Aug 25 (Reuters) - Bruno Fernandes, the ⁠lynchpin of Manchester United's attack who provided a Premier League-record 21 assists during ⁠the 2025-26 season, was named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the ‌Year on Tuesday.

Club captain Fernandes, a United player since 2020, also scored nine goals as he helped the club finish third in the English top flight.

Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, who was the Women's Super ​League top scorer with 21 goals, was named as the ⁠Women's Player of the Year ⁠for the second time, having previously won the award in 2024.

The men's annual award, voted ⁠for ‌by members of the players' union, has now been won by United players 12 times, more than any other club in England and Wales.

Fernandes is the ⁠second Portuguese player to win the award after Cristiano Ronaldo ​won it twice in ‌a row in 2007 and 2008.

The 31-year-old thrived as coach Michael Carrick allowed ⁠United's front four ​more freedom to control the attack.

"Bruno can just create moments. He’s bright. I think that little bit of freedom suits him. He’s got a natural brain," Carrick said in February.

Fernandes has ⁠scored 110 goals and provided 106 assists for United. ​He reached 200 goal involvements (goals and assists) in just 314 matches, the second-quickest United player to reach the milestone in the Premier League era after Wayne Rooney, who did the ⁠same in 295 matches.

The Young Player of the Year award went to 21-year-old Manchester City left back Nico O'Reilly after a breakthrough campaign that also saw him win the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.

England international O'Reilly made 53 appearances for City ​in all competitions, scoring nine goals.

Arsenal's 22-year-old striker Olivia Smith ⁠was named the Women's Young Player of the Year for the second time in a ​row.

PFA Premier League Team of the Year:

Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal).

Defenders: ‌Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jurrien ​Timber (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City).

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Igor Thiago (Brentford).

(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Toby Davis)