The Premier League’s EA SPORTS Player of the Season award stands as one of English football’s most prestigious individual honours. First presented in the 1994/95 season, it recognises the most outstanding performer across the entire campaign. The winner is determined by a combination of public votes and a panel of football experts, with the shortlist typically revealed in mid-May and the final announcement following shortly after.
This season’s race comes at the climax of a fiercely competitive 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Arsenal are on the brink of a first league title in 22 years, boasting the division’s meanest defence. Manchester City remain in the hunt, while Manchester United have surged into third place to secure Champions League football. Standout individual performances have lit up the season amid tight title, European, and survival battles.
On 14 May 2026, the Premier League unveiled the eight-man shortlist for the 2025/26 EA SPORTS Player of the Season. The nominees represent a mix of attacking flair, defensive solidity, and midfield mastery from five clubs. Fans can cast their votes on the official Premier League website until 12:00 BST on Monday 18 May; those votes will be combined with expert input to crown the winner next week.
The 2025/26 Nominees
Here is the complete official shortlist, with key statistics (as of the shortlist announcement) and context on each player’s contributions:
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
33 appearances | 17 wins | 9 draws | 7 losses | 8 goals | 19 assists
The United captain has been the heartbeat of his side’s climb to third place and a return to the Champions League. Fernandes is on the verge of equalling the all-time single-season assists record (20, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne). His vision, precision, and leadership earned him a record-equalling sixth EA SPORTS Player of the Month award in March.
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
30 appearances | 20 wins | 6 draws | 4 losses | 3 goals | 4 assists | 16 clean sheets
The Brazilian centre-back has been monumental in Arsenal’s title push, helping the Gunners concede a league-low 26 goals. With an 88% pass success rate, dominant duel wins, 34 blocks, and 23 interceptions, Gabriel has excelled at both ends of the pitch.
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
35 appearances | 11 wins | 9 draws | 15 losses | 13 goals | 4 assists
Nominated for the second successive season, the Forest captain has stepped up massively in the absence of last season’s top scorer Chris Wood. His 13 goals (nearly double his previous Premier League best) and April heroics (four goals and an assist in three games) secured his first Player of the Month award and helped Forest stay up comfortably.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
34 appearances | 21 wins | 8 draws | 5 losses | 26 goals | 8 assists
The Norwegian striker continues to rewrite records. Chasing a third Golden Boot in four seasons, Haaland became a Premier League centurion in just 111 matches (13 fewer than Alan Shearer). He scored nine goals in City’s opening seven games and 22 in a 12-match spell across competitions early in the season.
David Raya (Arsenal)
36 appearances | 24 wins | 7 draws | 5 losses | 18 clean sheets
The Spanish goalkeeper has claimed the Golden Glove for the third year running. Ever-present for the league leaders, Raya has delivered match-winning saves, including a stunning December stop that earned him Save of the Month.
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
35 appearances | 23 wins | 7 draws | 5 losses | 4 goals | 5 assists
The England international has been the engine of Arsenal’s title challenge, excelling in an advanced No. 8 role and even filling in at right-back. His set-piece delivery and ball-striking have been exemplary, especially in the absence of captain Martin Ødegaard.
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
35 appearances | 16 wins | 11 draws | 8 losses | 16 goals | 4 assists
The Ghanaian winger enjoyed a breakout campaign split between Bournemouth and Manchester City (joined in January). He exploded with three goals and an assist in five February appearances for City, winning Player of the Month, and has thrived in multiple attacking roles under Pep Guardiola.
Igor Thiago (Brentford)
36 appearances | 14 wins | 9 draws | 13 losses | 22 goals | 1 assist
After an injury-disrupted debut season, the Brazilian forward has delivered a stunning first full Premier League campaign. His 22 goals have pushed Haaland in the Golden Boot race; he set a new record for the most goals by a Brazilian in a single Premier League season.
Premier League 2025-26 Seasons Awards: Full List of Nominees
EA SPORTS Player of the Season:
Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Magalhães, Morgan Gibbs-White, Erling Haaland, David Raya, Declan Rice, Antoine Semenyo, Igor Thiago
Barclays Manager of the Season
Keith Andrews, Mikel Arteta, Michael Carrick, Pep Guardiola, Andoni Iraola, Régis Le Bris
Premier League Young Player of the Season
Rayan Cherki, Mateus Fernandes, Lewis Hall, Junior Kroupi, Michael Kayode, Kobbie Mainoo, Nico O’Reilly, Alex Scott
Story first published: Friday, May 15, 2026, 0:10 [IST]
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