In Saturday night’s 3-2 victory against Newcastle United, Kevin De Bruyne not only equalized with Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney but also surpassed Chelsea great Frank Lampard in the all-time Premier League assists charts. The Belgium midfielder, playing his second game since returning from a four-month lay-off due to a hamstring injury, contributed significantly to Manchester City’s win, scoring the equalizer in the 74th minute and providing the game-winning assist to young talent Oscar Bobb.
De Bruyne’s 103rd Premier League assist, setting up Bobb’s stylish finish, was his 101st for Manchester City, surpassing Lampard in the process. The 32-year-old midfielder is now on track to surpass Rooney, with Spain’s Cesc Fabregas in his sights. Fabregas, with 111 assists, is the next player ahead of De Bruyne in the all-time standings.
Despite this achievement, De Bruyne still trails behind Cesc Fabregas and the all-time leader, Ryan Giggs, who has an impressive 162 assists. Giggs, who spent his entire professional career with Manchester United, made 632 appearances in the Premier League between 1992 and 2014.
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As one of the standout playmakers of his generation, De Bruyne has achieved double figures in assists in five different Premier League seasons. His return from injury has been pivotal for Manchester City, contributing to their success under manager Pep Guardiola, with five league titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and the recent Champions League crown.
Looking ahead, De Bruyne may make his first start since returning from injury when Manchester City faces Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday, January 26.