Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes scripted history on Sunday (May 17), becoming the first-ever player for the club and third overall to record 20 assists in a Premier League season. He went level with the legendary Arsenal forward Thierry Henry and Manchester City’s great midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on 20 after setting up Bryan Mbeumo with a cross from the right against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Fernandes came close to setting a new assist record several times before the match ended 3-2 in United’s favor. Joshua Zirkzee missed a relatively easy chance before the 90th minute and in stoppage time, Diogo Dalot struck the post from the Portuguese midfielder’s scuffed pass.
Most assists in a Premier League season:
| Player | Season | Club | Assists | Goals | G+A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes | 2025-26 | Manchester United | 20 | 8 | 28 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 2019-20 | Manchester City | 20 | 13 | 33 |
| Thierry Henry | 2002-03 | Arsenal | 20 | 24 | 44 |
| Mohamed Salah | 2024-25 | Liverpool | 18 | 29 | 47 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 2016-17 | Manchester City | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Mesut Özil | 2015-16 | Arsenal | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Cesc Fàbregas | 2014-15 | Chelsea | 18 | 3 | 21 |
| Frank Lampard | 2004-05 | Chelsea | 18 | 13 | 31 |
| Cesc Fàbregas | 2007-08 | Arsenal | 17 | 7 | 24 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 2022-23 | Manchester City | 16 | 7 | 23 |
Mbeumo was at the centre of the match’s biggest controversy
after a handball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s goal escaped punishment despite a VAR review. Both teams had already achieved their primary objectives in recent weeks, with United securing a return to the Champions League and Forest confirming Premier League survival only last weekend.
With little pressure on either side, the game opened up quickly and United struck inside five minutes as Luke Shaw volleyed home the opener. Chances flowed at both ends before the interval, but Forest restored parity seven minutes after the restart when Morato headed in Elliot Anderson’s cross at the far post.
United responded immediately through Cunha, who finished after the ball ricocheted off Mbeumo’s thigh and onto his arm in the build-up. In a rare decision, referee Michael Salisbury upheld the goal even after being sent to the monitor by VAR to review the incident.
Forest nearly found another equaliser moments later, only for Senne Lammens to deny Morgan Gibbs-White with a sharp intervention off his line. Fernandes then matched the assist record with 14 minutes remaining, delivering a low cross that Mbeumo converted for his first goal since February.
Forest continued to push forward and reduced the deficit again through Gibbs-White after another dangerous delivery from Anderson. Making his first appearance since sustaining a serious facial injury in a collision with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez earlier this month, Gibbs-White guided the ball into the bottom corner.
United eventually held firm to continue their impressive run under Michael Carrick.
