News Focus
- Declan Rice earns top accolade for driving Arsenal to Premier League success and European final
- Granit Xhaka’s £17m move from Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland recognised as Signing of the Season
- Harrison Reed wins Premier League Goal of the Season for dramatic late strike against Liverpool
- Frank Lampard’s Coventry City clinch Championship title to end 25-year top-flight absence
- Scottish Premiership breakthrough prize shared by Falkirk’s Barney Stewart and Kilmarnock’s Findlay Curtis
The BBC Football Awards for the 2025-26 season have honoured the finest talents across English and Scottish football, with Arsenal captain Declan Rice claiming the highest individual prize. A panel comprising former professionals and expert journalists selected the winners based on performances throughout the Premier League, Women’s Super League, Scottish Premiership and English Football League.
Rice secured the main award ahead of Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, who broke the single-season assists record but finished second, and Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who took third place after netting 22 goals. The England international’s mastery of set-pieces and commanding leadership proved decisive as Arsenal ended their wait for domestic glory and advanced to Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Manager Mikel Arteta oversaw the Gunners’ remarkable consistency, keeping them at the summit from October onwards, whilst young midfielder Max Dowman claimed third spot in the young player category behind Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi.
Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed captured the Goal of the Season award for his breathtaking 25-yard drive against Liverpool. With his side trailing 2-1 in the dying moments at Craven Cottage, Reed unleashed a swerving shot that flew past Alisson into the top corner. Team-mate Harry Wilson finished second for his clever outside-of-the-boot finish against Crystal Palace, whilst Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki placed third following a solo effort against Arsenal.
The awards also highlighted significant transfer activity and managerial changes. Granit Xhaka’s £17m switch from Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland earned the Swiss international the Signing of the Season accolade. Conversely, Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal by Nottingham Forest was voted the most predictable sacking, whilst Tottenham Hotspur’s unexpected relegation battle was named the campaign’s biggest shock.
In Scotland, Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland completed a move to Rangers after finishing third in the player voting, trailing Motherwell’s Elijah Just. Derek McInnes narrowly missed out on ending the 41-year wait for a non-Old Firm title winner when Celtic pipped Hearts on the final day. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, who steadied the ship following Brendan Rodgers’ departure, settled for third in the managerial voting behind McInnes and Berthel Askou, the Motherwell coach who has since joined French side Toulouse.
Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti won the Scottish Goal of the Season for an overhead kick against Celtic, whilst the breakthrough player prize was shared jointly by Falkirk’s Barney Stewart and Kilmarnock’s Findlay Curtis.
The English Football League categories saw Frank Lampard guide Coventry City to the Championship title and automatic promotion, ending a quarter-century outside the top flight. Alex Neil secured third place after Millwall’s play-off semi-final defeat to Hull City, whilst the Championship Player of the Season missed the crucial final through injury.
In League Two, Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala masterminded a surprise title triumph despite limited resources, with Cambridge United’s Kelland Watts and Bromley’s Omar Sowumni completing the podium. Leyton Orient’s Dom Ballard earned recognition for his crucial goals that secured survival.