The role of a Premier League winger has changed since their chief responsibility was to hurtle down the flanks and unselfishly create chances for centre-forwards, but the very best are still judged on assists.
The rise of the inside-forward and an increased emphasis on full-backs for chance creation has blurred the lines for what a winger should be, though the creating and taking of chances is still high on the to-do list of Premier League widemen.
This season a number of wingers have shown their skill when it comes to making goals and we’ve ranked the five with the most Premier League assists in 2023/24 to date.
The five Premier League wingers with the most assists this season:
Phil Foden – Manchester City (3)
Is Phil Foden a winger? Does anyone really know his best position?
The answer to each of those questions is subjective, but the Manchester City man has played a large portion of his football in a wide role under Pep Guardiola.
He’s done a fine job of it, too. Foden might crave the central role Julian Alvarez has enjoyed so far this season, but he’s still recorded a healthy return of a goal and three assists from seven league starts.
Moussa Diaby – Aston Villa (3)
Aston Villa broke their transfer record to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer and the early evidence is that it was money well spent.
Diaby had been linked with some of Europe’s elite during a successful spell in Germany, but decided to join Unai Emery’s exciting project at Villa Park for a fee worth up to £51.9m.
The 24-year-old has made a fine start for Villa, scoring twice and providing three assists. He has formed encouraging understandings with Ollie Watkins and former Leverkusen teammate Leon Bailey in the final third, to hit the ground running in the Premier League.
Overlooked for the latest France squad, the 10-cap international will hope a season of Premier League productivity can earn him inclusion for Les Bleus ahead of next summer’s European Championship.
Remembering every Premier League Golden Boy winner
Karou Mitoma – Brighton (3)
Karou Mitoma might just be the most watchable winger in the Premier League right now.
The Japan international has been a revelation since breaking into the Brighton team last season, where his fearless brand of dribbling has had defenders back-peddling in fear.
Mitoma can be magic to watch when he takes flight, including a scintillating solo goal scored against Wolves earlier this season, in which the 26-year-old breezed four challenges before firing home.
Absolutely SENSATIONAL from Kaoru! ???????? pic.twitter.com/OuYa3UeSpA
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2023
There’s end product to Mitoma’s fancy footwork, he has three goals and three assists from six Premier League starts this season.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (4)
Mohamed Salah has been a production machine since signing for Liverpool, producing more goal contributions than any other player in the Premier League in that time.
Salah has now scored 142 league goals in a little over six seasons with the Reds, but has now evolved his game to become Liverpool’s leading creative threat. The 31-year-old tops the Premier League for big chances created (9) this season, numbers which have returned four assists.
Mohamed Salah is a playmaker now. ???? https://t.co/lB5hMMQO9w pic.twitter.com/gTAdGwlJtF
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 10, 2023
He has five goals and four assists in just eight Premier League games for Liverpool this season. It’s little wonder the Reds turned down a big bid from the Saudi Pro League last summer.
Pedro Neto – Wolves (5)
Pedro Neto leads the league for assists this season (5) with the Wolves winger top of the Premier League for goals created, alongside Tottenham’s James Maddison and Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier.
After a wretched run of luck with injuries, Neto has began to fulfil the potential first shown during an exciting emergence at Molineux.
The 23-year-old has been electric in the season’s opening weeks, with a number of top clubs reportedly considering reigniting their interest in the Portugal international.
That @pedrolneto7 x Hee Chan Hwang combo ???? pic.twitter.com/ylJGnqx1Zn
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 8, 2023
Back to fitness, form and frightening full-backs.
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