Haaland, Arsenal trio and Fernandes shortlisted for 2026 PFA Players' Player of the Year

The 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony is taking place at The Opera House in Manchester, with 74 awards being presented across six divisions and the night set to conclude with the crowning of the Men’s Players’ Player of the Year.

Six players are in contention for the headline prize: Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, David Raya, Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and Rayan Cherki. Arsenal account for three of the six nominees — Raya, Rice and Magalhaes — reflecting the club’s standout collective season, while Manchester United captain Fernandes and Manchester City striker Haaland represent the perennial contenders from across the city.

Cherki, the French winger, completes a shortlist that spans nationalities and positions and underlines the breadth of quality in the Premier League this season.

Beyond the top individual prize, Players’ Player of the Year, Team of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards are being handed out across the Championship, League One, League Two, Premier League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Super League 2.

Two special honours are also being presented on the night. Former England women’s international Karen Carney and Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish will each receive a PFA Merit Award in recognition of their contributions to the game.

The Men’s Players’ Player of the Year is voted for by professional footballers themselves, making it one of the most respected individual honours in English football. The award has been running since 1974 and is widely regarded as a peer recognition of the season’s most influential performer.