There’s a healthy debate about who should win the Premier League Player of the Season award and, although there is discussion, for me there isn’t that much of a debate, because there’s a clear favourite, regardless of what happens.
Before getting to that name, there are a few players that might enter the conversation for some, but overall don’t make as much sense. David Raya, for example, has been the best goalkeeper in England this season and I understand why he’s included, because he’s been decisive in several moments. Even so, there is already specific recognition for that position, and those kinds of awards often reflect more the team’s defensive system than purely individual performance.
The same applies to Arsenal’s centre-back pairing, Gabriel Magalhães and Saliba. Gabriel might appear more in the conversation due to his goals, especially considering how strong Arsenal are from set pieces, but they run into a simple factor: they’re centre-backs, and historically that weighs heavily in these awards. In Saliba’s case, his impact is more subtle, without that “X-factor” that usually decides these distinctions.
At Manchester City, there’s Haaland, who will likely finish as the league’s top scorer. Even so, by his standards, the season hasn’t been that strong, especially with a below-par start to 2026. Still, he remains at the top for goals, which says a lot about his quality. Then there’s Cherki, the second-highest assist provider in the league, playing incredible football, but he’s spent too much time on the bench, which naturally counts against him.
There are also names like Bowen, crucial in West Ham’s fight to avoid relegation, and Igor Thiago, who has very strong numbers at Brentford, sitting second in goals behind Haaland. Still, realistically, it’s hard to put them forward as true favourites.
In the end, the discussion comes down to Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes. I completely understand the arguments for Rice, especially as he’s the key player in this Arsenal side and influences every phase of play. But for me, there’s not much debate.
Bruno Fernandes is the pillar of Manchester United. Everything goes through him. He’s the player with the most assists in the league this season and is very close to matching the all-time record. And when you watch the games, it’s even clearer: any player receives the ball, lifts their head and looks for Bruno.
Regardless of whether Arsenal win the league or not, for me Bruno deserves it more. At the start of the season, almost no one had Manchester United finishing third, while Arsenal were already expected to challenge for the title. That doesn’t take anything away from Arsenal, but it adds even more weight to what Bruno has done.
Conclusion
Among several strong names, the answer could very well be Bruno Fernandes and, for me, without much debate. Even if Arsenal win the Premier League and players like Rice, Raya or Gabriel gain more recognition, I still don’t see real competition.