Who has the most assists in Premier League history? We have answered this question in this article, and even included a full list of the top five, with one still playing in the English top flight!
We have also dug through the archives to make a list of the top Premier League assist makers over the last decade, with perhaps some surprising names included among the usual suspects…
Most assists in Premier League history: The top 5
1) Ryan Giggs – 162
Manchester United's legend Ryan Giggs currently holds the record for the most assists in the Premier League's history, with a total of 162 assists to his name. The Welsh winger has good grounds on which to be considered the best player in Premier League history, due to sheer longevity and how many titles he won with the Red Devils over the course of two decades.
His crossing ability and eye for a pass made him stand out among other players on the pitch, with many notable assists. One of these assists was for Michael Owen in 2009, for a dramatic late winner against bitter rivals Manchester City in a 4-3 victory at Old Trafford. Incidentally, Giggs recorded three assists in this game, and it was the only time that he managed to do so in one match in the English top flight!
2) Kevin De Bruyne – 113
Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best player in the Premier League at this moment in time, and it is not a surprise to see him in second place in the all-time list for assists, just 49 behind Giggs. At 33 years of age, it is unlikely that the Belgium international will be able to match the record. But if he spends a few more years in the division, it certainly is not impossible.
Can De Bruyne break Giggs' record?
De Bruyne has completed 10 seasons in the Premier League in total, including one at former club Chelsea, with an average of 11.2 assists per season. At that rate, he would likely need to play in the top flight for another five seasons to break Giggs' record. At that time he would be 38 years old.
3) Cesc Fabregas – 111
De Bruyne overtook Fabregas at the top of the list for most assists in the Premier League for a non-British player last season. Fabregas was a top player in his prime, playing for both Arsenal and Chelsea in the top flight and winning the title with the latter.
4) Wayne Rooney – 103
In fourth is more of a traditional striker in Rooney, but once he started to drop deeper into midfield later on in his career, he started to rack up more assists. He is certainly one of the best players of his generation, and in the conversation for the best English player of all time.
5) Frank Lampard – 102
Last, but certainly not least on the list, is Frank Lampard, who completes the list of five midfielders to have made a century of assists or more in the Premier League. The English midfielder was known for arriving in the box late, whether that was to assist his teammates with a timely pass or put the ball in the back of the net himself.
Last 10 top Premier League assist makers
| Season | Player (Team) | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 |
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) |
13 |
| 2022/23 |
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) |
16 |
| 2021/22 |
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) |
13 |
| 2020/21 |
Harry Kane (Tottenham) |
14 |
| 2019/20 |
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) |
20 |
| 2018/19 |
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) |
15 |
| 2017/18 |
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) |
16 |
| 2016/17 |
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) |
18 |
| 2015/16 |
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) |
19 |
| 2014/15 |
Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) |
18 |
