Bruno Fernandes Equals Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s Premier League All-Time Single-Season Assist Record

Bruno Fernandes has joined an exclusive group of Premier League history-makers after registering his 20th assist of the 2025/26 campaign, equalling the all-time single-season record previously set by Arsenal’s Thierry Henry in 2002/03 and later matched by Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne in 2019/20.

The Portuguese midfielder reached the milestone during Manchester United’s win over Nottingham Forest, delivering a low cross into the box that was finished by Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo. The assist drew Fernandes level with two of the Premier League era’s most celebrated creative forces.

With one domestic fixture remaining in the 2025/26 season, Fernandes now has a clear opportunity to surpass the 20-assist benchmark and stand alone at the top of the all-time seasonal assist standings. Should he add a further assist in United’s final league match, he would become the outright record holder — a mark that has stood since Henry first achieved it more than two decades ago.

The all-time single-season Premier League assist leaderboard currently reads: Fernandes (20 assists, 2025/26), Henry (20 assists, 2002/03), and De Bruyne (20 assists, 2019/20). They sit ahead of Mesut Özil’s 19 assists from the 2015/16 season, while 18 assists have been recorded by De Bruyne (2016/17), Cesc Fàbregas (2014/15), and Frank Lampard (2004/05).

The achievement adds another landmark to what has already been a record-breaking individual season for the United captain. Fernandes has already claimed the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for 2025/26 and is widely expected to also collect the PFA Players’ Player of the Year prize.

De Bruyne’s 2019/20 campaign, during which he equalled Henry’s record, remains one of the most celebrated individual creative seasons in Premier League history. It came as part of a dominant Manchester City side that finished the season second in the league behind Liverpool. Fernandes now shares that distinction while operating within a Manchester United squad that has faced a far more turbulent campaign by comparison.

The 31-year-old has been central to United’s attacking play since joining the club from Sporting CP in January 2020. His consistent output in chance creation and assists has made him one of the most statistically productive midfielders in the division across multiple seasons, though the 2025/26 campaign represents his most prolific in terms of assists.

Fernandes will have one final opportunity to break the record outright when Manchester United play their last Premier League fixture of the season. Whether or not he surpasses the 20-assist mark, his place among the competition’s most influential creative players across any single campaign is already secured.