Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes led Europe’s assist charts last season, but a new group of creative players are setting the early pace in 2026-27.
Only league assists in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 are included. Where players are level, the one with fewer minutes ranks higher because of their superior assists-per-minute record.
The Venezuelan has played every minute of Toulouse’s first six league matches and has created goals in three of those games, including twice during the 2-2 draw with Lorient. Since joining from New York City in 2023, he has already surpassed his assist total from each of his previous three seasons in the French top flight.
Declan Rice has also made an excellent start for Arsenal. His cross for Kai Havertz’s winning goal was his fifth assist of the campaign, matching his total from last season’s title-winning Premier League season.
After Rice’s man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal’s first league victory at Liverpool since 2012, Jamie Carragher said: “They’ve obviously had some great ones. He’s right up there with the best of them.”
Carragher added: “He’s the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It’s not even a debate.”
Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has five assists in 10 La Liga appearances. His contribution has continued a run of form that began at the start of last season, during which he has produced 43 goals and assists combined.
Only Bruno Fernandes, with 45, has more goal contributions among midfielders in Europe’s leading leagues over that period, although seven of Fernandes’ total came from penalties.
Juan Miranda has registered five assists for Bologna, an impressive return for a left-back playing in a mid-table side. His latest came in a 4-2 victory away to AC Milan.
Hernandez has also enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in La Liga after returning to Espanyol from a loan spell with Mirandes. The Barcelona-born attacking midfielder supplied assists in six of his first nine matches in the division, including one against Real Madrid.
RB Leipzig winger Nusa attracted interest from several clubs during the summer, and his current form is likely to ensure that attention continues. The 21-year-old Norwegian is among the leading players in Europe for combined goals and assists, with Arsenal reportedly monitoring him ahead of January.
Harry Kane’s six assists in eight Bundesliga appearances have outnumbered his four goals. The England captain has already exceeded his assist total for the whole of last season, raising the question of whether Vincent Kompany is using him in a deeper role to create opportunities for Bayern’s other forwards.
Lamine Yamal remains among the leaders for dribbles, goals and assists. The 19-year-old believes he is the best footballer in the world, and his early-season numbers offer some support for that confidence.
Werder Bremen’s Austrian midfielder has two goals and six assists, making him one of the surprise names among WhoScored’s highest-rated players in Europe’s major leagues. He is averaging one assist every 102 minutes.
Florian Thauvin has produced nine assists in his first eight Ligue 1 games for Lens. The former Newcastle United player, now 33, has supplied seven of them from crosses, corners, free-kicks and through balls.
