Manchester United ace Bruno Fernandes breaks Premier League assist record
By Luke Oluoch, May 24, 2026Manchester United ace Bruno Fernandes has broken the Premier League assist record for the most assists in a single campaign after recording his 21st of the season in the match against Brighton & Hove Albion, currently underway at the Amex Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 33rd minute of the clash when the returning Patrick Dorgu headed home from Fernandes’ cross to make the record-breaking feat.
The Portuguese playmaker has now surpassed the previous record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Henry hit the 20-assist mark with Arsenal in the 2002/03 season, while Manchester City’s former mercurial midfielder De Bruyne matched the feat in 2019/20.
The achievement comes as a well-deserved milestone for the midfielder, who is fresh from winning the Premier League Player of the Season award.
The playmaker, who has registered eight goals and 20 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, secured 45 per cent of the votes cast by more than 900 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) members.
He edged out Declan Rice of Arsenal by 28 votes, while Erling Haaland of Manchester City finished third in the standings.
This accolade followed his coronation as the FWA Men’s Footballer of the Year, following an outstanding campaign with Manchester United. Fernandes previously conveyed gratitude to his teammates after equalling the all-time single-season assist record during an entertaining 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
“Everyone knew that [the assist record] was important. They were trying everything they could to score from my passes. I’m very happy, but more than that, I’m happy for the win,” he said.
New season
The feat marks a fitting finale for Manchester United, who have already secured a third-place finish in the English Premier League and return to UEFA Champions League football for the next season.
As part of their preparation for the new campaign, United has unveiled the backroom staff that will assist new coach Michael Carrick, who is set to lead the club next season after signing a two-year deal.