MANCHESTER — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been officially named the 2025/26 EA SPORTS Premier League Player of the Season, capping off a record-breaking campaign that saw the Portuguese midfielder anchor his side’s return to the Champions League.

The 31-year-old’s recognition reflects a season where he served as the primary creative catalyst for a resurgent United team that secured a third-place league finish. Fernandes finished the campaign with 21 assists and nine goals in 38 appearances, directly contributing to 29 league goals.

The Record-Breaking Finale

The award follows a historic weekend for the United skipper. During the final match of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, Fernandes provided the assist for Patrick Dorgu’s 33rd-minute goal. That decisive pass pushed his season total to 21, officially surpassing the long-standing record of 20 assists held jointly by Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20).

"Obviously this is an individual award, but it comes because we had a very good season together,"

Fernandes said following the announcement.

"Without your help this was impossible. If you guys hadn't scored that many goals, I wouldn't have this in my hands."

A Season of Creative Dominance

Beyond the headline-grabbing assist record, Fernandes’ underlying numbers underscore his influence. He created 132 chances throughout the season a figure 43 higher than his closest competitor, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai. His ability to manipulate the game from set-pieces and open play proved vital in a campaign where Manchester United frequently relied on his vision to break down organized defenses.

This award adds to a growing collection of honors for the midfielder. Earlier this month, he was named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year, becoming the first United player to claim that prize since Wayne Rooney in 2010.

Fernandes topped a competitive eight-man shortlist that included Arsenal’s Gabriel, David Raya, and Declan Rice, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

As he prepares for the next stage of his career, Fernandes leaves his mark on the 2025/26 season not just as the league's top individual performer, but as a player who redefined creative output in the modern Premier League era.