Manchester United captain finished ahead of a shortlist including Arsenal trio David Raya, Gabriel and Declan Rice
Bruno Fernandes has been named the Premier League Player of the Season after driving Manchester United’s return to the Champions League and equalling the Premier League assist record.
The Portugal midfielder becomes the first United player to claim the award since Wayne Rooney in 2008-09 after a campaign in which he has delivered 20 assists and eight league goals, helping Michael Carrick’s side secure third place.
He has the same tally as Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne but could surpass them with United still to play Brighton on Sunday.
Fernandes had already been recognised by the media after being voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, and his latest honour caps a season in which his influence has again been central to United’s progress.
He finished ahead of a shortlist including Arsenal trio David Raya, Gabriel and Declan Rice, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Brentford forward Igor Thiago, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
The award adds Fernandes to a list of United winners that includes Peter Schmeichel, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly was also among the honours, being named Young Player of the Season after emerging as an important figure in Pep Guardiola’s side and earning selection in England’s World Cup squad.
