One day, perhaps, the Premier League’s Playmaker award may be renamed in honor of Kevin De Bruyne, but that award will not bear his name for the 2023-24 campaign.
Ollie Watkins, the somewhat-surprising Premier League Player of the Year candidate did not throw away his shot, er, pass.
[ MORE: Premier League all-time assist leaders ]
Watkins set up two goals for Villa against Bournemouth to break a three-way tie atop the leaderboard with his 11th and 12th assists of the 2023-24 Premier League season. He finished with 13, two more than nearest chaser Cole Palmer of Chelsea.
Nine players wound up with 10 assists on the season, as we made it to Week 38 not completely sure who would win the award. De Bruyne even delivered 10 assists in his half-season to move into sight of Watkins.
[ MORE: Premier League 2023-24 Golden Boot chase — Goals leaders ]
De Bruyne led the Premier League in assists in four of the last seven seasons, with Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, and Salah each laying claim to one PL Playmaker award in that time.
Now the long-term injury that sidelined the man who has made a habit of recording the most Premier League assists each season is healed, and De Bruyne is piling up helpers.
Take a look at the nearly 40 players to pile up seven or more assists this Premier League season.
Premier League 2023-24 assist leaders
- Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa — 13
- Cole Palmer, Chelsea — 11
- Kieran Trippier, Newcastle — 10
- Pascal Gross, Brighton — 10
- Anthony Gordon, Newcastle — 10
- Mohamed Salah, Liverpool — 10
- Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest — 10
- Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City — 10
- Heung-min Son, Tottenham Hotspur — 10
- Martin Odegaard, Arsenal — 10
- Brennan Johnson, Tottenham Hotspur — 10
- Bukayo Saka, Arsenal — 9
- Pedro Neto, Wolves — 9
- Julian Alvarez, Manchester City — 9
- Leon Bailey, Aston Villa — 9
- Rodri, Manchester City — 9
- Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest — 9
- Bernardo Silva, Manchester City — 9
- James Maddison, Tottenham — 9
- Moussa Diaby, Aston Villa — 8
- Darwin Nunez, Liverpool — 8
- Declan Rice, Arsenal — 8
- Phil Foden, Manchester City — 8
- Alfie Doughty, Luton Town — 8
- Jeremy Doku, Manchester City — 8
- Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle United — 8
- Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United — 8
- Pedro Porro, Tottenham — 7
- James Ward-Prowse, West Ham — 7
- Vladimir Coufal, West Ham — 7
- Pablo Sarabia, Wolves — 7
- Andreas Pereira, Fulham — 7
- Jordan Ayew, Crystal Palace — 7
- Matheus Cunha, Wolves — 7
- Conor Gallagher, Chelsea — 7
- Jacob Murphy, Newcastle United — 7
- Kai Havertz, Arsenal — 7
