Bruno Fernandes continues to rack up the milestones in a stellar season.
On Sunday against Aston Villa, the captain produced his 100th assist for Manchester United in all competitions, having also reached a century of goals earlier in the campaign.
His two assists against Villa were also notable because they were his 15th and 16th of the season in the Premier League, taking him past David Beckham’s club record of 15 in a single campaign for Man Utd.
It leaves Fernandes with twice as many assists as anyone else in the league in 2025/26, as he closes in on the Playmaker award, and he is only four away from equalling the record of 20 assists in a Premier League season.
So, where does Fernandes now rank among the Premier League’s greatest attacking midfielders? You can have your say below. We’ve selected 10 of the best - excluding wingers - and now it’s over to you to put them in order.
Scroll down to read about each player and watch their best bits.
Kevin De Bruyne – Chelsea/Manchester City
Manchester City pulled off a masterstroke when they signed De Bruyne from German side Wolfsburg in 2015. The Belgian ended his time at the Etihad Stadium with 119 assists to his name, the second-most in Premier League history. De Bruyne’s vision was so good, he could find a needle in a haystack from the other side of the pitch.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 288 |
| Goals | 72 |
| Assists | 119 |
| PL titles | 6 |
Watch the BEST OF De Bruyne at Man City
Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal/Chelsea
Be it for Arsenal or Chelsea, Fabregas knew how to split a backline apart. While he was regularly deployed more centrally, Fabregas had a knack for picking the final pass, evident in that he returned 111 Premier League assists, one of which – for Andre Schurrle v Burnley – is considered one of the best in the competition’s history.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 350 |
| Goals | 50 |
| Assists | 111 |
| PL titles | 2 |
Watch the BEST OF Fabregas in the Premier League
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
Fernandes is perhaps the Premier League’s greatest January signing. Since moving to Old Trafford in January 2020, the Portuguese creative machine has been Man Utd’s most consistent performer. With 67 career assists to his name, Fernandes is expected to crack the top 10 before long.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 222 |
| Goals | 69 |
| Assists | 67 |
| PL titles | 0 |
*Data correct as of 18/03/26
Watch: Fernandes’ Premier League journey with Man Utd
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
The former Liverpool captain was one of the finest midfielders the competition has ever seen. He could play as an attacking midfielder and as a box-to-box maestro. You wouldn’t find Gerrard prying apart backlines on a whim. Rather, he’d belt them in from range with such power, the opposition goalkeeper would grasp at thin air.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 504 |
| Goals | 120 |
| Assists | 92 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Gerrard during his time at Liverpool
Frank Lampard – West Ham/Chelsea/Man City
To some, the greatest goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history. Lampard bagged 177 goals during his time in the division, more than any other midfielder. The former England man also ranks among the top 10 for assists (102) with his glory years coming during a trophy-laden 13-year spell with Chelsea.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 609 |
| Goals | 177 |
| Assists | 102 |
| PL titles | 3 |
Watch the BEST OF Lampard during his time at Chelsea
Juan Mata – Chelsea/Man Utd
Mata was never the quickest, but he made up for the physical shortcoming with his rapid train of thought. The Spaniard was one to look two moves ahead, spotting passes that few could see. He transitioned his game from Chelsea to Man Utd with ease before departing England in 2022.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 278 |
| Goals | 52 |
| Assists | 54 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Mata in the Premier League
Mesut Ozil – Arsenal
Arsenal pulled off quite the coup when they signed Ozil from Spanish giants Real Madrid on Deadline Day in 2013. The German was considered one of football’s finest creative stars when he joined from LaLiga. And he lived up to the billing before departing for Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2021.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 184 |
| Goals | 33 |
| Assists | 54 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Ozil in the Premier League
David Silva – Man City
Silva may not have been Man City’s biggest signing once they came into money. However, he was arguably one of the best. Nicknamed ‘‘El Mago’’, the magician, he could carve through opponents like a hot knife through butter. The day Silva left for Spanish side Real Sociedad in 2020 was a sad one for the league.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 309 |
| Goals | 60 |
| Assists | 93 |
| PL titles | 4 |
Watch the BEST OF Silva in the Premier League
Paul Scholes – Man Utd
Man Utd’s midfield dynamo was imperious on his day. Scholes’ distribution enabled the Manchester giants to transition from defence to attack in the blink of an eye. The former United man’s range of passing was vital for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as they so often dominated opponents during their peak.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 499 |
| Goals | 107 |
| Assists | 55 |
| PL titles | 11 |
Watch the BEST OF Scholes in the Premier League
Yaya Toure – Man City
Once Toure gained a head of steam, he was one player who was nigh-on impossible to stop. He has been referred to as the “human train” previously, though combined his powerhouse style with the finesse to rival any No 10.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 230 |
| Goals | 62 |
| Assists | 32 |
| PL titles | 3 |