Which players have the most assists in Premier League history? Read here for the 10 players with the most PL assists, featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Ryan Giggs.
A look at the players with the most assists in Premier League history is a trip down memory lane. It’s an opportunity to reflect on some of the best Premier League midfielders ever and a chance to refresh our memories of some playmaking geniuses.
Being one of the Premier League betting favourites to top the assist charts isn’t just about having ability – it’s about being fit and available. This means that the players with the most assists in the Premier League had to remain healthy for most of every season.
The players with the most Premier League assists
Below, we have the top ten players with the most assists in Premier League history. Included are many of the best Premier League players ever, from do-it-all central midfielders to defence-splitting number tens.
Rank | Player | Premier League assists | Premier League games | Clubs played for |
1 | Ryan Giggs | 162 | 632 | Manchester United |
2 | Kevin De Bruyne | 119 | 288 | Chelsea, Manchester City |
3 | Cesc Fàbregas | 111 | 350 | Arsenal, Chelsea |
4 | Wayne Rooney | 103 | 491 | Everton, Manchester United |
5 | Frank Lampard | 102 | 609 | West Ham United, Chelsea, Manchester City |
T-6 | Dennis Bergkamp | 94 | 315 | Arsenal |
T-6 | Mohamed Salah | 94 | 328 | Chelsea, Liverpool |
8 | David Silva | 93 | 309 | Manchester City |
9 | Steven Gerrard | 92 | 504 | Liverpool |
10 | James Milner | 90 | 658 | Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton |
Counting down the players with the most Premier League assists
Now you’ve found out who has the most assists in Premier League history, it’s time to learn a bit more about each of these players.
10. James Milner, 90 assists
James Milner has appeared in more Premier League matches than anyone else, so it’s no surprise he’s made it into the top ten for assists. His most productive season was back in 2009/2010 for an Aston Villa team that finished sixth with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew among Milner’s teammates.
Milner’s only other season with double-digit assists was in 2015/2016, which was his first campaign with Liverpool.
9. Steven Gerrard, 92 assists
Steven Gerrard’s 92 assists included whipped free kicks, inch-perfect through balls, and hanging corners. Gerrard had a spell playing off the striker, spent time in a box-to-box role, and played a couple of seasons in a deeper position before heading to LA Galaxy.
In his all-action game, creativity isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Still, Gerrard’s knack for accumulating assists goes to show how much of an impact he had.
8. David Silva, 93 assists
Perhaps surprisingly, David Silva only led the Premier League in assists on one occasion (2011/2012). Silva, from the day he arrived to the day he left, was a majestic creative force in the Premier League.
His mazy dribbling opened gaps others couldn’t, with his left foot being able to put the ball into spaces others daren’t even dream of.
T-6. Mohamed Salah, 94 assists
Undeniably one of the best Premier League forwards ever, Mohamed Salah’s creativity was sometimes overlooked. Salah inevitably made space for others with the attention he drew, but his creative impact was more than that.
He’d occasionally remind us of his crossing ability when cutting back onto his left foot, but sometimes he’d race to the byline and find a way to fizz the ball across the six-yard box for a tap-in.
T-6. Dennis Bergkamp, 94 assists
Playing next to Thierry Henry certainly helped Dennis Bergkamp to accumulate assists. That’s not to take away from the Dutchman’s greatness, though, with unmatched football intelligence and technical ability few can rival.
Bergkamp would find teammates with the deftest of flicks. He’d drop into midfield to find space to create for others, and he had a near-telepathic understanding with Henry.
5. Frank Lampard, 102 assists
From his long-running partnership with Didier Drogba to swinging corners in for John Terry, Gary Cahill, and others to attack, Frank Lampard was far more than a pure goal scorer from central midfield.
Lampard was an underrated technician and had excellent vision. Later in his career, he dropped deeper, and was able to feed passes forward to Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, and other talented forwards.
4. Wayne Rooney, 103 assists
Even when he was at his peak as a centre forward, Wayne Rooney managed to collect assists for fun. Rooney’s incredible engine meant he could cover every blade of grass when he was playing as a number ten, and his link-up play as a number nine was an asset for his teams.
The 2006/2007 season was the only year Rooney led the Premier League in assists, but he was always a good bet to register around seven or more assists.
3. Cesc Fàbregas, 111 assists
Had Cesc Fàbregas spent his entire career in England, there’s a chance he would be atop the list of the Premier League players with the most assists all-time. Fàbregas burst onto the scene at Arsenal, topping the assist charts in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.
After a spell with Barcelona, he returned to the Premier League with Chelsea and added further to his assist tally. He threatened Henry’s single-season assist record in 2014/2015 as he struck up a formidable partnership with Diego Costa.
2. Kevin De Bruyne, 119 assists
Kevin De Bruyne has topped the league’s assist charts on four occasions. He was a lock for ten or more assists per season throughout his time with Manchester City, and it didn’t really matter who City had playing around him.
De Bruyne could pierce defences with zipped through balls to wingers running in behind. He could land deliveries from the half-space to within an inch of where they needed to be. There was also the more traditional crossing from the byline to pick out an arriving midfielder or a centre forward. No type of assist would be a surprise to see from De Bruyne – giving him a strong argument to be the best passer in Premier League history.
1. Ryan Giggs, 162 assists
Ryan Giggs is the holder of the Premier League’s most assists all-time record, with his longevity and importance to Manchester United’s dynasty being a large part of him achieving what looks like an unassailable lead.
Giggs had a wicked left-footed delivery from open play and dead-ball situations. In his pomp, he had the pace to get to the byline and the intelligence to calmly pick out the right option in the penalty area.
Which players just miss out on the all-time top 10?
There’s a gap between Milner in tenth (90 assists) and David Beckham (80 assists) in 11th. Beckham is trailed by a trio of fellow former Red Devils in Christian Eriksen, Teddy Sheringham, and Ashley Young.
A few forwards appear between tenth and 20th, with Thierry Henry, Raheem Sterling, Andy Cole, and Son Heung-Min accompanied by Bruno Fernandes and Darren Anderton.
