23 Favourites to Win 2025/26 PFA Player of the Year Award Revealed

Given that football is a team sport, plenty goes into who will win individual awards. There is often a discussion around who is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or every year, with this term most of the debate centering around the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal. But it is not just the famous golden ball that sparks conversation.

In the Premier League, the most prestigious individual award there is to win is the PFA Player of the Year award. With Mohamed Salah currently the frontrunner for the 2024/25 award, which will be handed out on August 19th, the attention is already starting to turn to the 2025/26 ceremony. And it has been revealed by Betfair which 20 players are thought to have the best chance of winning.

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Bukayo Saka Favourite for PFA POTY

The winger is a former young player of the year

Three of the four favourites to win the award are English talent, and it is Arsenal’s starboy, Bukayo Saka, who leads the way. With odds of 13/2, the 2023 PFA Young Player of the Year is expected to step up and win the biggest prize, perhaps en route to Arsenal finally ending their trophy drought.

There is also plenty of backing for Florian Wirtz too, with Liverpool’s mega-signing immediately thrust into second favourite position at 7/1 despite not yet playing a minute of Premier League football. 2024’s champion Phil Foden struggled last campaign, but is tipped for a redemption arc that sees him as third favourite alongside his former Manchester City teammate, Cole Palmer. Palmer ended the FIFA Club World Cup campaign as Player of the Tournament following his double in the final against PSG.

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Salah Only Fifth Favourite

Bookmakers have handed the Egyptian the same odds as Declan Rice and Erling Haaland

Despite the fact that Anfield’s Egyptian king seems all but guaranteed to win his third PFA POTY award after arguably his greatest season yet, it appears the bookies are not completely sold on a repeat, as the 33-year-old is only the joint-fifth favourite to be crowned come 2026. At 9/1, Mohamed Salah may be a good punt for those willing to spend a couple of quid, as he is given the same chance as Declan Rice and Erling Haaland.

Rice’s importance to Arsenal has certainly continued to grow over the last 12 months, but the idea of him winning the award – given that since 2000, just two midfielders that would be deemed as deep-lying or holding have won the award (Roy Keane and N’Golo Kante) – history does not seem to be on his side. As for Haaland, if he finds the same goalscoring form he had during his first two seasons in English football, it would be easier to see him collecting his second trophy.

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New Signings Tipped For Impact

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are expected to impress for Manchester United

While many of the top contenders are those who seem settled at their current clubs, it’s not just Wirtz who is tipped to make an impact for a new team. After the German, the best odds for a new signing belong to Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi, who sits at 16/1 alongside his club captain, Martin Odegaard.

With long odds but still deemed to have a chance is one of the newest Red Devils in Matheus Cunha, who has been given a 33/1 shot at winning the award. His latest teammate, Bryan Mbeumo, will be hoping to add to his 20 goals from last season, with the Cameroonian given the same odds, and Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong at 50/1.

Despite the fact that Mbeumo and Frimpong are expected to command starting spots for their new teams, Noni Madueke has been given a better chance of winning the award, despite the fact that if he wants to play on the right for Arsenal like he did at Chelsea, he will somehow need to usurp Saka.

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Other Notable Names

Van Dijk, Rodri and Bruno Fernandes Given Hope

While other big names miss out on the best odds, they are still in the mix. Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk joins Alexander Isak and teammate Alexis Mac Allister at 10/1, while current Ballon d’Or holder Rodri, off the back of an ACL injury, stands alone at 14/1.

Bruno Fernandes did enough to be in the 2024/25 six-person shortlist for the award and has odds of 25/1 next year, equal to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. The English star may see himself handed better odds should he complete a touted move to Arsenal.

William Saliba, Bruno Guimaraes, Dominik Szoboszlai and Pedro Neto have all been given long odds too, but still remain in the hunt.