25/05/2026
The rumor mills and social media went into overdrive on Sunday, but the Premier League has officially confirmed that Bruno Fernandes' record-breaking 21st assist will stand.
Here is exactly what went down and what the decision means:
The Controversy
During Manchester United's 3–0 win against Brighton on the final day of the season (Sunday, May 24, 2026), Fernandes delivered a 32nd-minute corner that Patrick Dorgu headed toward goal.
Slow-motion replays quickly went viral on social media, showing that Dorgu’s header actually hit the crossbar, bounced back down, and then cannoned over the line off Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. If the ball wasn't already crossing the line on its own, standard rules would normally dictate it an own goal—which would have cruelly stripped Fernandes of the assist.
The Premier League's Verdict
Despite calls from rival fans to chalk it off, the Premier League and their official data partner, Opta, shut down the rumors.
A Premier League spokesperson confirmed that the Goal Accreditation Panel (consisting of football experts and a PGMOL representative) reviewed the incident and unanimously decided that the goal remains credited to Patrick Dorgu.
Because it stands as a regular goal for Dorgu, Fernandes is officially credited with the assist.
History is Made
With that decision safely locked in, Fernandes has officially broken the all-time Premier League record for the most assists in a single season, moving onto 21 assists for the 2025/26 campaign.
He now sits entirely alone at the top of the history books, surpassing the previous record of 20 assists held jointly by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20). To cap it all off, the Premier League has already presented him with a special trophy to commemorate the historic feat.
