Bruno Fernandes Named the Premier League's Best Passer for 2026/27

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes tops a new ranking of the Premier League's best passers for 2026/27, combining the opening weeks of the season with the completed 2025/26 campaign. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is second, with Manchester City's Rayan Cherki third. Statistics are correct as of September 19, 2026.

  • Ranking: Top 10 passers in the Premier League for 2026/27
  • Leader: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United
  • Second: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal
  • Third: Rayan Cherki, Manchester City
  • Data window: Opening weeks of 2026/27 plus the completed 2025/26 season
  • Stats correct as of: September 19, 2026

The full top 10

The numbers

  • Bruno Fernandes: 21 assists in 2025/26, the highest total in the competition in that season; also led the league for expected assists and finished well ahead of the field for key passes
  • Martin Odegaard: 12 key passes in the opening four league matches of 2026/27, an average of approximately 3.5 key passes per 90 minutes
  • Rayan Cherki: 12 assists in 2025/26, second in the division behind Fernandes; creating at around four key passes per 90 minutes in the new campaign
  • Dominik Szoboszlai: seven assists in 2025/26; 11 key passes early in 2026/27 plus a league-leading number of long key passes
  • Declan Rice: five assists and among the league's leading players for expected assists in 2025/26; two assists already in the opening weeks of 2026/27
  • Pascal Gross: 13 key passes in his opening four matches, plus two assists

1. Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United

Fernandes remains the strongest candidate for the title of the Premier League's leading passer. His 21 assists in 2025/26 were comfortably the highest total in the competition, and he also led the league for expected assists while finishing well ahead of the field for key passes.

Those numbers underline the scale of his creative responsibility at Old Trafford. Fernandes is regularly asked to produce the final pass, switch the direction of an attack and move possession into dangerous areas. He is not the safest passer in the league — he frequently attempts difficult through-balls and ambitious forward deliveries — but that willingness to take risks is part of his value. A successful creative pass can eliminate several defenders and immediately create a goalscoring opportunity.

His range adds another dimension. Fernandes can deliver crosses from the right, play diagonal balls towards the opposite wing or slide passes behind the defensive line from central positions. Volume, difficulty and end product place him top.

2. Martin Odegaard, Arsenal

Odegaard has made an outstanding creative start to 2026/27, producing 12 key passes in his opening four league matches to sit at or near the top of the early-season rankings. An average of roughly 3.5 key passes per 90 minutes shows how frequently he is creating shooting opportunities.

The Arsenal captain is particularly effective operating in the right half-space, where he can combine with Bukayo Saka, find an overlapping full-back or play a disguised pass into the penalty area. His passing is based on intelligence as much as technique: he constantly adjusts his body position before receiving possession, allowing him to see several options without taking unnecessary touches.

He is also adept at disguising his intentions. A subtle change in body shape can suggest he is passing wide before he instead finds a runner moving through the centre. He may not attempt as many speculative passes as Fernandes, but his control, precision and ability to manipulate defensive structures make him one of the league's most sophisticated creators.

3. Rayan Cherki, Manchester City

Cherki is one of the most imaginative passers in the Premier League. The Manchester City playmaker registered 12 assists in 2025/26, finishing second in the division behind Fernandes, and his expected-assist total also placed him among the leading creators. He has carried that influence into the new campaign, creating at around four key passes per 90 minutes.

His two-footed ability is central to his passing. Cherki can play through-balls and creative deliveries from several different angles without repositioning the ball onto a preferred foot, making him difficult to defend against — opponents cannot simply force him towards one side and expect the danger to disappear. Backheels, disguised reverse balls and outside-of-the-foot deliveries can look extravagant but often serve a practical purpose by opening routes ordinary passes cannot reach. The small current-season sample keeps him below Fernandes and Odegaard, but he has the potential to lead the league in several passing categories.

4. Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool

Szoboszlai combines creativity with valuable long-range distribution. The Liverpool midfielder produced seven assists in 2025/26 and finished among the league's leading players for progressive passing, while his early 2026/27 performances include 11 key passes and a league-leading number of long key passes.

He can switch play over significant distances, allowing Liverpool to move the ball away from pressure and attack an isolated defender on the opposite side. He also delivers accurately from set pieces, with corners and free-kicks offering another route to create chances. His athleticism supports his passing: he can carry the ball away from pressure, create a new angle and deliver while the defensive structure is still moving. That makes him more than a static playmaker.

5. Declan Rice, Arsenal

Rice has developed into one of the Premier League's most complete midfield passers. He is not simply responsible for retaining possession — he can progress the ball through midfield, switch play, deliver set pieces and create from advanced positions. He recorded five assists and ranked among the league's leading players for expected assists in 2025/26, and has already added two assists in the opening weeks of the new campaign.

His passing volume is significant, with Rice regularly acting as the link between Arsenal's defence and attacking midfielders, receiving under pressure and transferring possession into more dangerous areas. One of his greatest strengths is recognising when to accelerate: he can play safe when Arsenal need control, but can break a line as soon as an opening appears. Accurate corners and free-kicks allow Arsenal to capitalise on the aerial presence of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Mikel Merino.

6. Pascal Gross, Brighton & Hove Albion

Gross has made an exceptional creative start to 2026/27, producing 13 key passes in his opening four matches to place among the league leaders, alongside two assists and a high passing volume. He has built his reputation on technique and awareness rather than speed, and rarely needs to escape pressure by accelerating because he normally recognises the available pass before receiving the ball. His versatility also supports his creativity.

Why the rest of the top 10 matters

The ranking also recognises Elliot Anderson of Manchester City, Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Granit Xhaka of Sunderland and James McAtee of Nottingham Forest, all of whom made the top 10. Their inclusion reflects a broader point about how passing is judged: centre-backs tend to record high completion totals because they exchange possession in relatively safe areas, while creative midfielders attempt more difficult passes and can post lower completion percentages despite greater attacking influence.

That is why the assessment spans several categories — accuracy, progressive passing, chance creation, long-range distribution, through-balls, assists and the ability to retain possession under pressure. Combining the opening weeks of 2026/27 with a full 2025/26 season prevents four or five matches from determining the entire order.

Analysis: why Fernandes still edges the field

Bruno Fernandes wins this ranking because he carries the heaviest creative load of any player listed. Twenty-one assists and a league-leading expected-assist and key-pass output in 2025/26 represent sustained, high-difficulty production rather than a hot streak. He plays the passes that break defences, and he accepts the turnovers that come with them.

Martin Odegaard offers the opposite profile: lower risk, higher control. His 3.5 key passes per 90 in the right half-space show that elite creation does not require speculative passing — it requires manipulating a defensive block before it can reset. If Arsenal's captain sustains that rate, he will close the gap.

Rayan Cherki is the wildcard. Two-footed, willing to attempt the unconventional, and already creating at around four key passes per 90, he has the highest ceiling in the group. The only thing holding him below the top two is sample size, and that will resolve itself as 2026/27 progresses.

Talking points

  • Should a player who gives the ball away often, like Bruno Fernandes, rank above a controller like Martin Odegaard? The source argues risk-taking is part of Fernandes' value.
  • Rayan Cherki is creating at roughly four key passes per 90 but sits third purely on sample size. Is that a fair way to rank in September?
  • Declan Rice's five assists in 2025/26 rank him below more prolific creators, yet his set-piece delivery and line-breaking change Arsenal's attack. Is assist-count the right measure?
  • Dominik Szoboszlai leads the league for long key passes, a category most rankings ignore. Should long-range distribution carry more weight?

What happens next

The ranking will be reshaped by the coming weeks of 2026/27. Odegaard and Rice return to Premier League action with Arsenal, Fernandes continues to carry Manchester United's creativity, and Cherki has the clearest opportunity to climb as his minutes accumulate. Expect the top two to be tested hardest: Odegaard needs to sustain his 3.5 key passes per 90, while Fernandes must keep his volume high without his assist output dipping. Statistics are correct as of September 19, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best passer in the Premier League in 2026/27?

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United tops the ranking, having recorded 21 assists in 2025/26 — the highest total in the competition — and led the league for expected assists and key passes.

How many key passes has Martin Odegaard made this season?

Odegaard has produced 12 key passes in Arsenal's opening four league matches of 2026/27, an average of approximately 3.5 per 90 minutes.

How many assists did Rayan Cherki get in 2025/26?

Cherki registered 12 assists in 2025/26, finishing second in the division behind Fernandes, and is creating at around four key passes per 90 in the new campaign.

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