Fernandes shatters Manchester United assist record in Villa victory

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes etched his name into club history on Sunday evening, setting a new Premier League record with 16 assists in a single season during a hard-fought win over Aston Villa.

The Portuguese midfielder surpassed David Beckham’s long-standing mark of 15 assists, achieved in the 1999-2000 campaign, with a pinpoint delivery that unlocked the Villa defence at Old Trafford.

Fernandes, United’s captain since 2023, has been the heartbeat of their midfield creativity since joining from Sporting CP in 2020.

Reacting to the milestone after the match, Fernandes downplayed the personal glory stating, “Assists record broken? I’m more proud and pleased because I did it serving my team-mates. Giving joy to the others is also very good.”

He added, “It’s a huge achievement for me but the main achievement would be in the top spot at the end of the season.”

With eight games left in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Fernandes trails the all-time single-season record of 20 assists—shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne—positioning him as a frontrunner for Player of the Season honours.