Premier League Team of the Season: Rice and Fernandes lead the way in star-studded side

Arsenal's Declan Rice lifts the Premier League trophy
Arsenal's Declan Rice lifts the Premier League trophyREUTERS / Hannah Mckay

The 2025/26 campaign came to an end over the weekend as Premier League teams confirmed their final positions in the table, with several stars capping off wonderful campaigns.

Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy after ending their season on a high by beating Crystal Palace 2-1, while Sunderland secured Europa League qualification by winning 2-1 against Chelsea.

Bournemouth managed the same feat after their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United rounded out the campaign in style by thrashing Brighton 3-0.

Elsewhere, Manchester City waved goodbye to club legends Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Pep Guardiola with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa and Liverpool said farewell to Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson in their 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Instead of our usual Team of the Week, though, Flashscore will be compiling a Team of the Season based on average player ratings throughout the campaign. We'll also include a couple of 'honourable mentions' (HM:) for those players who just missed out in each position.

Disclaimer - players must have played at least two-thirds of the campaign (26+ appearances) to gain a spot in our side.

Premier League Team of the Season
Premier League Team of the SeasonFlashscore

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) - 6.9

Donnarumma had an impressive debut season with Manchester City, helping Guardiola's side to keep 15 clean sheets as they finished second in the league.

The Italian made 78 saves throughout the campaign and tied for the highest average rating among goalkeepers in the division, but gets the nod ahead of Senne Lammens and Emi Martinez for keeping more clean sheets and his side finishing higher in the table.

HM: Senne Lammens (6.9), Emi Martinez (6.9)

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.3

Liverpool endured a tough time in their defence of the Premier League title and could only manage a fifth-placed finish - although Van Dijk still impressed with a solid individual campaign.

The Dutchman played every fixture for Liverpool and contributed with 275 clearances, 26 blocks, 87 recoveries and 28 interceptions for a side that often sees the majority of possession.

He also bagged six goals - a career-best for his 12 seasons in the Premier League.

HM: Matheus Nunes (7.3)

Van Dijk 2025/26 season stats
Van Dijk 2025/26 season statsOpta by StatsPerform / REUTERS/Phil Noble

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) - 7.4

Perhaps one of the unsung heroes of the Premier League this season - starring for a club that has equally gone slightly under the radar - Bournemouth defender Senesi has been excellent across the last 10 months.

Senesi has played a vital role in getting the Cherries into the Europa League and will leave the club when his contract expires in the summer.

The Argentine particularly picked up form in the second half of the campaign and was a key component to Bournemouth's 18-game unbeaten run.

HM: Jan Paul van Hecke (7.2)

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace/Manchester City) - 7.3

Guehi is the only player in our side to have featured for multiple clubs in the Premier League this term - and he has excelled for both of them.

His 20 appearances for Crystal Palace earned a respectable average of 7.1, but his 15 games in the second part of the campaign for Manchester City are where he really stepped up.

Guehi averaged a 7.5 Flashscore rating playing for City, which takes his overall score to 7.3 after another impressive run.

HM: Gabriel (7.2)

Guehi 2025/26 season stats
Guehi 2025/26 season statsOpta by StatsPerform / Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Midfielders

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - 7.4

The first of two Arsenal title-winners to make our side, Saka registered seven goals and five assists as the Gunners reached the Premier League summit.

The England international played a key role in Mikel Arteta's side and Arsenal often looked a much better team with the 24-year-old out on the right wing.

Aside from his direct goal contributions, Saka also completed 50 dribbles and made 56 key passes.

HM: Dominik Szoboszlai (7.2)

Declan Rice (Arsenal) - 7.6

Another Arsenal star to make our Team of the Season is Rice; the midfielder was absolutely vital on the journey to a first title in 22 years.

An individual contribution of four goals and five assists only tells part of the story. Set-pieces dominated the narrative surrounding Arsenal and the season as a whole - and Rice's delivery was exceptional throughout.

He was also effective defensively and made 35 tackles, 37 interceptions, 180 recoveries and 78 clearances.

HM: James Garner (7.3)

Rice 2025/26 season stats
Rice 2025/26 season statsOpta by StatsPerform / REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) - 7.4

Sunderland secured Europa League football after only being promoted a year ago and midfield general Xhaka was the focal point of their historic return to the top flight.

After being named captain swiftly following his summer arrival, Xhaka set the tone on and off the pitch for an incredible campaign for the Black Cats.

His undoubted leadership qualities are backed up by the stats at both ends of the pitch - with the Swiss international registering six assists, 28 key passes, 33 tackles won, 29 interceptions, 85 clearances and 179 recoveries.

HM: Elliot Anderson (7.3)

Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle) - 7.4

Despite a disappointing year for the club as a whole, Newcastle midfielder Guimaraes enjoyed a top individual season.

The Brazilian was a central figure in the majority of the positive aspects of the Magpies' campaign and enjoyed a career-best 14 goal contributions (nine goals, five assists).

His all-round displays were equally impressive; Guimaraes managed 40 key passes, 43 tackles and 135 recoveries.

HM: Enzo Fernandez (7.3)

Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) - 7.4

One of the signings of the season, Manchester City star Cherki has been a delight to watch during his debut campaign in England.

The winger has dazzled with his superb skill and excellent footwork, while also backing that up with four goals and 12 assists.

His threat outside of direct goal contributions was also prominent, with Cherki making 48 key passes and completing 51 dribbles in his 33 appearances.

HM: Jeremy Doku (7.3)

Forwards

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 8.0

Flashscore's Premier League Player of the Season by a considerable distance, Fernandes spearheaded a superb Manchester United side to a third-placed finish.

The Portuguese international registered 30 goal contributions (nine goals, 21 assists) and broke the record for the most assists registered in a single season.

His form in 2026 has been particularly eye-catching, with Fernandes earning Flashscore's Player of the Match in 12 of his 19 league games.

Read more as Bruno Fernandes is named Flashscore's Premier League Player of the Season.

HM: Joao Pedro (7.1)

Fernandes 2025/26 season stats
Fernandes 2025/26 season statsOpta by StatsPerform, / REUTERS/David Klein

Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 7.4

Yet another season has gone by where Haaland has led the scoring charts for pretty much the entire year, and the Norwegian bagged 27 as Manchester City finished second in the table.

He also provided eight assists to take his overall contributions to 35 for the season - the most of any player in the entire division.

His 7.4 average was the best of all the strikers in England's top flight, and Haaland rounds out our 2025/26 Premier League Team of the Season.

HM: Hugo Ekitike (7.1)

Premier League top scorers 2025/26
Premier League top scorers 2025/26Opta by StatsPerform / REUTERS/Chris Radburn

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