PFA Team of the Year: Arsenal’s champions rewarded with five spots
Arsenal’s title-winning campaign has been rewarded with five places in the 2026 PFA Premier League Team of the Year, while Brentford striker Igor Thiago earns a surprise inclusion after a prolific season.
The player-voted XI provides another measure of Arsenal’s outstanding campaign, with the Premier League champions supplying five members of the side and several key figures from their title-winning squad recognised for their consistency across the season.
2025-26 PFA Team of the Year
David Raya
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has been recognised in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year after playing a major role in the club’s title-winning campaign.
The Spaniard recorded 19 clean sheets, earning the Premier League Golden Glove for a third consecutive season. His consistency behind Arsenal’s defence was central to a campaign in which the champions conceded only 27 league goals.
Gabriel Magalhães
Gabriel Magalhães earned his place among the league’s leading defenders after another influential campaign at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. His physical presence, aerial strength and reliability helped the Gunners build the defensive platform required to end their long wait for another Premier League title.
William Saliba
William Saliba’s inclusion further reflects the quality of Arsenal’s defensive unit. The Frenchman has become one of the league’s most highly regarded centre-backs, and his partnership with Gabriel provided Arsenal with the stability needed throughout their championship-winning season.
Jurriën Timber
Jurriën Timber completed Arsenal’s defensive representation in the XI, with his versatility and consistency rewarded by fellow professionals. Operating primarily at right-back, Timber provided both defensive security and the ability to contribute during Arsenal’s possession-heavy approach.
Nico O’Reilly
Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly was the surprise defensive inclusion, earning recognition at left-back after an impressive breakthrough season. His selection was particularly notable because he also won the PFA Men’s Young Player of the Year award, underlining his rapid emergence at City.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice was Arsenal’s midfield representative after another influential season. The England international combined defensive discipline with greater attacking responsibility as Arsenal secured the league title, cementing his status as one of the division’s leading midfielders.
Rayan Cherki
Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki earned his place in midfield after an impressive first campaign in English football. His creativity and technical quality made him one of City’s standout performers and helped secure his place among the players voted into the league’s best XI.
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes completed the midfield three after producing a remarkable individual campaign. He registered a Premier League-record 21 assists and scored nine goals, performances that subsequently earned him the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland retained his place among the Premier League’s elite forwards after another prolific campaign for Manchester City. His goalscoring output continued to make him one of the division’s most dangerous strikers and ensured his inclusion in a team dominated by Arsenal and City players.
Antoine Semenyo
Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo was rewarded for an excellent campaign after his move from Bournemouth. The Ghanaian scored 17 Premier League goals and became the first Ghanaian to earn selection in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Igor Thiago
Brentford striker Igor Thiago completed the XI and provided one of the biggest surprises of the selection. The Brazilian enjoyed a breakout campaign, scoring 22 Premier League goals and establishing himself among the division’s most productive forwards. His form was also enough to earn him a place in Brazil’s plans for the 2026 World Cup.
Arsenal’s champions dominate
The five Arsenal selections underline the scale of the champions’ achievement, while the presence of four Manchester City players reflects the individual quality within another of England’s leading squads.
With the PFA award decided by fellow professionals, the XI offers another strong indication of which players made the biggest impression during the 2025/26 Premier League season.
