Manchester City midfielder Nico O’Reilly has been named the 2025/26 Premier League Young Player of the Season after an outstanding breakthrough campaign.

The 21-year-old academy graduate has enjoyed a remarkable rise into Pep Guardiola’s first team, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in English football.

O’Reilly’s versatility has been one of the defining features of his season. Although naturally a midfielder, he has also played extensively at left-back, demonstrating his tactical intelligence, physical strength and ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.

O’Reilly’s Remarkable Breakthrough Season

O’Reilly made 34 Premier League appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists. He also played a role in nine clean sheets during the campaign.

His performances helped Manchester City compete at the top end of the Premier League, while his displays in domestic cup competitions further underlined his growing importance to the team.

One of his most memorable performances came against Newcastle United in February. O’Reilly scored both goals in City’s 2-1 victory and was named Player of the Match.

His development has also earned praise from Guardiola, who highlighted the youngster’s ability to operate in several positions.

“He’s played full-back, played holding midfielder when Rodri was not there, now he’s in his position,” Guardiola said after the Newcastle victory.

Carabao Cup Final Heroics

O’Reilly also played a starring role in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup triumph.

The academy graduate scored twice in the final as City defeated Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley, producing a performance on one of English football’s biggest stages.

That display further demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and contribute when his team needed him most.

His performances throughout the campaign ultimately earned him the Premier League Young Player of the Season award, with votes from supporters combined with those of an expert panel.

PFA Young Player of the Year Nomination

O’Reilly’s impressive season has also placed him in contention for the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award.

The Manchester City star was included among the final nominees alongside players including Rayan Cherki, Max Dowman, Junior Kroupi, Kobbie Mainoo and Rio Ngumoha. The award is voted for by professional footballers themselves, making it one of the most respected individual honours in English football.

Manchester City confirmed that O’Reilly and Cherki were the club’s two nominees for the award, highlighting the impact both players made during the 2025/26 campaign.

A Star Is Emerging at Manchester City

O’Reilly’s journey is particularly impressive because he has come through Manchester City’s academy. He joined the club at the age of eight and progressed through the youth system before making his breakthrough into senior football.

Now, after a season in which he has won major silverware, established himself as a first-team player and collected the Premier League Young Player of the Season award, O’Reilly appears to have firmly established himself as part of Manchester City’s future.

For City supporters, his emergence represents another success story from the club’s academy.

At just 21, O’Reilly has already demonstrated that he can compete at the highest level. If his 2025/26 campaign is anything to go by, this could be only the beginning of a very special career.