Fernandes secures Premier League player of the season award amid United’s managerial transition
The 31-year-old midfielder equaled the league’s single-season record with 20 assists, edging out a shortlist that included Arsenal’s title-winning trio and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the Premier League player of the season, a recognition that underscores his pivotal role in guiding the club to a third-place finish and qualification for the Champions League. The 31-year-old midfielder’s campaign was defined by his exceptional playmaking ability, as he equaled the league’s single-season assists record with 20 assists, achieving the milestone with one game remaining in the season.
Fernandes tied the record previously held jointly by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and ex-Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. In addition to his distribution, the Portugal international scored eight goals and created a league-high 132 chances, establishing himself as the competition’s most effective playmaker. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai was the next closest competitor in this metric, having created 89 chances.
The award nomination featured a competitive shortlist that included Arsenal’s Gabriel, David Raya, and Declan Rice, alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo. Other nominees included Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Brentford’s Igor Thiago. Fernandes’ selection highlights a shift in individual accolades toward consistent creative output rather than solely goal-scoring prowess.
This latest honour follows a series of individual recognitions for Fernandes, who was named the Football Writers’ Association men’s player of the year earlier this month. He also secured Manchester United’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the fifth time, reflecting his sustained influence within the squad.
The announcement coincides with significant structural changes at Old Trafford. Following the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim in January, interim head coach Michael Carrick was appointed as the permanent replacement on Friday. Fernandes now has the opportunity to break the assists record outright when United travel to Brighton & Hove Albion for the final game of the season.
