The 18 favourites to win the 2025/26 PFA Premier League Player of the Year have emerged with just eight full gameweeks left in the campaign. This season, more than most, has been defined by team setup. With fewer superstars, teams have had to roll up their sleeves and grind out results, proving that the beautiful game is still very much a team sport.

That absence of world-class talent has also seen set-pieces come back into vogue, with Arsenal leading the way after equalling the record for most goals from corners in a single top-flight season with 16 so far. But others have followed suit, and English football has rarely looked more like a chess match, where tactics and psychological edge matter more than star names.

Needless to say, that makes predicting who will be named the Premier League’s very best all the more difficult. Looking at the overperformers of the campaign, alongside those likely to pick up silverware, offers some insight into the possibilities – as does the current bookmakers’ odds, with Bet365 releasing their latest list.

18 Favourites for PFA Player of the Year

18. Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) – 150/1

With eight goals in 27 Premier League appearances from his position deep in midfield, Enzo Fernandez has become a great box-crasher in his own right this term, though his odds remain low with Chelsea’s current form blowing hot and cold.

17. Bryan Mbeumo (Man United) – 150/1

Manchester United started the campaign in dire straits under Ruben Amorim but have now climbed to third, just 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, with Michael Carrick leading the charge. While that rise in form has brought out the best in some previously underperforming players, Bryan Mbeumo has consistently maintained high standards, cutting through the outside noise to emerge as one of the best signings of the season.

16. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – 150/1

There can’t be much argument that Virgil van Dijk remains one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, even at 34. That said, while he has been imperious at times, his defensive partners at Liverpool haven’t been on the same page, which has seen his knack for clean sheets decline, along with his chances of being seriously considered for individual awards.

15. Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) – 150/1

At one stage this season, Moises Caicedo was being mentioned in the same breath as Rodri and Declan Rice. His ability to read the game and lock down the midfield battle is virtually second to none, but he can be let down by his ill-discipline, which has played a part in his side accumulating nine red cards across players and staff – a Premier League record.

14. Rayan Cherki (Man City) – 100/1

Signed from Lyon for £34 million in the summer, Rayan Cherki fits the mould of a typical Pep Guardiola winger at the Etihad Stadium – a tricky, quick wide man. With three goals and seven assists, he has the output to back up his efforts at bamboozling defenders, although he is still somewhat overshadowed by his two attacking partners.

13. Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 100/1

Had Liverpool defended their title a little better than they currently are, then there’s no doubt Hugo Ekitike would have been much more highly thought of. Eleven goals and five assists for a striker who was expected to play second fiddle to Alexander Isak is some going, but he’s let down by those around him.

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12. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) – 100/1

The Hungarian captain is the Reds’ highest-ranking player on this list, and for good reason. Whether from right-back or attacking midfield, Szoboszlai has consistently been Arne Slot’s most reliable player, while his catalogue of long-range goals (not least his free-kicks against Arsenal and Man City) is arguably enough to warrant a hell of a lot of praise in itself.

11. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 100/1

Nailed on to start on the right for England at the World Cup this summer, some may feel Bukayo Saka isn’t currently doing enough in Arsenal’s title race to warrant such a high ranking. Not at his usual goalscoring and assist-providing best, the 24-year-old is still valued highly because of what else he offers beyond a constant stream of attacking numbers.

10. David Raya (Arsenal) – 66/1

The biggest compliment you can give David Raya is that, even though those in front of him defending the Arsenal goal get most of the plaudits, he has still managed to claim his share of the spotlight. He may not always have to be heavily involved, but when called upon, he produces camera-worthy saves to bail his team out of trouble. There’s a reason he’s considered the best goalkeeper in the world right now – it’s that ability to stay concentrated throughout and still come up with the goods in the split second he’s needed.

9. William Saliba (Arsenal) – 66/1

Speaking of Raya’s more well-praised teammates, William Saliba is aura personified. The Frenchman has certainly served his purpose as the Van Dijk-style signing the Gunners were looking for, and the Rolls-Royce defender has more than played his part in Arsenal’s 13 clean sheets, while they have conceded just 22 times.

8. Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal) – 66/1

Martin Zubimendi snubbed both Real Madrid and Liverpool at the turn of 2025 before being persuaded to become a key piece of the puzzle in Mikel Arteta’s project at the Emirates Stadium. His role at the base of midfield has brought out the very best in Declan Rice, but nothing should be taken away from the Spaniard’s own qualities, as he has added an extra layer of composure to Arsenal’s engine room.

7. Bernardo Silva (Man City) – 50/1

Praised by Pep Guardiola as one of his best-ever players, Bernardo Silva has been a calming presence amid the storm as Manchester City have undergone a period of transition this term. Serving as the new captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, the tireless midfielder could yet drag his teammates to a fifth league title in five years as they push Arsenal all the way to the wire.

6. Marc Guehi (Man City) – 40/1

The former Crystal Palace captain, who lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield in the space of a couple of months last summer, has had to wait patiently for his move to a bigger club. Now that he’s got it, he is proving to be worth every penny as Man City’s defence has gone up another level since his arrival – the Englishman brings out the best in those around him, and his side’s transition from defence into attack is so much more seamless with his qualities.

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5. Antoine Semenyo (Man City) – 14/1

While he is statistically one of the best-performing players in the Premier League in terms of average match rating, it’s hard to ignore the influence Antoine Semenyo has on the scoreline every time he plays. He has 18 goal contributions for Bournemouth and Manchester City this campaign, continuing to make a strong case that he might be the best winger in the competition right now.

4. Bruno Fernandes (Man United) – 8/1

A real Roy of the Rovers-style player, it’s hard to picture Manchester United without their captain, Bruno Fernandes. In truth, without him, where they might be in the table could prove damning. He keeps things ticking in midfield and runs his socks off to help wherever he can, with his 19 big chances created this season putting him on course to top that chart for a third consecutive campaign.

3. Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal) – 7/1

The big Brazilian is just as effective going forward as he is at providing his goalkeeper with a defensive shield. A beacon of opportunity at every Arsenal set-piece, Gabriel has been one of the main reasons Mikel Arteta’s side have profited so often from corners, with the centre-back contributing to seven of their 19 goals from that source.

2. Erling Haaland (Man City) – 13/8

Although the goals have dried up slightly in recent weeks, Erling Haaland has continued to set the bar high for those hoping to challenge him in the Golden Boot race. With 22 goals in 27 appearances, there’s a reason so many question whether he’s a robot, but this season has also seen him register a personal-best seven Premier League assists, helping to debunk the myth that his qualities stop at being a goalscoring machine.

1. Declan Rice (Arsenal) – 8/11

Declan Rice is currently so highly rated that backing him to win the PFA Player of the Year would likely see you lose money. The Arsenal and England midfielder is tipped for a future leadership role, and his integral presence for both club and country is clear evidence that he would be deserving of captaincy. Should the Gunners win the league, Rice’s contributions across so many facets of Arteta’s side make it only right that his individual efforts are recognised.

Odds courtesy of Bet365 (correct as of 04/03/2026)