Fernandes and Shaw Crowned FWA Footballers of the Year
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw have been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballers of the Year for the 2025-26 season, marking a clean sweep for the city of Manchester.
Fernandes secured the men's award with 45% of the vote, edging out Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice by just 28 votes in one of the closest races in the award's history. The Portugal international has logged eight goals and a stunning 20 assists across all competitions for United this season, playing a pivotal role in the club's resurgence under interim manager Michael Carrick. United are set to finish third in the Premier League and secure Champions League football next term.
Shaw, meanwhile, won the women's award in a landslide victory. The Jamaican striker has netted 19 goals in 21 WSL matches for Manchester City, leading her team to the league title for the first time in a decade. She is also on track to claim the WSL Golden Boot for a third consecutive season—a league record—and could become the first player to reach 20 goals in three different campaigns. This is Shaw's second FWA award, having previously won in 2023-24.
Why the Awards Matter
The FWA Footballer of the Year is one of English football's most prestigious individual honours, voted on by more than 900 football journalists. The men's award, first presented in 1948, has historically favoured outfield players, with only four goalkeepers winning it in its 77-year history.
Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to claim the men's award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. His victory comes amid a turbulent season for United, who parted ways with manager Ruben Amorim in January and will finish the campaign without a trophy for the second year running. Nevertheless, Fernandes has been a consistent creative force, ranking among the Premier League's top assist providers and on pace to challenge the single-season assist record of 20 shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
For Shaw, the award underscores her dominance in women's football. Since joining City in 2021, she has scored 113 goals in 135 appearances, becoming the club's first professional player to reach 100 goals in December 2025. She also reached 100 goal contributions in the WSL—goals plus assists—during the campaign, doing so faster than almost any player in the competition's history. Her performances have been instrumental in breaking Chelsea's stranglehold on the Women's Super League title.
Arsenal's Alessia Russo, last year's winner, finished second in the women's voting, while Chelsea's Lauren James placed third. On the men's side, Erling Haaland came third, with Arsenal's David Raya, Gabriel, and Bukayo Saka also receiving votes.
Broader Implications and Trends
A Goalkeeper Still Overlooked
Despite David Raya's exceptional season—winning his third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets and leading Arsenal to the Champions League final—he was not among the top men's vote-getters. The FWA has only recognised four goalkeepers in its history: Bert Trautmann, Gordon Banks, Pat Jennings, and Neville Southall. Raya's snub continues a pattern where goalkeepers are undervalued in individual awards, as also reflected by bookmakers omitting them from PFA Player of the Year shortlists. The Mirror's Andy Dunn described Raya as "a very worthy" candidate, but noted that "goalkeepers get a pretty raw deal when it comes to individual awards."
Manchester United and City Dominate
The double win for Manchester clubs highlights a shift in English football's balance of power. United's revival under Carrick—fueled by Fernandes's form—has surprised many, especially after the club's instability early in the season. Meanwhile, City's WSL triumph and Shaw's individual recognition cement the club's status as a growing force in the women's game, challenging Chelsea's long-held supremacy.
What This Changes
Fernandes's award may increase pressure on United's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to offer him a contract extension. The midfielder's current deal runs until 2027 with an option for an additional year, but his performances this season have made him indispensable. He reportedly rejected a lucrative offer from Al-Hilal last summer, signaling his commitment to the club.
For Shaw, the accolade adds to a growing legacy. With City still competing on multiple fronts and Shaw just one goal or assist away from becoming the second fastest player to reach 100 WSL goal contributions, her season could yet end with even more silverware. As she said after receiving the award: "This has been a special season for Manchester City. We still have lots to fight for."
The FWA awards also underscore the increasing competitiveness of English football across both men's and women's divisions, with individual brilliance often proving the difference between success and failure. For Bruno Fernandes and Bunny Shaw, this year's honours are a testament to their enduring class and influence.
Note: This article was written on May 8, 2026, based on official FWA announcements and reporting from BBC Sport, the Daily Mirror, and Manchester City's official site.
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