Premier League assist leaders: Bruno Fernandes dominates the

Bruno Fernandes has turned the Premier League assist race into a one-man show this season, establishing a lead so substantial it borders on the absurd. With 21 assists across 35 appearances, the Manchester United captain sits nine clear of his nearest challenger, effectively rendering the competition for top spot a race for second place. While others have contributed in bursts, Fernandes’s consistency has been the defining creative force of the 2025-26 campaign, proving that even in a chaotic tactical landscape, elite vision and set-piece delivery remain the ultimate currency for a title-chasing side.

The top 5

The gap between first and second is the story of the year, but the chasing pack offers a fascinating look at how different clubs manufacture danger.

1. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): 21 assists in 35 appearances. He is the undisputed king of the final ball, combining high-volume chance creation with a respectable 9 goals to boot. 2. R. Cherki (Manchester City): 12 assists in 33 appearances. A breakout creative force for the champions, Cherki has seamlessly integrated into Pep Guardiola’s system, adding 4 goals to his tally. 3. J. Bowen (West Ham): 11 assists in 38 appearances. The ultimate workhorse, Bowen’s ability to hit double figures in both assists and goals (9) highlights his status as one of the league’s most reliable wide threats. 4. E. Haaland (Manchester City): 8 assists in 35 appearances. Often pigeonholed as a pure finisher, his 27 goals are expected, but his 8 assists prove he has evolved into a facilitator for City's high-octane attack. 5. H. Wilson (Fulham): 7 assists in 36 appearances. Wilson has been the engine of Fulham’s mid-table stability, chipping in with a career-high 10 goals to complement his creative output.

Ranks 6-10 + the chasers

The remainder of the top ten is a logjam of talent, separated by fine margins and varying levels of efficiency. Mohamed Salah (7 assists, 7 goals) and Dominik Szoboszlai (7 assists, 6 goals) represent Liverpool’s balanced creative output, both having played 27 and 36 games respectively. Everton’s James Garner (7 assists, 2 goals) stands out as a surprise inclusion, having featured in all 38 matches to maintain his spot. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (6 assists, 10 goals) and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (6 assists, 6 goals) round out the list. Notably, the absence of traditional high-volume wingers from the top of this list suggests a shift toward central midfielders and inverted forwards dominating the assist charts this term.

What it means

The data reveals a clear divide between "pure" creators and the "complete" attackers. Fernandes is the outlier, acting as the primary hub for his team, whereas players like Haaland and Rogers demonstrate that modern forwards are now expected to be as comfortable threading a through-ball as they are finding the back of the net. Manchester City’s reliance on both Cherki and Haaland shows a team that has diversified its creative load, whereas Manchester United’s dependence on Fernandes’s 21 assists underscores the heavy lifting he performs in every match. For the rest, the assist numbers reflect a league where tactical flexibility—and the ability to rotate creative duties—is becoming the hallmark of the most successful sides.

With the season concluding, the focus shifts to whether any of the chasing pack can refine their decision-making in the final third to challenge the upper echelons next year. Can Cherki take the next step and bridge the gap to Fernandes, or will the Manchester United playmaker continue to operate in a league of his own?