RANK the best attacking midfielders in Premier League history
Where should the in-form Bruno Fernandes be placed among the best players at his position? Give your opinion
Bruno Fernandes continues to accumulate milestones during an exceptional season.
On Sunday against Aston Villa, the captain made his 100th assist for Manchester United in all competitions, having also scored a century of goals earlier in the campaign.
His two assists against Villa were also notable as they were his 15th and 16th of the Premier League season, allowing him to surpass David Beckham’s club record of 15 in a single campaign for Man Utd.
That leaves Fernandes with twice as many assists as anyone else in the league in 2025/26, as he closes in on the Playmaker award, and he is just four away from equaling the record of 20 assists in a Premier League season.
So where does Fernandes now rank among the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League? You can have your say below. We have selected 10 of the best – excluding wingers – and now it’s up to you to put them in order.
Scroll down to learn more about each player and watch their best bits.
Kevin De Bruyne – Chelsea/Manchester City
Manchester City pulled off a masterstroke by signing De Bruyne from German club Wolfsburg in 2015. The Belgian finished his time at the Etihad Stadium with 119 assists to his name, the second highest in Premier League history. De Bruyne’s vision was so good that he could find a needle in a haystack from across the field.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 288 |
| Goals | 72 |
| Aids | 119 |
| PL titles | 6 |
Watch the BEST OF De Bruyne at Man City
Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal/Chelsea
Whether for Arsenal or Chelsea, Fabregas knew how to divide a back line. While he was regularly deployed more centrally, Fabregas had a knack for picking the final pass, as evidenced by the fact that he returned 111 assists in the Premier League, one of which – for Andre Schurrle against Burnley – is considered one of the best in the competition’s history.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 350 |
| Goals | 50 |
| Aids | 111 |
| PL titles | 2 |
Watch the BEST OF Fabregas in the Premier League
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
Fernandes is perhaps the Premier League’s biggest signing of January. Since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020, the Portuguese creative machine has been Man Utd’s most consistent performer. With 67 career assists to his name, Fernandes should soon be in the top 10.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 222 |
| Goals | 69 |
| Aids | 67 |
| PL titles | 0 |
*Data correct as of 03/18/26
Watch: Fernandes’ Premier League journey with Man Utd
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
The former Liverpool captain was one of the best midfielders the competition has ever seen. He could play as an attacking midfielder and a box-to-box maestro. You wouldn’t see Gerrard dismantling backlines on a whim. Instead, he surrounded them from a distance with such power that the opposing goalkeeper took nothing.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 504 |
| Goals | 120 |
| Aids | 92 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Gerrard during his time at Liverpool
Frank Lampard – West Ham/Chelsea/Man City
For some, the best goalscoring midfielder in the history of the Premier League. Lampard has scored 177 goals during his time in the division, more than any other midfielder. The former Englishman also ranks in the top 10 for assists (102), with his glory years coming during a trophy-laden 13-year spell with Chelsea.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 609 |
| Goals | 177 |
| Aids | 102 |
| PL titles | 3 |
Watch the BEST OF Lampard during his time at Chelsea
Juan Mata – Chelsea/Man Utd
Mata was never the fastest, but he made up for his physical deficit with the speed of his thinking. The Spaniard was the type to look two shots ahead, spotting passes that few could see. He easily transitioned his game from Chelsea to Man Utd before leaving England in 2022.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 278 |
| Goals | 52 |
| Aids | 54 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Mata in the Premier League
Mesut Ozil – Arsenal
Arsenal pulled off quite a coup by signing Özil from Spanish giants Real Madrid on deadline day in 2013. The German was considered one of football’s biggest creative stars when he joined La Liga. And he lived up to expectations before leaving for Turkish club Fenerbahce in 2021.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 184 |
| Goals | 33 |
| Aids | 54 |
| PL titles | 0 |
Watch the BEST OF Ozil in the Premier League
David Silva – Man City
Silva may not have been Man City’s biggest signing once they made the money. However, he was arguably one of the best. Nicknamed “El Mago”, the magician, he could cut through his opponents like a hot knife through butter. The day Silva left for Spain’s Real Sociedad in 2020 was a sad one for the league.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 309 |
| Goals | 60 |
| Aids | 93 |
| PL titles | 4 |
Watch the BEST OF Silva in the Premier League
Paul Scholes – Man Utd
The Man Utd midfield dynamo was imperious in his day. Scholes’ distribution allowed the Manchester giants to switch from defense to attack in the blink of an eye. The former United player’s range of passing was vital to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who so often dominated their opponents in their heyday.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 499 |
| Goals | 107 |
| Aids | 55 |
| PL titles | 11 |
Watch the Premier League’s BEST OF Scholes
Yaya Toure – Man City
Once Touré gained momentum, he became a nearly unstoppable player. He has once been labeled a ‘human train’, although he combines his powerful style with the finesse to rival any No.10.
| Statistical | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 230 |
| Goals | 62 |
| Aids | 32 |
| PL titles | 3 |