Ryan Giggs holds the record for the highest assists in EPL history, with 162 assists in 632 Premier League appearances for Manchester United.
The 2025/26 season, however, produced a new single-season record. Bruno Fernandes registered 21 assists for Manchester United, becoming the first player to exceed 20 assists in one Premier League campaign.
This guide combines the all-time Premier League assist leaders with the complete 2025/26 ranking from the GoalStatsLab database. It also compares appearances, assists per match and the players who produced the most efficient creative seasons.
Highest assists in EPL history
The Premier League’s all-time assist ranking is led by Ryan Giggs, followed by Kevin De Bruyne and Cesc Fàbregas.
Giggs’ record is based on remarkable longevity. He played in every Premier League season from 1992/93 to 2013/14 and created goals for several generations of Manchester United forwards.
De Bruyne finished his Premier League career with 119 assists in only 288 appearances. His rate of 0.41 assists per match is substantially higher than Giggs’ 0.26.
Top 10 Premier League assist leaders
| Rank | Player | Assists | Appearances | Main Premier League clubs | Assists per match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Giggs | 162 | 632 | Manchester United | 0.26 |
| 2 | Kevin De Bruyne | 119 | 288 | Chelsea, Manchester City | 0.41 |
| 3 | Cesc Fàbregas | 111 | 350 | Arsenal, Chelsea | 0.32 |
| 4 | Wayne Rooney | 103 | 491 | Everton, Manchester United | 0.21 |
| 5 | Frank Lampard | 102 | 609 | West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City | 0.17 |
| 6 | Dennis Bergkamp | 94 | 315 | Arsenal | 0.30 |
| 7 | Mohamed Salah | 94 | 328 | Chelsea, Liverpool | 0.29 |
| 8 | David Silva | 93 | 309 | Manchester City | 0.30 |
| 9 | Steven Gerrard | 92 | 504 | Liverpool | 0.18 |
| 10 | James Milner | 90 | 658 | Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton | 0.14 |
View more records in the GoalStatsLab football statistics hub or visit the official Premier League all-time statistics.
Who has the most assists in Premier League history?
Ryan Giggs has the most assists in Premier League history, with 162.
The former Manchester United winger recorded those assists across 632 appearances, producing approximately one assist every four matches. He also scored 109 Premier League goals.
Giggs played for only one club in the competition and provided chances for forwards including Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His record remains 43 assists ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.
Ryan Giggs’ Premier League record
- Assists: 162
- Appearances: 632
- Goals: 109
- Assists per match: 0.26
- Club: Manchester United
- Premier League seasons: 22
The official Ryan Giggs Premier League profile confirms his 162 assists and 632 appearances.
Premier League assists 2025/26
Bruno Fernandes finished first in the Premier League assists 2025/26 ranking, registering 21 assists in 35 appearances.
Rayan Cherki was second with 12 assists for Manchester City, while Jarrod Bowen finished third with 11 for West Ham.
The nine-assist difference between Fernandes and Cherki was larger than the difference between Cherki and several players outside the top 15.
Complete Premier League assist ranking for 2025/26
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists | Appearances | Assists per match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 21 | 35 | 0.60 |
| 2 | Rayan Cherki | Manchester City | 12 | 34 | 0.35 |
| 3 | Jarrod Bowen | West Ham | 11 | 38 | 0.29 |
| 4 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 8 | 36 | 0.22 |
| 5 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 7 | 29 | 0.24 |
| 6 | Harry Wilson | Fulham | 7 | 36 | 0.19 |
| 7 | Dominik Szoboszlai | Liverpool | 7 | 36 | 0.19 |
| 8 | James Garner | Everton | 7 | 38 | 0.18 |
| 9 | Jack Grealish | Everton | 6 | 20 | 0.30 |
| 10 | Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | 6 | 25 | 0.24 |
| 11 | Pedro Neto | Chelsea | 6 | 34 | 0.18 |
| 12 | Leandro Trossard | Arsenal | 6 | 34 | 0.18 |
| 13 | Granit Xhaka | Sunderland | 6 | 34 | 0.18 |
| 14 | Enzo Le Fée | Sunderland | 6 | 36 | 0.17 |
| 15 | Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa | 6 | 37 | 0.16 |
| 16 | Lucas Digne | Aston Villa | 6 | 38 | 0.16 |
| 17 | Mohammed Kudus | Tottenham | 5 | 19 | 0.26 |
| 18 | Xavi Simons | Tottenham | 5 | 28 | 0.18 |
| 19 | Jurriën Timber | Arsenal | 5 | 30 | 0.17 |
| 20 | Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle | 5 | 30 | 0.17 |
Data source: GoalStatsLab player database, Premier League 2025/26 season.
Explore the latest Premier League player statistics and individual performance data in the GoalStatsLab player database.
Bruno Fernandes’ record-breaking 2025/26 season
Bruno Fernandes did not simply finish first. He produced one of the most dominant creative seasons in Premier League history.
His 21 assists were:
- Nine more than Rayan Cherki;
- Ten more than Jarrod Bowen;
- 75% higher than the second-place total;
- Equal to an average of 0.60 assists per appearance;
- One more than the previous Premier League record.
The Portuguese midfielder secured the Premier League Golden Playmaker award and became the first player to register 21 assists in one campaign.
His final assist came against Brighton, when his corner created Patrick Dorgu’s goal in Manchester United’s last league match of the season.
Read the official Premier League Golden Playmaker announcement.
You can also view the Bruno Fernandes player profile and Manchester United team statistics.
Which players had the best assists-per-match rate?
Total assists are important, but they can favour players who completed more matches. Assists per match help identify players who created goals efficiently despite having fewer appearances.
Best assist rates in the 2025/26 Premier League
| Rank | Player | Assists | Appearances | Assists per match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | 21 | 35 | 0.60 |
| 2 | Rayan Cherki | 12 | 34 | 0.35 |
| 3 | Jack Grealish | 6 | 20 | 0.30 |
| 4 | Jarrod Bowen | 11 | 38 | 0.29 |
| 5 | Mohammed Kudus | 5 | 19 | 0.26 |
| 6 | Mohamed Salah | 7 | 29 | 0.24 |
| 7 | Martin Ødegaard | 6 | 25 | 0.24 |
Grealish and Kudus are particularly notable. Neither reached the top five for total assists, but both ranked among the most productive creators relative to their number of appearances.
This is why the GoalStatsLab ranking displays both total production and rate-based statistics.
How assists per match are calculated
The calculation is:
Assists per match = Total assists ÷ Appearances
For Bruno Fernandes:
21 ÷ 35 = 0.60 assists per match
This metric should not be described as “assists per 90”. A true per-90 statistic requires the number of minutes played:
Assists per 90 = Assists × 90 ÷ Minutes played
Which clubs had the most players in the assist ranking?
Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool each placed multiple players inside the top 20.
The totals below only combine assists from players appearing in this top-20 ranking. They do not represent every assist recorded by each club during the season.
| Club | Players in top 20 | Combined assists |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 1 | 21 |
| Manchester City | 2 | 20 |
| Arsenal | 3 | 17 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 14 |
| Everton | 2 | 13 |
| Aston Villa | 2 | 12 |
| Sunderland | 2 | 12 |
| West Ham | 1 | 11 |
| Tottenham | 2 | 10 |
| Fulham | 1 | 7 |
| Chelsea | 1 | 6 |
| Newcastle | 1 | 5 |
Manchester United lead this comparison entirely because of Fernandes. Manchester City were more balanced, with Cherki and Haaland combining for 20 assists.
Arsenal had the most representatives in the top 20:
- Martin Ødegaard: 6;
- Leandro Trossard: 6;
- Jurriën Timber: 5.
Together, they recorded 17 assists.
Most assists in a Premier League season
Bruno Fernandes holds the record for the most assists in a Premier League season, with 21 in 2025/26.
Thierry Henry set the previous record with 20 assists for Arsenal in 2002/03. Kevin De Bruyne equalled Henry’s total during the 2019/20 season before Fernandes moved the record to 21.
Premier League single-season assist records
| Rank | Player | Club | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 2025/26 | 21 |
| 2 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal | 2002/03 | 20 |
| 2 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2019/20 | 20 |
| 4 | Mesut Özil | Arsenal | 2015/16 | 19 |
| 5 | Frank Lampard | Chelsea | 2004/05 | 18 |
| 5 | Cesc Fàbregas | Chelsea | 2014/15 | 18 |
| 5 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2016/17 | 18 |
| 5 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 2024/25 | 18 |
| 9 | Cesc Fàbregas | Arsenal | 2007/08 | 17 |
| 10 | Eric Cantona | Leeds United/Manchester United | 1992/93 | 16 |
| 10 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2017/18 | 16 |
| 10 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 2022/23 | 16 |
The Premier League’s official player records list Giggs as the all-time leader and Fernandes as the single-season record holder.
Kevin De Bruyne had the best rate among the historical leaders
Although Ryan Giggs has the largest total, Kevin De Bruyne produced assists at a much faster rate.
| Player | Assists | Appearances | Assists per match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | 119 | 288 | 0.41 |
| Cesc Fàbregas | 111 | 350 | 0.32 |
| Dennis Bergkamp | 94 | 315 | 0.30 |
| David Silva | 93 | 309 | 0.30 |
| Mohamed Salah | 94 | 328 | 0.29 |
| Ryan Giggs | 162 | 632 | 0.26 |
This distinction matters when comparing players from different eras. Total assists reward sustained production and longevity, while rate statistics highlight efficiency.
What counts as an assist in the Premier League?
The Premier League’s performance data is collected and analysed by Opta.
Opta defines an assist as the final touch from a teammate that leads to the recipient scoring a goal.
An assist can still be awarded after a minor defensive deflection if the ball was already travelling to the eventual scorer. However, no conventional assist is awarded for:
- An own goal;
- A goal scored directly from a free kick;
- A goal scored directly from a corner;
- A defensive touch that significantly changes the intended destination;
- An attacking action that does not directly provide the scorer with the ball.
Fantasy Premier League assists use a broader system. FPL may award assists for rebounds, penalties won, free kicks won or actions that force own goals. These should not be mixed with conventional Opta goal assists.
Read the Opta event definitions and the Premier League’s explanation of how official statistics are collected.
Assist, key pass and expected assist: what is the difference?
These three statistics measure different creative actions.
Assist
The final touch or pass that directly supplies a goalscorer.
Key pass
A pass that directly creates a shot which does not become a goal.
A player can create several excellent chances without receiving an assist if teammates fail to score.
Expected assists
Expected assists, normally written as xA, estimate the probability that a completed pass will become an assist based on the quality of the chance created.
A player with high xA but few assists may have created good opportunities that were not converted. A player with more assists than xA may have benefited from exceptional finishing by teammates.
For deeper analysis, combine:
- Assists;
- Key passes;
- Expected assists;
- Big chances created;
- Through balls;
- Crosses;
- Minutes played;
- Assists per 90 minutes.
These metrics are available across the GoalStatsLab advanced football stats pages.
GoalStatsLab data methodology
The 2025/26 table in this article was generated from the GoalStatsLab football database.
For each player, the system uses:
- Premier League season;
- Player identity;
- Club;
- Appearances;
- Total assists;
- Assists divided by appearances.
The displayed assists-per-match value is rounded to two decimal places.
Player and match data can be updated after post-match validation or corrections from the data provider. For that reason, very recent statistics may change slightly after the final whistle.
Learn more about the GoalStatsLab methodology and data sources.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the highest assists in EPL history?
Ryan Giggs has the highest assists in EPL history, with 162 assists in 632 appearances for Manchester United.
Who had the most Premier League assists in 2025/26?
Bruno Fernandes led the 2025/26 Premier League with 21 assists for Manchester United.
Who has the most assists in one Premier League season?
Bruno Fernandes holds the single-season record with 21 assists in 2025/26.
Who finished second for Premier League assists in 2025/26?
Rayan Cherki finished second with 12 assists for Manchester City.
How many assists did Bruno Fernandes have in 2025/26?
Bruno Fernandes recorded 21 assists in 35 Premier League appearances, averaging 0.60 assists per match.
Who is second in the all-time Premier League assist ranking?
Kevin De Bruyne is second with 119 assists.
Does winning a penalty count as a Premier League assist?
Winning a penalty is not counted as a conventional Opta goal assist. It may, however, qualify as a Fantasy Premier League assist under FPL rules.
What is the difference between assists per match and assists per 90?
Assists per match divide assists by appearances. Assists per 90 divide assists by minutes played and multiply the result by 90.