Most Premier League Assists of All Time (Ranked)

For many years, it was a skill that was often overlooked by fans and pundits, cast into the shadows by the glory-hunting Premier League goalscorers. Nevertheless, the assisters of the modern era of English football have seen a resurgence in their value and are now looked upon as vital cogs inside winning machines.

While the art of goalscoring is typically recognised as one of the best parts of our beloved game, sometimes the key pass, cross or through-ball leading up to it sometimes goes either unnoticed or is underappreciated. This could be down to the growing popularity of fantasy football, or maybe the providers in the starting XI have simply gotten better over the years.

This article now looks at the top 20 players in Premier League history with the most assists since the competition’s inception in 1992. Long-serving stalwarts, creative phenoms and surprisingly selfless strikers all feature in a set of rankings which Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is desperately trying to top.

1 Ryan Giggs

162 assists

With 13 Premier League crowns to his name, along with four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions League titles, Ryan Giggs is the most decorated British footballer of all time. His tally of 162 assists in a top-flight career spanning 21 glorious years is comfortably clear of his nearest challenger.

A grand total of 963 appearances for the Red Devils have fully cemented Giggs’ name among the greats of Old Trafford and Manchester alike. He could even be their greatest-ever player. Other talents may have been more pretty on the eye, but the Welshman reminds us all of that 1990s type of winger who seemingly never ran out of energy and was always there when you needed it.

2 Kevin De Bruyne

112 assists

The modern midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne, was initially overlooked by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea but has since gone on to wreak havoc with the Cityzens after they forked out £50m for his signature in 2015. The special one certainly got this one very wrong and the Belgian’s century of assists put him in the argument as the best-ever Premier League midfielder.

Six Premier League titles and matching Thierry Henry’s longstanding single-season assist record of 20 have also given the Belgian some classy credentials to boast about. De Bruyne can’t do much wrong at this moment in time, and it will be interesting to see just how many assists he can manage to muster up once his Premier League career comes to a halt.

3 Cesc Fabregas

111 assists

A 15-year-old Cesc Fabregas trained with the Invincibles at Arsenal, and it was soon realised by Arsene Wenger that the young Spaniard could hold his own with the league’s very best. Often overlooked in Premier League debates, Fabregas made things look far too easy on the pitch and was often the provider for his teammates in times of need before serving as a particularly useful cog in two of Chelsea’s title-winning campaigns.

Having accumulated an astonishing 111 assists during his stay in England’s top flight, his tally sees him come in at number three on this all-time list, a place that is thoroughly deserved for the FIFA World Cup-winning ace. Fabregas produced a career-best of 18 assists during Chelsea’s 2014/15 Premier League winning season under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho.

4 Wayne Rooney

103 assists

Wayne Rooney managed to rack up an incredible 208 goals in his Premier League career and an equally remarkable 103 assists. Frighteningly confident from a young age, Rooney was able to take on players twice his age with relative ease and make them look silly on the regular.

This fearless attitude made ‘Wazza’ one of the greatest ever forwards to play in the Premier League and one of the best talents the country has ever produced. Five Premier League winners medals, one FA Cup, three League Cups and a Champions League crown mean Rooney has achieved more than immortal status in England and beyond.

5 Frank Lampard

102 assists

Frank Lampard is mostly remembered for his goal-scoring prowess from the middle of the park, however, he was just as good at providing his teammates with goals too. One of only five players in the competition’s history to have hit triple digits for assists, the midfield maestro will go down as one of the best midfielders to ever step foot in the Premier League.

His best assisting seasons came under Mourinho in 2004/05, racking up 18 assists (alongside 13 goals) as Chelsea romped to the club’s first Premier League title. The Englishman’s managerial career has been far less impressive than these masterful stats so far.

6 Dennis Bergkamp

94 assists

Dennis Bergkamp epitomises everything cool and classy about that Dreamcast Arsenal era and displayed skills that had never been seen on English shores. An impressive haul of 94 assists and 87 goals in north London from the Dutchman helped the Gunners win three Premier League titles alongside some silky smooth football.

Such statistics have since seen Bergkamp inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, an accolade not even Tottenham Hotspur fans could argue the forward shouldn’t have. The Dutchman has even been honoured with a statue at the Emirates Stadium, displaying him plucking the ball out of the sky for one of his most iconic goals. A brilliant ode to one of north London’s greatest.

7 David Silva

93 assists

A player cut from the finest cloth, the Manchester City wizard proved that physicality wasn’t everything in the rough and tough Premier League. City signed the Spaniard for a cool £24m from Valencia, a fee which proved to be an absolute bank robbery on the La Liga outfit in the following years to come.

Pulling the strings for an all-star Manchester City outfit, David Silva notched up 93 assists for his adoring teammates, winning three Premier League titles along the way. Mesmerising and a pure joy to watch, Silva will live long in the memory of Premier League fans across the globe.

8 Steven Gerrard

92 assists

Mr Liverpool himself, the Merseyside great notched up 92 assists across an incredible Premier League career among many long-range screamers. In times of crisis, there wasn’t and still isn’t anyone better to do it than Steven Gerrard and the midfielder is arguably the best-ever player to never win a Premier League medal.

Gerrard had a glut of talented scorers to supply throughout his Liverpool career, teeing up numerous goals for the likes of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Daniel Sturridge. However, the Scouser was particularly deadly from dead-ball situations and set up seven goals for centre-back Martin Skrtel – as many as he ever created for Luis Suarez.

9 James Milner

89 assists

James Milner’s inclusion on this list may be a surprise to some, but his lengthy Premier League career has become the stuff of legend and his 89 assists prove he’s more than just a workhorse. Spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and now Brighton highlight the kind of career the midfield ace has had.

The top-flight legend was once the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer but is still going strong at the ripe old age of 38. Milner will easily go down as one of the top model professionals that not only England has ever seen, but football in general, with his high fitness and exemplary work ethic on and off the pitch.

10 David Beckham

80 assists

David Beckham wasn’t your usual pacey and tricky winger, but he had a right-foot wand that could deliver forwards and teammates the most delightful of assists, racking up 80 of them in the Premier League. The ‘Class of ’92’ legend perfected his craft and became one of the most fearsome set-piece takers to ever grace English soil.

There aren’t much prettier sights than David Beckham standing over a deadball on a crisp green surface and many overlook his football talents for his off-the-pitch persona. Nevertheless, the winger is one of only two players in Premier League history to provide 10 or more assists in four consecutive campaigns from 1997 to 2001.

11 Christian Eriksen

76 assists

While it once seemed like Christian Eriksen’s playing career was all but done, his return to the top of football in the Premier League has been inspiring. Considering how talented a playmaker he’s been throughout his time on the pitch, though, it’s not exactly surprising to see him bounce back and return to form in the manner in which he did.

Throughout spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and Manchester United United, Eriksen has consistently been one of the best attacking midfielders in England and has chalked up plenty of assists for his efforts. “Flies have eyes that can see all the way around the head,” the Dane’s former international manager once mused, “so does Christian Eriksen.”

12 Teddy Sheringham

76 assists

Despite being 26 years old by the time the Premier League was launched, Teddy Sheringham still managed to have an incredible run in the division for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United while scoring 144 goals in the top flight.

The competition’s inaugural Golden Boot winner moved to Old Trafford in 1997 and joined forces with some elite forwards such as Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. As a result, he had no trouble assisting his teammates’ goals. Sheringham spent 14 years in the Premier League and eventually retired with 76 assists, which saw him narrowly miss out on the top 10, but is still pretty impressive nonetheless.

13 Thierry Henry

74 assists

Possibly the greatest player in Premier League history, few have ever come to England and made the impact that Thierry Henry did. The former Arsenal man was a serious game-changer, and it comes as a surprise to no one that he’s among the top 20 players with the most assists in the league.

There aren’t many forwards who were as well-rounded as Henry was during his career, and while he was celebrated largely for his goalscoring exploits, he was almost as effective at setting up opportunities for those around him. There’s simply no denying the role he played in Arsenal’s incredible success in the early 2000s, whether it was through hitting the back of the net or creating chances for his teammates.

14 Andy Cole

73 assists

Another natural goalscorer who clearly also had an eye for creating opportunities for his teammates, Andy Cole has a surprisingly high tally of assists, with 73 in the English top tier. The forward was simply dynamite in front of goal and had impressive stints at Newcastle United, Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers throughout his career. While he’s always be remembered for his prolific goalscoring return, his assist numbers are certainly worth appreciating.

During the 1993/94 campaign, his first in England’s top flight, Cole finished as the division’s outright leading scorer and most prolific assist provider, directly contributing to 48 of the goals plundered by newly promoted Newcastle. Only one other player (Harry Kane) has ever led both key statistical categories in the same season throughout the competition’s history.

15 Ashley Young

71 assists

Ashley Young’s career has been an interesting one and while he’s among the top 20 players with the most assists in Premier League history with 71, he could have been a little higher on the list if he hadn’t slowly dropped deeper in position over the years. Initially starting as an attacking winger, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United star was known for bursting down the flanks and driving into the area.

It’s no surprise then to see him rack up plenty of assists over his enduring career in the top flight. At Old Trafford, though, he saw his role change, and he dropped into a defensive position and continues to occupy that to this day for Everton. Still, having 71 assists to his name is pretty damn impressive.

16 Mohamed Salah

69 assists

Mohamed Salah’s impact at Liverpool has been nothing short of exceptional since his move to Anfield in 2017. The Egyptian has been fantastic for the club and played a massive role in the side’s success under Jurgen Klopp. They finally got their hands on a Premier League trophy in 2020 and Salah earned a lot of credit for that due to his goalscoring prowess.

Sure, he’s hit the back of the net on more than a few occasions and has, without question, been one of the best Premier League goalscorers in years, but he’s also been pretty fantastic at creating chances for his teammates and is now among the top 20 players with the most assists in the division’s storied history.

17 Darren Anderton

68 assists

In terms of effective playmakers, few people would actually bring Darren Anderton’s name to the conversation, but it’s about time he earned a little more respect. Despite having the second-worst injury record in the league’s history, throughout 13 seasons in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City, the Englishman made over 300 appearances and scored 37 goals.

He outdid that tally with his assists, though, boasting 68 in total by the end of his time in the division. With 30 international caps under his belt, it seems Anderton’s efforts have largely been overlooked in the years since his retirement, but his place among the top 20 players with the most assists in Premier League history ensures his legacy remains in the record books.

18 Gareth Barry

64 assists

No one has played more games in the Premier League than Gareth Barry and there are not many players who have more assists. The former Aston Villa man amassed 652 appearances in the top flight, 20 games ahead of Ryan Giggs in second place and was consistently one of the most underrated midfielders in England during his career.

Whether it was for Aston Villa, Manchester City or Everton, he always made an impact and retired with 64 assists in the Premier League. Playing with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez clearly paid off for Barry, although Villa’s Gabby Agbonlahor benefitted most from the Englishman’s creativity over the years.

19 Alan Shearer

64 assists

The top goalscorer in Premier League history, who knew that Alan Shearer was also quite the provider for his teammates? Well, he was, and he is also among the top 20 players with the most assists in England’s top flight too.

While he only won one Premier League trophy with Blackburn Rovers, the striker scored goals at an exceptional rate throughout his career. Shearer’s prolific partnership with Chris Sutton was one of the most effective in English football as the pair assisted one another for 13 Premier League goals during the title-winning campaign of 1994/95 – a record that was only broken by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min 16 years later.

20 Matt Le Tissier

63 assists

One of the greatest players to have never won the Premier League, Matt Le Tissier, is more known for his divisive comments online these days but was an incredible attacking midfielder during his career. Undoubtedly Southampton’s greatest-ever player, the Englishman bagged 63 assists in the league and was a driving force for the Saints over 16 years.

Le Tissier also amassed a century of league goals during his one-club career but had no trouble creating chances for his teammates either. The overlooked former England B international may have had an even higher assists tally had he been playing with a lofty calibre of players. Throughout Le Tissier’s decade in the top flight, Southampton never climbed above 10th despite boasting one of the most prolific scorers and assisters of his generation.

All stats from the Premier League‘s official website. Correct as of 22nd July 2024.