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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has officially set a new benchmark in the Premier League by recording the highest number of assists in a single season. The influential Portuguese midfielder registered his 21st assist of the campaign against Brighton on Sunday, moving ahead of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne in the league’s history books.

Making history on the South Coast

Fernandes reached his landmark 21st assist during United’s final-day clash with Brighton. The playmaker, who joined the club from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for €65 million, delivered a trademark corner that Patrick Dorgu converted with a header for the opening goal. This crucial contribution pushed Fernandes beyond Henry and De Bruyne, who had jointly held the single-season assist record with 20 each. Fernandes later added a goal himself as United cruised to a 3-0 win over the Seagulls. The Portugal international has tallied nine goals this season and was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season accolade on Saturday. He also left the Amex Stadium with the Premier League Playmaker of the Season trophy for 2025-26, finishing nine assists clear of Rayan Cherki at the top of the list.

A proud moment for the captain

Before achieving this milestone, Fernandes recognised the calibre of players he was challenging for the record. Speaking to Sky Sports earlier, the Portuguese international expressed his appreciation for the opportunity. He said: "It’s something I think about because we’re talking about Kevin and Thierry — two of the finest players the Premier League has seen in many years. To be mentioned alongside them, even just in this particular category and setting aside everything else they’ve achieved in the league, is incredible, and I’m very proud of that."

Sharing credit with his team-mates

Despite receiving widespread individual praise, Fernandes has consistently emphasised the importance of his team-mates. With an impressive career record of 106 goals in 327 appearances for United, the midfielder was quick to highlight that a creator’s success depends on the finishers around him. After providing his 20th assist against Nottingham Forest in United’s previous game, he stated: "I’m really happy to see their reaction more than mine because I wanted Bryan [Mbeumo] to enjoy his goal. I didn’t want to make it about myself because, at the end of the day, scoring the goal is the most important thing in football. Full credit to Bryan, because if he doesn’t finish it, my record doesn’t stand. These milestones only happen when your team-mates execute their roles as well as you do yours."

What lies ahead for the record-setter?

Having etched his name into Premier League history, Fernandes will now turn his attention to representing Portugal at the upcoming World Cup. With his current Manchester United contract running until June 30, 2027, the captain remains central to the club’s long-term plans, and reports suggest he could soon be offered a lucrative contract extension.