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Manchester City star Nico O'Reilly has been voted as the PFA Young Player of the Year Award for the 2025/26 season. The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League since breaking into the Manchester City first-team under Pep Guardiola. A product of the City Football Academy, the England international was a regular for England at the FIFA World Cup in North America this summer, raising his stock further ahead of a return to club duties. Enzo Maresca has succeeded Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City enter a new era under their former Elite Development Squad and first-team assistant coach, who secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bournemouth on the opening day of the 2026/27 Premier League season. Nico O'Reilly is expected to play a huge role in the new-look Manchester City side being created by director of football Hugo Viana, who has revamped the first-team squad significantly since Pep Guardiola's departure. City gave Arsenal a run for their money all the way in the Premier League title race last term but fell short to a defiant Gunners side at the final hurdle, albeit lifting the Carabao Cup and FA Cup double in Pep Guardiola's final season at the Etihad Stadium. Enzo Maresca could go on to use Nico O'Reilly at left-back - where he has largely operated since his emergence in the first-team - or in midfield, where he played during his days in the Manchester City academy. O'Reilly has publicly opened the door to operating wherever he is asked to by Maresca, who could yet welcome several new players to his Manchester City squad before the September 1 transfer deadline. How did O'Reilly react to the honour? The full-back was awarded the 2025/26 PFA Young Player of the Year award in a ceremony on Tuesday evening, with fellow Manchester City stars Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki also in attendance as they were named in the 2025/26 PFA Team of the Year. Upon receiving the award, O'Reilly said, "I’m hugely honoured and proud to have won this. To be recognised by fellow professionals is a great feeling. The Premier League has so many outstanding young players so to be honoured this way means such a lot to me and my family. "I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me as well as all my teammates and City coaching staff for their incredible help and support. Without them this wouldn’t have been possible. "I’m also so grateful to my family for their love and support - and to the City fans who have been unbelievable with me ever since I first played for the Club. To win this award really does mean a lot." What did Hugo Viana say on O'Reilly's achievement? Viana added, "We’re all immensely proud of Nico [O’Reilly] and thrilled to see him receive such a special award. He’s not only a hugely talented young footballer but also someone who embodies all the values we cherish at Manchester City. “Nico is hard working, diligent, always wanting to get even better and someone who puts this Club before anything. He’s a brilliant pro. For him to be recognised this way by professional colleagues illustrates how highly regarded he is by peers. “Nico is also a huge inspiration and example to the rest of our Academy about what is possible through talent, hard work and dedication. This award serves as another magnificent achievement." Manchester City travel to London for their second league fixture of the season this weekend as they prepare to take on Crystal Palace, having narrowly escaped defeat against Bournemouth last time out. Late goals from Marc Guehi, playing in midfield, and Josko Gvardiol overturned an early Marcus Tavernier opener at the Etihad Stadium, with Rayan Cherki coming off the bench to provide two assists. Nico O'Reilly is set to keep his place on the left side of defence but all eyes will be on Enzo Maresca and whether he will repeat his Marc Guehi-in-midfield experiment at Selhurst Park.