Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes has tied the Premier League's single-season assist record, joining an elite group of players to have achieved 20 assists in a campaign. The Portuguese midfielder now stands alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, who previously held the record.
Fernandes reaches milestone against Nottingham Forest
Fernandes set up Bryan Mbeumo with a cross from the right flank in United's match against Nottingham Forest, surpassing Mesut Ozil's tally of 19 assists and breaking his tie for third place on the all-time list. This assist brought Fernandes to 20 for the season, matching the record set by Henry in the 2002-03 season and De Bruyne in 2019-20.
The 30-year-old has been instrumental in United's resurgence under manager Michael Carrick, earning him the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award ahead of Declan Rice and other contenders. His creativity and vision have been key to United's attacking play throughout the season.
A long-awaited 20th assist
Fernandes moved to 19 assists after setting up Benjamin Sesko in United's 2-1 win against Brentford. However, he was forced to wait for his 20th after being denied an assist against Liverpool due to a deflection. The milestone finally came against Nottingham Forest when his cross found Mbeumo, who finished clinically.
Fernandes, who admitted in recent weeks that the record was "in my mind," could add to his total in the final game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion. Reflecting on the achievement, he said: "It's something that I think about because we are talking about Kevin and Thierry, they were two of the best players that the Premier League has seen in a long, long time. Having the chance to be up there with their names — just for this category, let's not talk about the rest they have done in the Premier League — is very good and I'm very proud of that."
Fernandes' record-equalling season has been a highlight for Manchester United, who have enjoyed a strong campaign under Carrick. The Portuguese star's ability to create chances for his teammates has been a driving force behind the team's success, and his name now sits alongside two of the league's greatest playmakers.
