Premier League Top Assist Makers of All Time: Bruno Fernandes Record

Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League single-season assist record at Brighton on 24 May 2026, and a record that stood for 23 years is gone – read on and learn more about which players have recorded the most Premier League assists at William Hill News.

Manchester United’s captain finished the 2025/26 campaign with 21 assists, moving past Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne – who both recorded 20 assists in their record-setting seasons.

• Check out football odds and betting markets at William Hill

The record matters for the headline, but the all-time picture matters even more for readers who want the full hierarchy. Ryan Giggs still leads the historical table, Kevin De Bruyne has moved into second, and Fernandes has joined the chase in the broader all-time conversation with a career total that keeps climbing.

Bruno Fernandes – the new record holder

Fernandes recorded his 21st assist of 2025/26 against Brighton on the final matchday (24 May 2026), breaking the long-standing single-season record of 20 shared by Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20). The assist came from a corner, headed in by Patrick Dorgu in the 33rd minute. United won 3-0.

The timing adds to the story. Fernandes’ first assist of the season didn’t arrive until 19 October 2025, for Harry Maguire against Liverpool, and he still reached 21 in roughly seven months. He also finished nine assists clear of second-placed Rayan Cherki for the Playmaker award, underlining how far ahead he was over the full season.

Fernandes also equalled Steven Gerrard’s record of 11 assists from set-pieces in a season, set in 2013/14.

That mix of open-play invention and dead-ball delivery is why he now sits in the same statistical bracket as Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller, who were the only players across Europe’s top five leagues to hit 21 or more league assists in a single season before him in 2019/20. He was also named Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year for 2025/26.

Ryan Giggs – still the king

Ryan Giggs remains the Premier League’s all-time assist leader with 162, and that gap still feels enormous – even in a season defined by Fernandes’ surge. He is 43 ahead of Kevin De Bruyne, who now sits second, and there isn’t an active player that looks close to threatening that top spot.

Giggs’ longevity still separates him from every modern creator. The record has been stretched over so many seasons that it now looks less like a target and more like a landmark.

Kevin De Bruyne – second all-time

Kevin De Bruyne finishes his Premier League career with 119 assists, which puts him second on the all-time list behind Giggs. His Manchester City years produced title-winning creativity, relentless volume, and the cleanest service in the league for a long stretch.

He also shared the single-season record with Thierry Henry at 20 before Fernandes edged past it. That tie lasted from 2019/20 to 2025/26, while Henry’s mark had stood since 2002/03.

Cesc Fàbregas, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard

Cesc Fàbregas sits third all-time with 111 Premier League assists, built across Arsenal and Chelsea. He remains second in league history among foreign-born creators and was central to some of the best attacking football of his era.

Wayne Rooney is fourth with 103 assists, an impressive figure for a forward who also scored 208 Premier League goals. Frank Lampard follows in fifth on 102 assists, which shows how much of his output came from arriving late into dangerous areas and still setting others up as well as finishing chances himself.

The Active Chasers

Mohamed Salah is the highest active player on the all-time assist list with 94, and that keeps him in the conversation among the division’s modern creators. That said, the Egyptian winger is primed to depart the league before 2026/27.

Son Heung-min also remains an active name in the rankings, but plays abroad now, while Bernardo Silva has passed 50 and continues to add to his total. Again, though, Silva looks set to depart the league.

Fernandes is now on 72 Premier League assists, placing him 17th all time and leaving him within reach of the top 10 if he keeps up this pace.

Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t currently adding to his Premier League tally after moving to Real Madrid, but his place could change from fixed to progressing if the 27-year-old returns to England.

All-Time Top 10 Table For Premier League Assists

Single-season record section

The Premier League single-season assist record had been held at 20 for 23 years, with Thierry Henry first setting the mark in 2002/03 before Kevin De Bruyne matched it in 2019/20. Fernandes pushed the number to 21 in 2025/26, and that makes the new benchmark a proper modern reference point rather than just a shared footnote.

His season also matters because it came from different angles: set pieces, open play, and a relentless volume of creation over the long run of the campaign.

That gives the record more weight than a short hot streak and makes it the cleanest fresh answer for anyone searching ‘Premier League most assists.’

Updated single-season table

If you want to back the wider season story, check the William Hill Premier League outright odds and the 2026/27 Player of the Season specials.

Premier League assist record FAQ:

Who has the most assists in Premier League history?

Ryan Giggs has the most Premier League assists in history with 162. The gap to second place is still large, which is why his record has survived every modern challenge.

Who holds the record for most assists in a Premier League season?

Bruno Fernandes holds the record with 21 assists in 2025/26. He moved one clear of the 20-assist mark shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

How many assists does Bruno Fernandes have?

Fernandes has 72 Premier League assists in his career and 21 in the 2025/26 season. That puts him 17th all time and on course to keep climbing the historical rankings.