The Portuguese captain claimed the prestigious award for the first time following a sensational season that helped propel Manchester United FC back into the UEFA Champions League places with a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Already recognized by the Football Writers’ Association and multiple supporter groups throughout the season, Fernandes now adds arguably the league’s highest individual honor to his growing collection of accolades.
Fernandes Leads Manchester United Revival
Manchester United’s resurgence under Michael Carrick was built around the brilliance, creativity, and leadership of Fernandes.
The 31-year-old directly contributed to 28 Premier League goals this season, scoring eight times while delivering a remarkable 20 assists in 37 appearances.
Week after week, Fernandes dictated matches from midfield while carrying the responsibility of captaining one of the biggest clubs in world football.
His influence stretched far beyond statistics, as his energy and leadership helped restore belief at Old Trafford after several inconsistent seasons.
Record-Equalling Playmaker
One of the defining moments of Fernandes’ campaign came during Manchester United’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest FC.
His assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s winning goal marked his 20th assist of the Premier League season, equaling the all-time single-season record jointly held by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.
Fernandes now sits among Premier League royalty as only the third player in league history to reach the milestone.
Speaking after matching the record, the midfielder admitted his desire to make even more history.
“I’m very happy for the assist and for the win,” Fernandes said. “I got to 20 — now let’s see if I can get one more.”
With one match still remaining in the campaign, Fernandes still has an opportunity to stand alone as the Premier League’s greatest single-season creator.
Breaking Manchester United Records
The historic campaign also saw Fernandes surpass a long-standing Manchester United benchmark.
His assist tally eclipsed David Beckham’s club record of 15 assists in a single Premier League season, previously set during the 1999/2000 campaign.
Fernandes has also dominated nearly every major creative category in English football this season.
The United captain created 132 chances throughout the campaign — an astonishing 43 more than Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who ranked second in the league.
That level of production underlines why Fernandes was viewed by many as the clear favorite for the award long before voting concluded.
Joining Manchester United Greatness
By winning the EA SPORTS Premier League Player of the Season award, Bruno joins an elite list of Manchester United legends to receive the honor.
He becomes the seventh United player to win the award, following Peter Schmeichel, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, and Wayne Rooney.
Fernandes also recently matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of six EA SPORTS Player of the Month awards after his latest win in March.
Combined with his Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year triumph earlier this month, the 2025/26 campaign has firmly established Fernandes among the finest midfielders of the Premier League era.
A Season To Remember
Fernandes topped a star-studded shortlist featuring Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Gabriel, and David Raya, along with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Brentford forward Igor Thiago, Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and Antoine Semenyo.
Yet throughout the season, Fernandes consistently separated himself from the competition with his ability to deliver in crucial moments.
From unforgettable assists to match-winning performances, the Manchester United captain defined the Premier League season from start to finish.
And with history still potentially waiting in the final match of the campaign, Bruno Fernandes’ remarkable season may not even be finished yet.
