The race for the 2025/26 Premier League Young Player of the Season award is officially wrapped up, and we have a winner who has completely defied the odds. Manchester City’s rising prodigy, Nico O’Reilly, has officially taken home the prestigious honor, edging out heavily favored teammate Rayan Cherki and Manchester United’s midfield crown jewel, Kobbie Mainoo.
At just 21 years old, O’Reilly has evolved from a highly-rated academy graduate into one of the most vital, position-less weapons in Pep Guardiola’s tactical setup. Whether filling in at left-back, anchoring the midfield when Rodri was sidelined, or driving forward into a box-to-box role, the youngster has handled the brightest lights in English football with staggering maturity.
A Breakthrough for the Ages
O’Reilly’s rise through the City ranks has been nothing short of a fairy tale. After captaining the Under-18s to a title a few seasons back, his transition into senior football has caught everyone by surprise. This term, the versatile midfielder managed 34 appearances, chipping in with 5 goals and 3 assists while directly contributing to 9 clean sheets.
His manager, Pep Guardiola, could not hold back his praise after a breathtaking performance against Newcastle United where O’Reilly netted two goals. Guardiola noted how the youngster stepped up seamlessly across multiple positions, praising his incredible pace, tireless energy, and tactical intelligence.
While his league performances were incredibly consistent, his most iconic moment of the season undoubtedly came under the Wembley arch, where he scored twice in the Carabao Cup final to down Arsenal 2-0. Combined with a starting role in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea, O’Reilly has proven to be a true big-game player. It is no surprise that these performances have earned him a spot in England’s upcoming 2026 World Cup squad.
Beating Out a Loaded Shortlist
The competition this year was fierce, with the final award decided by a combination of public fan votes and a panel of football experts. O’Reilly managed to top an elite eight-man shortlist that highlighted the incredible young talent currently dominating the English top flight.
The man many tipped to win the trophy was Rayan Cherki, O’Reilly’s Etihad teammate. The Frenchman lit up the league with 12 assists, second only to Bruno Fernandes, famously pulling off a viral rabona cross to set up a Phil Foden goal against Sunderland.
Meanwhile, across town at Old Trafford, Kobbie Mainoo enjoyed a stunning resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick. After missing out on early-season minutes, Mainoo became the driving force behind Manchester United’s late-season surge, famously scoring the decisive winner against Liverpool to lock up Champions League qualification right after putting pen to paper on a new five-year contract.
The shortlist also featured outstanding campaigns from Bournemouth’s teenage sensation Eli Junior Kroupi—who bagged 12 goals to become the most lethal teenager in a debut season since Robbie Fowler—alongside standout performers like Lewis Hall, Matheus Fernandes, Michael Kayode, and Alex Scott.
Ultimately, it was O’Reilly’s flawless adaptability and trophy-winning contributions that made him the clear choice to inherit the crown from last year’s winner, Ryan Gravenberch.
