Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has matched the Premier League record for most assists in a single season, achieving his 20th assist during a 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The record-tying assist came in the 76th minute when Fernandes delivered a cross that Bryan Mbeumo converted at Old Trafford.
As United pushed for more, it seemed Fernandes might set a new record, but a mix of the post and strong defending from Nottingham Forest thwarted his attempts.
Fernandes has now equalized the record previously held by Arsenal‘s Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Manchester City‘s Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20).
This season, Fernandes has notably benefitted from the increased emphasis on set pieces in the Premier League, with just 10 of his 20 assists coming from open play, compared to Henry’s 18 and De Bruyne’s 17.
“Everyone knew how crucial it was for me to get another assist. They’ve been doing everything possible to finish off my passes,” Fernandes shared with Sky Sports.
“There were moments when I should have passed instead of taking a shot. I’m thrilled with the assist, but more importantly, I’m pleased about the win and ending the season positively.”
Fernandes thought he had equalized the record earlier in a 3-2 win against Liverpool on May 3, but an intervention from Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman meant it was not officially recognized as an assist despite points being awarded in the Fantasy Premier League.
– Fantasy Goal Assist? Why Bruno Fernandes didn’t equal Premier League record against Liverpool
While United has seen a revival under Michael Carrick, this season has also been a significant personal achievement for Fernandes.
He was honored as the 2026 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association, narrowly beating Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
The 31-year-old garnered 45% of the votes from the English football media, winning by a slim margin of 28 votes, becoming the first United player to receive the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
United’s season will conclude with a match against Brighton on the final day, where Fernandes has the opportunity to break the league record for assists in a single season.