Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, James Garner at Everton and Nico O'Reilly at Manchester City headline a list full of fan-vote surprises. Fernandes won United's Player of the Season award for the fifth time in seven seasons. At the other end of the scale, some clubs went for less expected names, including Santiago Bueno at Wolves and Neco Williams at Nottingham Forest.

Fernandes keeps the familiar pattern going

There is nothing accidental about Fernandes collecting the United award again. Five wins in seven seasons is a simple enough marker of how central he remains to the club's voting picture, even in a season where this roundup is supposed to highlight the oddities as much as the obvious choices.

Forest's vote was decisive too. Neco Williams took 48 per cent, despite Morgan Gibbs-White being shortlisted for Premier League Player of the Season. Wolves' call was even more eye-catching in a different way, with Santiago Bueno taking 34 per cent of the fans' vote and finishing ahead of Joao Gomes.

The awards that actually reflect the season

Garner's Everton win does not feel like a sentimental pick. He said, "I feel like I've come into my own this season, so I'm really happy to be recognised by the players and fans." His 7.23 Premier League rating gives that vote some substance, and it fits the sense that he has stepped into a more authoritative role.

The same is true of several other names across the roundup. Ismaïla Sarr scored 21 goals in all competitions for Crystal Palace, while Ethan Ampadu became a two-time Leeds Player of the Season winner, joining Gordon McQueen, Lee Bowyer and Jermaine Beckford. Manchester City's choice was also notable for a different reason, with O'Reilly named their youngest-ever Player of the Season winner.

The most striking thing about the list is not that supporters sometimes like a surprise. It is that the surprises here mostly still make football sense. Williams, Bueno and O'Reilly are not random names plucked from nowhere, and Garner's award looks like the cleanest proof that club votes can still land on the right player when the season has been watched properly.

FAQ

Why did James Garner win Everton’s Player of the Season award?

Garner said he has come into his own this season and was happy to be recognised by the players and fans. His 7.23 Premier League rating backs up the vote, and he was one of the clearest examples in the roundup of a season that genuinely earned the award.

Why is Bruno Fernandes so often Manchester United’s Player of the Season?

Fernandes won Manchester United’s Player of the Season award for the fifth time in seven seasons. That repeat success is part of why he remains the default star pick at United, even in a round-up full of surprise winners elsewhere.

Which Premier League club picked the most surprising Player of the Season winner?

There are a few strong candidates, but Nottingham Forest and Wolves stand out. Neco Williams took 48 per cent of Forest’s vote, while Santiago Bueno took 34 per cent of Wolves fans’ vote ahead of Joao Gomes.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →