The 10 Players with the Most Premier League Assists in History
Updated: 4 hours ago
Most Premier League Assists of All Time
Goals win games, but the pass that creates them can be every bit as impressive. Think of the perfectly weighted through-ball that splits a defence, the cross that finds a striker in space, or the clever pass that opens up a match when a team is struggling to create chances. Those moments are what make great assist providers so valuable.
The Premier League has seen plenty of them. Some were wingers who loved taking on defenders, others were midfielders who could pick a pass from almost anywhere on the pitch. A few were prolific goalscorers in their own right, but their creative numbers deserve just as much attention.
Ryan Giggs holds the record for the most Premier League assists, ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Cesc Fàbregas. Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and several other familiar names also feature prominently in the all-time rankings.
The 10 Players with the Most Premier League Assists
The ranking below follows the official Premier League all-time assist records. Players with the same total share a position, so the list includes 11 players across 10 ranked positions.
1. Ryan Giggs — 162 assists
Ryan Giggs remains the Premier League's all-time assist leader, with 162. The former Manchester United winger spent his entire Premier League career at Old Trafford, where his speed, close control and ability to beat defenders made him a constant threat.
Giggs was particularly dangerous during his younger years, when he could accelerate past a full-back and deliver a dangerous cross or cut the ball back for a teammate. As his career progressed, he adapted his game, using his experience and passing ability to influence matches from different areas of the pitch.
He played across 22 Premier League seasons and won 13 league titles with United, giving him one of the most decorated careers in the competition's history.
His record of 162 assists is a measure of his longevity as well as his creativity. Giggs was able to provide chances for generations of United forwards, from Eric Cantona and Andy Cole to Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
That combination of quality, consistency and longevity makes his position at the top of the list difficult to challenge.
2. Kevin De Bruyne — 119 assists
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the finest creative midfielders the Premier League has produced. The Belgian became a central figure in Manchester City's success under Pep Guardiola, regularly producing the passes that turned promising attacks into clear goalscoring opportunities.
De Bruyne could create chances from almost anywhere. His low crosses, long-range passes, through-balls and deliveries from wide areas made him difficult to defend against.
His understanding with forwards such as Sergio Agüero and Erling Haaland was particularly effective. De Bruyne could find a runner before a defender had time to react, often delivering the ball into precisely the right space.
He finished his Premier League career with 119 assists, placing him second behind Giggs. His total also makes him the highest-ranked non-British player on the all-time list.
De Bruyne's achievement is even more impressive when considering how many of his assists came from different types of passes. He was not dependent on one particular method of creating chances.
For vision, range of passing and the ability to change a game with a single delivery, he belongs among the Premier League's outstanding playmakers. You can explore more facts about Kevin De Bruyne to gain insight into the Belgian.
3. Cesc Fàbregas — 111 assists
Cesc Fàbregas combined excellent vision with an ability to control the tempo of a match. The Spanish midfielder made his name at Arsenal, where he developed into one of the team's most important creative players.
He later returned to the Premier League with Chelsea, helping the club win major honours under José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Fàbregas was not a player who needed to dominate possession to influence a game. He could receive the ball under pressure, look up and find a teammate with a quick pass that opened up the opposition.
His creativity was especially effective when playing between the lines, where he could connect midfield with the forwards. Fàbregas recorded 111 Premier League assists across his spells with Arsenal and Chelsea. He remains third on the all-time list.
His record reflects more than technical ability. He had an excellent understanding of movement and knew when to release the ball early, when to play a more ambitious pass and when to slow the game down.
Fàbregas was one of those midfielders who often seemed to see the next phase of an attack before everyone else.
4. Wayne Rooney — 103 assists
Wayne Rooney is best remembered for his goals, but his creativity was another major part of his game. The former Man United and Everton forward could play as a centre-forward, second striker, attacking midfielder or in a deeper role. That versatility allowed him to create chances as well as finish them.
Rooney was an aggressive, direct player who could combine with teammates in tight spaces or switch play with a long pass. He also had the awareness to drop into midfield and help build attacks when United needed greater control.
His 103 Premier League assists place him fourth in the all-time rankings and make him one of only a handful of players to pass the 100-assist mark. Rooney's creative contribution was particularly important during Manchester United's most successful years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
He played alongside several elite goalscorers, but he often helped create their opportunities. His ability to score and assist at such a high level made him one of the Premier League's most complete attacking players and one of the best strikers in Manchester United's history.
5. Frank Lampard — 102 assists
Frank Lampard is usually associated with goals from midfield, and for good reason. The former Chelsea captain scored 177 Premier League goals, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in the competition's all-time goals list. But his 102 assists show that his influence extended well beyond finishing moves.
Lampard understood how to arrive in dangerous positions, but he was also capable of picking out teammates with well-timed passes. His movement was a major part of Chelsea's attacking play.
Lampard, Chelsea's all-time goalscorer, regularly found space around the edge of the penalty area, drawing defenders towards him and creating room for forwards to exploit.
Lampard played a central role in Chelsea's rise to domestic dominance, winning multiple Premier League titles and becoming one of the club's most influential players.
His combination of goals and assists is particularly striking. Lampard was not simply a midfielder who passed the ball well; he was a consistent attacking threat who could score himself or create the opportunity for someone else.
That balance makes him one of the most productive midfielders in Premier League history.
6. Dennis Bergkamp — 94 assists
Dennis Bergkamp brought intelligence, technique and imagination to Arsenal's attack. The Dutch forward was renowned for his first touch and ability to manipulate the ball in tight spaces.
He could create opportunities through a clever flick, a perfectly weighted pass or a piece of skill that left defenders struggling to keep up.
Bergkamp was not a conventional playmaker who operated exclusively in midfield. He often played behind a striker, linking attacks and creating the space that allowed Arsenal's forwards to flourish.
His partnership with Thierry Henry became one of the defining attacking combinations of the Premier League era. Bergkamp recorded 94 assists in the competition, placing him level with Mohamed Salah in the all-time rankings.
His contribution to Arsenal's success went beyond the numbers. Bergkamp helped shape the club's attacking identity under Arsène Wenger, combining technical quality with an understanding of movement that made the team difficult to contain. He remains one of the Premier League's most celebrated creative forwards.
6. Mohamed Salah — 94 assists
Mohamed Salah is widely recognised for his goalscoring, but his creative record deserves equal attention. The Liverpool forward is a direct attacking threat who can beat defenders, cut inside onto his left foot and finish chances with remarkable consistency.
Yet he also creates opportunities for teammates through his movement and passing. Salah's ability to attract multiple defenders often opens space elsewhere. When opponents concentrate on stopping him, he can release a teammate with a short pass, a low cross or a well-timed ball across the penalty area.
He has formed productive partnerships with Liverpool forwards including Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Núñez. Salah has recorded 94 Premier League assists, matching Bergkamp's total and placing him among the competition's leading creators.
His combination of goals and assists is particularly impressive. Salah is not simply a finisher waiting for chances to arrive; he is also involved in building the attacks that produce them.
That dual threat has made him one of the defining attacking players of the Premier League era.
8. David Silva — 93 assists
David Silva was the kind of midfielder who could make difficult football look simple. The Spaniard became a key figure in Manchester City's rise under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini before continuing to influence the side during Guardiola's early years.
Silva's greatest strengths were his close control, movement and ability to find teammates in crowded areas. He could receive the ball between opposition lines, draw defenders towards him and release a pass that allowed City to attack at pace.
He was also comfortable playing in different midfield and attacking roles, giving his managers tactical flexibility. Silva finished his Premier League career with 93 assists, placing him among the competition's most productive creators.
His contribution was central to Manchester City's transformation into a dominant force in English football. Silva helped the club win multiple league titles and became one of its most admired players.
He was not always the loudest presence on the pitch, but his influence was obvious in the way City moved the ball and created chances.
9. Steven Gerrard — 92 assists
Steven Gerrard was known for his leadership, long-range shooting and ability to drive Liverpool forward, but his passing was another major strength.
The former Liverpool captain could change the direction of a match with a long diagonal ball, a quick pass through midfield or a delivery into the penalty area.
Gerrard played in several midfield roles during his career. At times, he operated as an attacking midfielder, while in other periods he was asked to control play from deeper positions.
That versatility allowed him to contribute to different phases of Liverpool's attacks.
His 92 Premier League assists place him ninth in the all-time rankings. Gerrard's creative contribution was often linked to his willingness to take risks.
He could attempt passes that other players might avoid, looking to break defensive lines and create opportunities quickly. He also combined his passing with a powerful shot and an ability to arrive late in the box, making him a difficult player for opponents to track.
Gerrard's legacy at Liverpool is built on much more than assists, but his place among the Premier League's leading creators underlines how complete a midfielder he was.
10. James Milner — 90 assists
James Milner's place among the Premier League's leading assist providers reflects a career that was built on consistency, versatility and hard work.
Milner played for Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Unlike some players on this list, he did not spend his career in one fixed position. He operated as a winger, central midfielder and full-back, adapting his game to suit different managers and teams.
That flexibility helped him remain useful across a long career that ended in 2026. Milner's 90 assists place him among the competition's top 10 all-time providers in the official records.
His passing often went unnoticed compared to more flamboyant creators, but his ability to make sensible decisions, deliver accurate crosses, and support attacking moves made him a valued teammate.
Milner's longevity is a significant part of his story, and his record serves as a reminder that creativity doesn't always need to be spectacular. Sometimes, it comes from making the right decision time after time.
Premier League Players with the Most Assists: All-Time Table
Rank | Player | Premier League assists |
1 | Ryan Giggs | 162 |
2 | Kevin De Bruyne | 119 |
3 | Cesc Fàbregas | 111 |
4 | Wayne Rooney | 103 |
5 | Frank Lampard | 102 |
6 | Dennis Bergkamp | 94 |
6 | Mohamed Salah | 94 |
8 | David Silva | 93 |
9 | Steven Gerrard | 92 |
10 | James Milner | 90 |
Figures follow the official Premier League all-time assist records. Totals for players who remain active in the competition can change.
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