now has the opportunity to claim the outright single-season assist crown if he sets up another goal during the final league fixture against Aston Villa. He has already eclipsed David Beckham’s previous club record of 15 assists, which had stood since the 1999/2000 season. Furthermore, his 132 goal-scoring opportunities created this term put him comfortably clear of Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, who sat a distant second with 43 fewer chances.
This accolade follows his recent recognition as the Football Writers’ Association’s Men’s Footballer of the Year, making him the first United representative to win the FWA prize since Wayne Rooney in 2010. He is also the first player from Old Trafford to secure the Player of the Season trophy since Nemanja Vidic back in 2011.
To win the coveted individual trophy, Fernandes topped a competitive eight-man shortlist consisting of Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Gabriel, and David Raya, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, Brentford frontman Igor Thiago, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
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