Bruno Fernandes, Khadija Shaw Win FWA Footballer of the Year Awards

Bruno Fernandes and Khadija Shaw have been named the 2025/26 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballers of the Year following outstanding performances for Manchester United and Manchester City respectively.

Fernandes claimed the men’s award after leading Manchester United back into the UEFA Champions League places with a remarkable individual campaign. The Portuguese midfielder recorded eight goals and 19 assists in the Premier League, finishing just one assist short of equalling the league’s all-time single-season assist record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The 31-year-old became the first Manchester United player to win the prestigious award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. He reportedly secured 45 per cent of the votes cast by football journalists, edging out Declan Rice and Erling Haaland in the final standings.

Fernandes’ creativity and leadership were widely praised throughout the season, with many observers crediting him for United’s resurgence after a difficult start to the campaign.

In the women’s category, Shaw; popularly known as “Bunny” Shaw, captured her second FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year award after spearheading Manchester City’s Women’s Super League title charge. The Jamaican striker scored 19 goals in 21 matches and is also on course to secure a third consecutive Golden Boot.

Shaw finished ahead of Alessia Russo and Lauren James in the voting. Her latest triumph adds to a growing list of individual accolades that have established her as one of the most dominant forwards in women’s football.

The Football Writers’ Association award, one of the most prestigious honours in English football, is decided by votes from hundreds of football journalists across England and Wales.