WHO SHOULD WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD?
Written by Boaz Nyabuto on May 15, 2026
Here are the leading contendors:
1.Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has been at the center of everything good Man United have done this season.He has 19 assists-one short of the 20 achieved by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne in the seasons when they won the PFA player of the year award and has created 124 chances for teammates,56 more than Dominic Szoboszlai in second.Thankfully for United fans,he stayed.
2.Declan Rice.
Mikel Arteta once described Declan Rice as a lighthouse:”Someone who brings a focal point,clarity and direction to everybody”. He’s essential to Arsenal’s build up play;he is the player who gets the ball up the pitch and turns possession into scoring chances.He has created more chances (63) than any other Arsenal player,ranks 5th in the squad for shots attempted,and is top for final-third passes and entries.
3.Erling Haaland.
Most strikes can only dream of scoring 26 goals in a Premier League season.For Haaland,it is becoming routine.He scored 13 goals in his first 10 league games this season,which put him on course to break the Premier League record of 36 he set in his first season at City in 2022-23 when he won the player of the year award.
4.David Raya.
Goalkeepers rarely dominate the headlines in the title race,but David Raya’s numbers and moments of brilliance have made him impossible to ignore this season.He has kept clean sheets in half of Arsenal’s league games(18/36), enough to win his third consecutive golden glove-something only Pepe Reina,Joe Hart and Ederson have achieved in the Premier League.
5.Rayan Cherki.
He is the first player who has joined Man City with a sharp, unpredictable edge and resisted being smoothed into a conventional Guardiola system player.City used to rely on the creative magic of De Bruyne to break down stubborn defenses.Cherki has become the player who breaks games wide open.Whether it’s a quick turn,a clever pass through a crowd,or a moment of daring,he is City’s main problem solver.
Who do you think deserves? Drop your suggestions.
