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

In brief
The 2025–26 PFA Player of the Year award’s early betting odds have been made public.
Mohamed Salah, the 2024–25 frontrunner, is not among the top three.
It is predicted that an English celebrity will win the prize.
Football is a team sport, so there is a lot of competition for individual honours. Every year, there is a debate about who is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, and this year, Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are at the centre of most of the talk. However, it’s not just the well-known golden ball that makes people talk.

The PFA Player of the Year award is the most coveted individual honour in the Premier League. The focus is already beginning to shift to the 2025/26 ceremony, as Mohamed Salah is presently the front-runner for the 2024/25 award, which will be given out on August 19. Additionally, Betfair has disclosed which 20 players are believed to have the best odds of winning.

Bukayo Saka Favourite for PFA POTY

The winger is a former young player of the year

Bukayo Saka, the starboy for Arsenal, is leading the field of English talent, with three of the four favourites to win the prize. The 2023 PFA Young Player of the Year is predicted to come up and take home the highest title, possibly on their way to helping Arsenal finally end their trophy drought, with odds of 13/2.

Florian Wirtz has a lot of support as well; despite not having played a single minute of Premier League football yet, the mega-signing from Liverpool was instantly thrown into second favourite position at 7/1. Despite having a difficult season the previous year, 2024 champion Phil Foden is predicted to have a redemption story and is currently ranked third along with Cole Palmer, his old Manchester City teammate. Palmer’s double in the final versus PSG earned him Player of the Tournament at the end of the FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

Salah Only Fifth Favourite

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

Even though Anfield’s Egyptian king is almost certain to win his third PFA POTY award following what was undoubtedly his best season to date, the 33-year-old is just the joint-fifth favourite to win the title in 2026, suggesting the bookies are not entirely convinced on a repeat. Given that he has the same odds as Declan Rice and Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah would be a wise investment for anyone prepared to shell out a few pounds at 9/1.

Although Rice’s value to Arsenal has undoubtedly increased over the past 12 months, history does not appear to be on his side if he wins the award, as only two midfielders who are considered to be deep-lying or holding have done so since 2000 (Roy Keane and N’Golo Kante). It would be simpler to envision Haaland winning his second trophy if he were to return to the goal-scoring form he had in his first two seasons of English football.

New Signings Tipped For Impact

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

Wirtz is not the only player predicted to have an impact for a new squad, even though many of the major contenders appear content at their current clubs. Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal, who is 16/1 with his club captain, Martin Odegaard, has the highest odds for a new addition after the German.

A 33/1 chance to win the prize has been assigned to one of the newest Red Devils, Matheus Cunha, who is considered to have a chance despite the heavy odds. With Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong at 50/1 and Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo at the same odds, his new partner will be looking to add to his 20 goals from the previous campaign.

Noni Madueke has been considered a stronger chance of winning the award, even if he will need to supplant Saka in some way if he wants to play on the right for Arsenal like he did at Chelsea. This is because Mbeumo and Frimpong are likely to command starting berths for their new teams.

Other Notable Names

Van Dijk, Rodri and Bruno Fernandes Given Hope

Other well-known names are still in the running, although they don’t have the best odds. While current Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, recovering from an ACL injury, is alone at 14/1, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk joins Alexander Isak and teammate Alexis Mac Allister at 10/1.

Bruno Fernandes has chances of 25/1 for the award next year, matching Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, and did well enough to make the 2024–25 six-person shortlist. If the English player completes a much anticipated transfer to Arsenal, he might be given improved odds.

Pedro Neto, Dominik Szoboszlai, Bruno Guimaraes, and William Saliba have all been assigned lengthy odds but are still in the running.

PFA Player of the Year Predictions for 2025–2026

The player

The odds

Saka Bukayo

13/2

Wirtz, Florian

7/1

Palmer, Cole

8/1

Foden, Phil

8/1

Salah Mohamed

9/1

Rice, Declan

9/1

Haaland, Erling

9/1

Van Dijk, Virgil

10/1

Allister, Alexis Mac

10/1

Isak, Alexander

10/1

Rodri

14/1

Zubimendi, Martin

16/1

Odegaard, Martin

16/1

Eze Eberechi

25/1

Fernandes Bruno

25/1

Cunha, Matheus

33/1

Saliba, William

33/1

Guimaraes Bruno

40/1

Szoboszlai, Dominik

40/1

Madueke Noni

40/1

Mbeumo Bryan

50/1

Frimpong, Jeremie

50/1

Neto Pedro

50/1