Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd captain chasing Premier League assist record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne

Thursday, 19 March 2026 15:56

Bruno Fernandes has the Premier League assist record in his sights with eight games left to overtake Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's haul of 20.

The Manchester United captain, who has set up 16 league goals this season, is five assists away from making competition history and four from equalling it.

The Premier League's most prolific creator has a chance to chip away at the gap when United go to Bournemouth for Friday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.

Bournemouth have not conceded a goal for more than 250 minutes, letting in just one over their last four matches, but Fernandes will fancy his chances with the form he is in.

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Already debate is brewing around the way Fernandes has amassed his tally and how, if he equals or surpasses the record, his achievement will compare with the current holders.

Here, we dig into the numbers and key points of contention.

Has Fernandes ever been this close?

No, this is Fernandes' best assists tally in a single Premier League season.

In fact, by setting up two of United's goals in Sunday's 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Fernandes broke the club's record for assists in a Premier League season.

The Portuguese equalled and then surpassed David Beckham's record of 15.

United legend Eric Cantona hit 16 assists in 1992/93 when he moved to Old Trafford from Leeds United mid-season.

When could Fernandes break the record?

Fernandes is on course to at least equal the Premier League record based on his numbers across the season, his rate of 0.61 per 90 projecting him to add a further 4.9.

However, nine of his assists have come in the last 10 games, coinciding with the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and Fernandes being restored to his favoured No 10 position.

If he can keep up that rate, 0.93 assists per 90, he would smash the record by at least three.

However, there are a few cautionary tales for Fernandes that come in the shape of Mesut Ozil and Mohamed Salah.

The former Arsenal playmaker had 16 assists after 18 games in 2015/16 only to fall one short of the record, while Salah had 18 assists with six games to go last season but failed to add to his tally.

Remarkably, Fernandes did not record an assist this season until October 19 when he set up Harry Maguire's late winner at Liverpool.

The set-piece vs open-play debate

A graphic on Monday Night Football, breaking down open-play assists and set-piece assists, has fuelled the debate around Fernandes and if he can truly be considered in the same bracket as Henry and De Bruyne.

Fernandes has seven assists from open play which pales in comparison to Henry's 18 and De Bruyne's 17.

In fact, Fernandes does not even have the most open play assists in the Premier League this season. Man City's Rayan Cherki is one ahead on eight while Erling Haaland is equal on seven.

The purists might be minded to suggest that Fernandes' tally - even if he equals 20 or surpasses it - would not bear comparison with the current holders.

Diminishing Fernandes' potential achievement based on set-piece reliance could put Arsenal fans defending Henry's record in a sticky position. Vice versa for United. Tread carefully.

Fernandes, with nine, is also closing in on Steven Gerrard's 2013/14 record (11) for most assists from set-pieces in a single season.

Has Fernandes benefited from easier schedule?

United will play just 40 matches this season, the fewest since 1914/15 when they played 39, after crashing out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup at the first time of asking.

This has afforded Fernandes lengthy breaks between racking up assists in the Premier League.

The most appearances he could make for United this season is 37 across all competitions after they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby before losing to Brighton in the FA Cup third round.

By comparison, Henry played 55 games for Arsenal in 2002/03 as they missed out on the Premier League to United and won the FA Cup. They crashed out of the League Cup in the third round but played 12 Champions League games when it was two group stages.

Meanwhile, De Bruyne featured 48 times for City, who were runners-up to Liverpool in the title race, and lifted the Carabao Cup. Pep Guardiola's side were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

In defence of Fernandes

Clearly, there are a few mitigating factors that suggest Fernandes' feat - if he reaches 20 - might not be as impressive as Henry or De Bruyne's.

However, there is little debate around his credentials as one of the Premier League's greatest creators.

Removing assists from the conversation for a moment, Fernandes is head and shoulders above everyone else when it comes to chance creation.

Standing in front of a graph showing Premier League players' chances created and chances created from open play, Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones neatly summed it up.

"There are some exceptional players here…and here is Bruno Fernandes."

The importance of Fernandes' assists to United this season should also surely be considered.

Already the United captain has won the most points (18) from assists by a single player in a Premier League season. Neither Henry nor De Bruyne feature in the top eight.

Let's see how Fernandes gets on in the final eight games of the season before deciding one way or the other.