Bruno Fernandes Equals All-Time Premier League Assists Record With 20th

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has equalled the Premier League record for the most assists recorded in a season after registering his 20th of the campaign in his team’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Portuguese maestro has etched his name alongside two Premier League legends, joining an elite club that has defined creative excellence in English football’s top division. The record-equalling moment arrived in the 76th minute when his ball across the box was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo at Old Trafford. He has now levelled the record jointly held by Arsenal’s Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20).

Bruno Fernandes’ Record-Equalling Season

The achievement caps a remarkable personal season for the Manchester United captain, who has become the creative heartbeat of Michael Carrick’s revitalized side. He was crowned the 2026 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association — narrowly beating Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to the award.

The Journey to 20

The achievement is even more remarkable considering his first assist of the campaign didn’t arrive until 19 October, when he set up Harry Maguire at Anfield. After opening the 2025-26 campaign without an assist in his first seven league appearances, Fernandes has astonishingly assisted 19 goals in his last 24 games in the Premier League at a rate of one every 109 minutes. “I’m very happy for the assist, but more than that, I’m happy for the win and to finish the season on a high,” Fernandes told Sky Sports after the match. 

“Everyone knew that it was important that I could get another assist at least. They (my team-mates) have been trying everything that they can to score from my passes. There were probably moments today that I should have passed instead of shot, but I’m very happy for this assist.”

How the Three Record Holders Compare

The United captain has arguably benefitted from the growing importance placed upon set pieces in the Premier League this season, with only 10 of his 20 assists coming from open play, compared to Henry (18) and De Bruyne (17).

Set-Piece Mastery

Beyond equalling the overall assist record, Fernandes is also closing in on another prestigious mark. Another record is within touching distance as Fernandes has 10 Premier League assists from set-piece situations. Steven Gerrard holds the record for dead-ball assists in a single season, with 11 in 2013/14. Fernandes, who is tied with Muzzy Izzet (10 for Leicester City in 2003/04) in second for the most set-play assists in a season, can match Gerrard with one more or go past him with another two.

Fernandes’ excellent set-piece delivery has turned United into one of the most threatening teams from set plays in the Premier League. Only Arsenal (22) have scored more non-penalty set-piece goals than United (20) in the league this season.

So Close to Breaking the Record

It had seemed as if Fernandes might break the record as United attacked in numbers, but a combination of the woodwork and some last-ditch defending from Forest prevented him moving clear at the top. Fernandes was agonisingly close to breaking the assists record when he created a stoppage-time chance for Diogo Dalot, who hit the post. The Man Utd captain could still set a new standard of 21 assists in a season when his side visit Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday in their final match.

Creative Excellence Beyond Assists

Fernandes’ impact extends far beyond the 20 assists that have secured his place in Premier League history. Fernandes also has a phenomenal record for creating chances, regardless of whether they are converted into goals (to become assists). Since joining Man Utd on 1 February 2020, the Portuguese has provided 670 opportunities for his team to score goals in the Premier League, significantly more than any other player in that period. Incredibly, Fernandes has created nearly twice as many chances as any other player in the Premier League this season, 52 ahead of both Declan Rice and Dominik Szoboszlai (61).

Career Milestones Table

If Fernandes repeats this season’s record-equalling tally of 20 assists in 2026/27, he could enter the top 10 for the most assists in Premier League history. He currently has a total of 71, which puts him joint-17th in the all-time chart with former Spurs captain Son Heung-min. The player who is currently ranked 10th — James Milner, the Premier League appearances record-holder — has 90 assists.

Fernandes’ Thoughts on Joining the Elite

Speaking before achieving the milestone, Fernandes revealed his mindset about chasing the record. “Of course it’s in my mind, I won’t lie about that. It wasn’t in the beginning but now I’m one behind them [Henry and De Bruyne], I think about it. It’s something that I think about because we are talking about Kevin and Thierry, they were two of the best players that the Premier League has seen in a long, long time. Having the chance to be up there with their names — just for this category, let’s not talk about the rest they have done in the Premier League — is very good.”

The Controversial Non-Assist

Fernandes had thought he’d achieved the feat during United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool on May 3 when his header was eventually touched into the net by Benjamin Sesko. But the fact Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman got a hand to the ball and knocked it onto the Slovenian striker meant Opta, the Premier League’s official statistics partner, did not award him the assist despite the division’s Fantasy Premier League game awarding Fernandes points for the assist.

What’s Next: One Game to Make History

With Manchester United traveling to Brighton & Hove Albion for their final match of the season, Fernandes has one more opportunity to stand alone atop the Premier League’s assist leaderboard. After a campaign defined by creative excellence, relentless chance creation, and set-piece mastery, the stage is set for the Portuguese captain to potentially etch his name into the record books as the outright leader.

Whether he breaks the record or not, Bruno Fernandes has already secured his place among the Premier League’s greatest playmakers. His 20 assists represent not just statistical excellence but a season-long demonstration of vision, precision, and the ability to unlock defenses in ways few players in the competition’s history have matched.

20 assists. One season. History equalled. And one game left to make it even better.

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