England players honoured at PFA Awards

England were well represented at the PFA Awards for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday evening, with a number of players from across our national teams honoured in various categories.

After being nominated in the top six when the shortlists were revealed in June, Three Lions' defender Nico O'Reilly was named as the Young Player of the Season.

The 21 year old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Manchester City and England last term, which saw him earn his first senior cap and end the season as a member of Thomas Tuchel's squad at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

He was joined on the shortlist for that award by Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool and Arsenal's Max Dowman, who featured for the MU19s last season.

There was another honour for O'Reilly too, as he was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside another of the Three Lions' World Cup contingent in Declan Rice.

Rice had also been shortlisted for the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year award, but that title went to Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.

For the Lionesses, four of Sarina Wiegman's squad were named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year with Hannah Hampton, Alessia Russo, Jess Park and Lauren James all selected by their fellow professionals.

Park, James and Russo had also been shortlisted for the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award, but the winner in that category was Bunny Shaw of Manchester City.

Both Laura Blindkilde Brown and Freya Godfrey were nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year, which went to Arsenal's Canadian forward Olivia Smith.

Earlier in the day, former Lioness Karen Carney OBE was award the PFA Merit Award for 2026, to honour a playing career which saw her capped 144 times for England before going on to start a career as a broadcaster and analyst.  

There was further representation across the divisional awards that were received by England players both past and present.

Hayden Hackney, who represented England men's under-21s during their successful UEFA U21 EURO Championship campaign in the summer of 2025, was named as the PFA EFL Championship Player of the Year following his campaign with Middlesbrough last term.

Also in the running for that award were Coventry's former England MU21 pair Matt Grimes and Carl Rushworth, who were also both named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who captained the MU21s to a EURO title in 2023 and has also been capped at senior level.

There was more recognition for England players in the divisional team awards, with Jordan Nobbs of Newcastle United named in the PFA WSL2 Team of the Year where she was joined by a number of current and former Young Lionesses in Mari Ward (Bristol City), Neve Herron (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Emily Syme (Bristol City) and Annabel Blanchard (Crystal Palace).

On the men's side, former Young Lions striker Dom Ballard was named as the PFA League One Player of the Year after his campaign with Leyton Orient, and another former England men's development team player in Sammy Braybrooke was nominated for the League Two equivalent following his displays for Chesterfield last season. Despite missing out on that award, he was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year.

Congratulations to all of the players who have been recognised.