PFA Player of the Year 2026 nominees revealed, with Haaland, Rice, Fernandes, James and Russo leading star-studded shortlists

London, Friday, June 5, 2026, saw the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) announce its official shortlists for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards, alongside the Young Player of the Year category, highlighting a highly competitive selection of top performers across English football.

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PFA Player of the Year 2026 nominees for the men’s award feature a strong Premier League presence, with Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya and Declan Rice included following their title-winning campaign. Manchester City forwards Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki are also on the list, alongside Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

The selection reflects a season of consistent elite performances, with all six nominees recognised for their influence at the highest level of domestic competition.

In the women’s category, the shortlist includes Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw, Chelsea forward Lauren James and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.

They are joined by Yui Hasegawa of Manchester City, Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson and Manchester United midfielder Jess Park, underlining the growing depth of talent in the women’s game.

The PFA Player of the Year 2026 nominees list continues to showcase the league’s most influential figures, with past winner Bunny Shaw again in contention after another strong season.

For the Young Player of the Year award, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki features again alongside Arsenal’s Max Dowman, Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Nico O’Reilly of Manchester City.

The announcement sets the stage for one of English football’s most closely watched awards ceremonies, with supporters and professionals expected to debate the outcomes in the coming weeks.

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The final winners of the PFA Player of the Year 2026 awards will be announced at the association’s annual ceremony later this year.