SouthernWorldwide.com – Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been recognized with the Premier League Player of the Season award, marking a significant achievement in his individual campaign. He received this prestigious honor over several celebrated Arsenal players who were part of the title-winning team. Concurrently, Nico O’Reilly, a product of Manchester City’s academy, was named the Young Player of the Season.
Fernandes has secured his first-ever Premier League Player of the Season award, a recognition that comes after his instrumental role in guiding Manchester United back into the Champions League. The veteran midfielder, aged 31, had a remarkable creative season, scoring eight goals in the top flight and equalling the all-time single-season record for assists with 20.
By surpassing a highly competitive list of nominees, Fernandes became the seventh Manchester United player to claim this award, and the first since Nemanja Vidic in 2011. His exceptional statistical performance saw him join the ranks of legendary playmakers like Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne by reaching the 20-assist milestone.
This latest individual accolade follows his recent crowning as the FWA Footballer of the Year. Fernandes’s victory in this award came ahead of strong contenders from the title-winning Arsenal squad, including David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Declan Rice. Other nominees he outperformed were Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Brentford’s Igor Thiago.
In parallel, Manchester City’s emerging talent, Nico O’Reilly, concluded a sensational breakthrough year under Pep Guardiola by clinching the Young Player of the Season award. The 21-year-old academy graduate proved to be a vital tactical asset for his team.
O’Reilly made 34 senior appearances for the club, showcasing his versatility by playing in multiple positions, including left-back and central midfield. He triumphed over other notable young nominees, such as Rayan Cherki, Eli Junior Kroupi, Mateus Fernandes, Lewis Hall, Michael Kayode, Kobbie Mainoo, and Alex Scott.
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Following his domestic success, O’Reilly is set to transition to the international stage, having earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup. The dynamic young player enters the tournament in excellent form, highlighted by his match-winning performances at Wembley in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals.
Meanwhile, Fernandes will shift his focus to the upcoming World Cup, where he is expected to play a leading role for Portugal. Concurrently, Michael Carrick and Manchester United are preparing to navigate the transfer window.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This major international tournament will be hosted across three countries, with the final match set to be held on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
A total of 104 matches will be broadcast live across FOX and FS1. Every match will also be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing through both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. Notably, a record 40 matches, representing more than a third of the tournament’s schedule, will be aired during prime time across FOX and FS1.
The opening match of the tournament on June 11, featuring Mexico against South Africa, is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET and will be streamed for free on Tubi. The United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12, also at 9 p.m. ET, will be available through the same platform.
Reporting by GOAL.
