# Manchester United player performance and season transition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/manchester-united-player-performance-and-season-transition
> Updated: 2026-08-25T07:56:03.000Z. Sources: 78. Developments: 2.

Manchester United entered the 2026-27 season under manager Michael Carrick, following a period of individual success for captain Bruno Fernandes. As the club prepared for its Premier League kickoff against Hull City, attention was placed on new signing Andrey Santos, who joined from Chelsea for £50 million.

Fernandes’s preparations for the new campaign followed a record-breaking 2025-26 season. He was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, becoming the first Manchester United player to receive the honor since Wayne Rooney in 2010. During that season, Fernandes set a new Premier League single-season record with 21 assists, surpassing the previous mark of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

His recognition was further solidified when he was named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Men's Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season. Having recorded nine goals and his record-breaking assist tally, he became the second Portuguese player to win the award, following Cristiano Ronaldo. His performance helped Manchester United secure a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. Fernandes was one of only two players from clubs other than Arsenal or Manchester City to be selected for the PFA Team of the Year.

## Claims

- Nico O'Reilly won the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2025/26 season. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Bruno Fernandes was named the PFA Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- O'Reilly recorded nine goals and six assists during the 2025/26 campaign. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The PFA awards are determined by votes from professional footballers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. (single source)
- Bunny Shaw was named the PFA Women's Player of the Year. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Bruno Fernandes wins PFA Player of the Year for 2025/26 season

Bruno Fernandes has been named the PFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2025/26, setting a Premier League record with 21 assists. Khadija Shaw won the women’s award, and Nico O’Reilly was named Young Player of the-

76 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bruno-fernandes-wins-pfa-players-player-of-the-year

### 2026-08-19: Manchester United prepares for 2026-27 season kickoff

As Manchester United begins its 2026-27 season, captain Bruno Fernandes has highlighted new signing Andrey Santos as a key player to watch, while Roy Keane predicts Fernandes could win Player of the Season.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manchester-united-prepares-for-2026-27-season-kickoff

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Cite as: Manchester United player performance and season transition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/manchester-united-player-performance-and-season-transition