Premier League Reveals Player of the Season Nominees for 2025/26 Campaign

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

Kenya, 14 May 2026 - The Premier League has officially announced the eight nominees for the 2025/26 Player of the Season award, with stars from Arsenal F.C., Manchester City F.C., Manchester United F.C., Nottingham Forest F.C. and Brentford F.C. all represented on the shortlist for one of English football’s biggest individual honours.

The nominees are:

Bruno Fernandes
Gabriel Magalhães
Morgan Gibbs-White
Erling Haaland
David Raya
Declan Rice
Antoine Semenyo
Igor Thiago

The shortlist reflects one of the most competitive Premier League seasons in recent years, with the title race, Champions League qualification battle, and European places all remaining active deep into the campaign.

Perhaps the biggest headline from the nominations is Arsenal’s dominance on the list.

The Gunners have three representatives included, with Gabriel, David Raya, and Declan Rice all rewarded for outstanding individual campaigns during Arsenal’s push for both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League crown.

Declan Rice has been widely viewed as one of the strongest contenders for the award after another extraordinary season in midfield. The England international has been central to Arsenal’s control, defensive stability, and attacking transitions, while also delivering several decisive performances in major matches throughout the campaign. Many pundits and former players have publicly backed Rice as their choice for Player of the Season.

Meanwhile, David Raya continues to establish himself as one of the league’s elite goalkeepers. Raya has already secured at least a share of the Premier League Golden Glove award for a third consecutive season, becoming only the fourth goalkeeper in league history to achieve that feat.

Gabriel Magalhães has also received widespread praise for his defensive consistency and leadership at the heart of Arsenal’s back line, helping Mikel Arteta’s side maintain one of the league’s best defensive records this season.

However, despite Arsenal’s strong representation, many observers currently see Bruno Fernandes as the leading favourite for the award.

The Manchester United captain has enjoyed arguably the finest Premier League season of his career, playing a decisive role in United’s return to the UEFA Champions League places under Michael Carrick. Fernandes has registered 19 assists in the league this season, just one short of the all-time Premier League record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

His creativity has been extraordinary throughout the campaign.

According to Opta data cited by multiple outlets, Fernandes has created 124 chances in the Premier League this season, the highest figure recorded since Kevin De Bruyne created 136 during Manchester City’s 2019/20 campaign.

The Portuguese midfielder’s performances have already earned major recognition elsewhere.

Last week, Fernandes was officially named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year for 2025/26 after receiving 45 percent of the vote from journalists across England. He became the first Manchester United player since Wayne Rooney in 2010 to win the prestigious award.

Erling Haaland is the only previous winner included among this year’s nominees.

More from Kenya

Somalia’s President Arrives in Ethiopia for Talks

NPS Challenges Victims to Report 'Disappearances' Claims

Although Manchester City have not dominated the league as overwhelmingly as in previous years, Haaland has once again delivered remarkable numbers in front of goal. The Norwegian striker currently leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with 26 goals and remains one of the most feared forwards in world football.

One of the more surprising inclusions on the shortlist is Morgan Gibbs-White.

The Nottingham Forest midfielder has been one of the breakout stars of the season, helping Forest compete for European qualification with a series of influential performances. Gibbs-White recently won the Premier League Player of the Month award for April, further strengthening his reputation after an excellent campaign.

Antoine Semenyo has also earned recognition after a hugely impressive season. The Ghana international has been praised for his versatility, attacking energy, and goal contributions during Manchester City’s title challenge.

Meanwhile, Igor Thiago has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Brentford. The Brazilian striker’s goals and physical presence have made him one of the league’s most effective forwards this season, and he already made history earlier in the campaign by winning consecutive Premier League Player of the Month awards.

Voting for the award is now open to supporters, with the final result determined by a combination of fan votes and a panel of football experts. The winner is expected to be announced later this month before the end of the Premier League season.

As the season approaches its dramatic conclusion, the shortlist reflects the players who have defined the campaign.

Some have driven title challenges, some have carried entire teams, and others have produced breakthrough seasons that changed their careers forever.

Now, the race to be crowned the Premier League’s best player officially begins.