With all due respect to Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mané, there’s no way that Kevin De Bruyne doesn’t succeed Virgil van Dijk as the recipient of the Premier League Player of the Season award.
On Wednesday, De Bruyne recorded his 18th assist of the campaign in Manchester City’s routine 5-0 victory over Newcastle United. He’s now the only player in the history of the EPL to post 18+ assists in multiple seasons (he also recorded 18 in 2016-17) and only Mesut Özil (19 in 2015-16) and Thierry Henry (20 in 2002-03) have recorded more in a single season.
Kevin De Bruyne Assist No. 18 Vs. Newcastle United
Oh, the ball movement. *chef's kiss* #MyPLSummer pic.twitter.com/xKdUVcg2pI
— #MyPLSummer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 8, 2020
Most Assists In Premier League Season
#1. Thierry Henry (Arsenal): 20, 2002-03
#2. Mesut Özil (Arsenal): 19, 2015-16
#3. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): 18, 2019-20
#3. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): 18, 2016-17
#3. Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea): 18, 2014-15
#3. Frank Lampard (Chelsea): 18, 2004-05
#7. Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal): 17, 2007-08
#8. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): 16, 2017-18
#8. Eric Cantona (Man United): 16, 1992-93
#10. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): 15, 2016-17
#10. Eden Hazard (Chelsea): 15, 2018-19
#10. Leroy Sané (Man City): 15, 2017-18
#10. David Silva (Man City): 15, 2011-12
#10. Robert Pires (Arsenal): 15, 2001-02
#10. David Beckham (Man United): 15, 1999-00
#10. Nolberto Solano (Newcastle): 15, 1999-00
#10. Steve McManaman (Liverpool): 15, 1995-96
#10. Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton): 15, 1994-95
With De Bruyne creating chances on an historic scale, it’s not surprising that his feed for Riyad Mahrez also gave City five players with 10+ goals this season, which is also an EPL first. De Bruyne himself is amongst the five with 11 goals, and he’s scored a couple bangers this season, including November’s Budweiser Goal of the Month…
Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder in the world.
No debate.@ManCitypic.twitter.com/l0DpSLQ48f
— Football Tekkers (@BallTekkers) July 3, 2020
And that mesmerizing hit against Arsenal...
What is there left to say about Kevin De Bruyne? pic.twitter.com/7LRCEbpv53
— Goal (@goal) July 3, 2020
De Bruyne still has four more games to chase after Henry’s assist record, and it’s possible that the 29-year-old shatters it given the opponents are Brighton (15th), Bournemouth (19th), Watford (17th) and Norwich (20th).
