The favourites for the 2025/26 PFA Player of the Year award | OneFootball

The PFA Player of the Year is the Premier League’s most prestigious individual award.

Mohamed Salah is expected to win a record-breaking third PFA crown later this month, following his sensational season in 2024/25.

However, the Liverpool goal-getter is not the current favourite for 2025/26 in the latest odds from the bookies. Ahead of the season’s opening fixture on Friday, we’ve ranked the favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year award in 2025/26.

The favourites for the 2025/26 PFA Player of the Year award

=4. Mohamed Salah

Salah is the odds-on favourite to win last season’s award, which will be announced on August 19th. The Egyptian led the league for goals and assists as Liverpool lifted the title and scooped the FWA Footballer of the Year prize earlier in the year.

However, the bookies are not overly backing the 33-year-old to be the league’s best in 2025/26. Salah is currently the joint-fourth favourite for the prize, despite Liverpool leading the market as title favourites.

=4. Declan Rice

Declan Rice has been in the running for Player of the Year awards since joining Arsenal. The midfielder was runner-up for the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2023/24 and has made the six-star shortlist for the 2024/25 PFA Player of the Year prize.

Rice continues to be a driving force in an Arsenal side edging closer to the biggest prizes. After three consecutive runners-up finishes in the Premier League, a key role in getting the Gunners over the line could be decisive in the votes for individual accolades.

=4. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland won the PFA award in 2022/23, after scoring 52 goals in all competitions during Manchester City’s treble success. He was runner-up to teammate Phil Foden a year later, before being snubbed for last season’s shortlist after a comparatively ‘down’ season.

That down season still saw Haaland plunder 34 goals in 48 games for Manchester City. The Norwegian is a goal machine, and a return to past heights will propel him into the mix.

3. Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has become one of those players who is universally appreciated. His combination of carefree attitude, authentic personality, and ludicrous talent have made Palmer a neutral’s favourite. He scooped the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his debut campaign at Chelsea and has made the six-player shortlist for the senior award in 2024/25.

Another campaign of goals and creativity will leave Palmer well placed to challenge for the 2025/26 honour.

2. Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz arrives in the Premier League as the division’s most expensive signing of all time. Liverpool have broken the British record to land Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, where he was named Bundesliga Player of the Season in consecutive campaigns.

Should he claim the PFA Player of the Year award in 2025/26, he’ll become only the second player to have won the Premier League and Bundesliga best player awards, after Kevin De Bruyne.

1. Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka is the current favourite with the bookies to claim the 2025/26 award.

The Arsenal winger started last season on fire with six assists in six games, quickly reaching 10 in the Premier League before disaster struck. A hamstring injury sidelined Saka for a crucial period of the campaign, and he’ll hope for an injury-free season to put both himself and Arsenal in contention for major prizes.

Read – The five favourites to win the 2025/26 Premier League Golden Boot

See more – A best XI of Premier League transfers this summer

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