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Assist kings: Players with the most helpers in the top five leagues

By Christopher Godfrey

February 15th 2017, Santiago Bernabeu, Madird, Spain; UEFA Champions League football, Real Madrid versus Napoli; Kroos (mad) celebrates his goal for 2-1 in the 49th minute (Photo by Laurent Lairys/Action Plus via Getty Images)
February 15th 2017, Santiago Bernabeu, Madird, Spain; UEFA Champions League football, Real Madrid versus Napoli; Kroos (mad) celebrates his goal for 2-1 in the 49th minute (Photo by Laurent Lairys/Action Plus via Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco (left) (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco (left) (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images /

Kevin De Bruyne: Manchester City

9 Assists

4 goals

2.9 key passes per game

(all statistics are based on whoscored database)

I’ve scoured through the internet and managed to find a decent video that shows his assists from this season. (ignore those pesky three goals).

De Bruyne has made 9 assists in 24 appearances which is a pretty good tally. Although there are a few players only one assist behind him at eight, he looks set on finishing the season as the highest assist maker.

His crosses remind me of David Beckham at his peak. He really knows how to curl a ball in to the box. Additionally, his through balls, as seen in the video are absolutely genius. I haven’t seen magic like that since watching Fabregas in his prime.

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De Bruyne also technically has the highest key passes per game average at 2.9. Dimitri Payet is above him a freakishly high  4.1 per game but he’s no longer a Premier League player.

He also has the joint highest through-ball average at 0.5 per game.

Lastly, De Bruyne has the joint highest crosses per game average at 2.2 although once again, technically, Payet has a higher average at 2.8.  In fact, Payet pretty much tops all the passing stats except assists.

Feel bad for West Ham right now?

Anyways, De Bruyne actually hasn’t had many assists lately but I suspect that’s due to his new recent position. Pep Guardiola has tried him in a few different positions this season, firstly as a CAM ( or number 10) which I think is his best position. Then he’s been tried on the wing of the front five. And now it seems he’s been playing in a deeper role in the central midfield. I don’t think this is his best position but it’s likely due to the fact that David Silva has been moved up, and Gundogan’s recent season ending injury meant that Guardiola has less to work with in the center.

Regardless he’s still the king of assists in the Premier League and for Manchester City.

Now we’ll go to his former playground.

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