The 2025-26 Premier League season just wrapped, and while the Golden Boot always gets the headlines, it's the guys setting up those goals who often dictate a team's rhythm. We saw some familiar faces at the top of the assist charts, but a few younger talents really stepped up their playmaking. The gap between the best creators and the rest feels wider than ever.

The Architects of Attack: Top 10 Playmakers

Let's break down the top ten assist providers for the 25-26 campaign:

1. **Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)** – 18 assists. The Belgian maestro, even at 34, still runs the show. He posted an absurd 4.1 key passes per 90 and 16.5 expected assists (xA). KDB's style remains unmatched: those laser-guided through balls from deep, the whipped crosses, and the occasional impossible pass that just opens up a defense. He's not just creating chances; he's creating *high-percentage* chances. City doesn't look the same without him dictating tempo.

2. **Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)** – 16 assists. Fernandes was back to his best this season under new management, silencing some of the doubters. He registered 3.8 key passes per 90 and his xA sat at 14.8. His creative style is all about volume and risk-taking. Bruno will try the Hollywood pass ten times, and two of them will be pure gold. He often drops deeper to spray passes but also loves those quick, incisive balls into the box. He’s the engine of United’s attack, for better or worse.

3. **Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)** – 15 assists. Saka continues his ascent, cementing himself as one of the league's elite wingers. His 3.5 key passes per 90 and 13.2 xA show he's not just a scorer. Saka's creativity comes from his dribbling ability, drawing defenders, and then delivering perfectly weighted cutbacks or crosses from the right flank. He’s become adept at those quick give-and-gos around the box, too. Arsenal's title push leaned heavily on his consistent output.

4. **Cole Palmer (Chelsea)** – 14 assists. After a breakout 23-24, Palmer proved it wasn't a fluke. His 3.4 key passes per 90 and 12.5 xA are impressive, especially considering Chelsea's struggles with consistent finishing. Palmer's creative style is smooth, almost languid. He sees passes others don't, often finding gaps with clever flicks or perfectly timed through balls from the number 10 spot or drifting wide. He takes risks, but his execution is usually spot on. He’s Chelsea’s undisputed main man.

5. **Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)** – 12 assists. Even as he approaches his mid-30s, Salah remains a top-tier creator. He put up 3.1 key passes per 90 and 10.8 xA. His assists often come from those darting runs down the right, cutting in and delivering a sharp pass, or from quick one-twos inside the box. He’s unselfish when he needs to be, but let’s be real, his first thought is always goal. Still, his vision for setting up teammates has improved dramatically over his career at Anfield.

6. **Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)** – 11 assists. Gordon had a stellar season, proving his worth beyond just pace. He recorded 2.9 key passes per 90 and an xA of 9.5. Gordon’s creative game is built on his directness. He loves to drive down the left wing, beat his man, and then fire in low, dangerous crosses or cutbacks. He's also developed a knack for linking up centrally, playing quick passes to unlock defenses. He's not KDB, but he's efficient and impactful.

7. **Jack Grealish (Manchester City)** – 10 assists. Despite not being a consistent starter, Grealish still managed double-digit assists. His 2.8 key passes per 90 and 8.9 xA show his quality when on the pitch. Grealish's style is unique: he holds the ball, draws defenders, and then releases a teammate with a perfectly weighted pass, often a simple square ball or a short through pass that creates space. He frustrates some, but his ability to retain possession and create is undeniable.

8. **Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)** – 9 assists. The Arsenal captain is the glue in their midfield. He averaged 2.7 key passes per 90 and 8.1 xA. Ødegaard’s creativity is subtle but effective. He's brilliant at those quick, incisive passes in tight spaces around the box, finding runners with precision. He also has a great eye for a long diagonal. He makes Arsenal tick.

9. **James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)** – 9 assists. Maddison continued to be Spurs' primary creative outlet. His 2.6 key passes per 90 and 7.9 xA highlight his importance. His style involves clever movement, finding pockets of space, and then delivering perfectly weighted through balls or crosses from set pieces. He's a genuine number 10, always looking to unlock a defense.

10. **Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)** – 8 assists. Eze had another eye-catching season, proving to be Palace’s main man. He registered 2.5 key passes per 90 and 7.2 xA. Eze’s creativity is often sparked by his incredible dribbling. He’ll beat two or three players, then slip a pass through to a teammate, or deliver a smart cutback. He's less about volume and more about moments of individual brilliance.

The Art of the Assist

Here's the thing: expected assists (xA) is a fantastic metric, but it doesn't tell the whole story. A player like De Bruyne consistently outperforms his xA because he's delivering passes that put strikers in positions to score when others wouldn't even attempt them. His 18 assists from 16.5 xA are a testament to the quality of his final ball and the finishing prowess of his teammates. On the flip side, someone like Palmer, who had 14 assists from 12.5 xA, also shows that his chances are high-quality, but perhaps Chelsea’s finishing isn’t quite as clinical as City’s.

One controversial take? While Bruno Fernandes racked up the assists, I still think his decision-making can be maddening. He tries too many low-percentage passes, which inflates his key pass numbers without always translating to efficient chance creation. He’s a stat monster, but not always the most effective. Give me the consistent, high-quality delivery of a Saka or a Palmer any day.

The shift towards more fluid attacking systems means we're seeing fewer pure "assist kings" sitting deep and spraying long balls. Now, wingers like Saka and Gordon, or attacking midfielders like Palmer and Ødegaard, are getting heavily involved, creating from wider areas or with quick combinations in the final third. The days of a single deep-lying playmaker dominating the assist charts might be fading.

Prediction for 2026-27: Cole Palmer will lead the league in assists next season, assuming Chelsea can find a striker who can consistently finish the chances he creates.