10) Kevin De Bruyne

Joint 18th on the Premier League all time assists list despite only 146 PL games under his belt, he has significantly less matches than anyone close to him on the list. He just edges out Eden Hazard in my top 10 due to his emergence, in my opinion, as the best player in the league and the best central midfield player in the world right now, coming off the back of a virtuoso Man of the Match performance in the Bernabéu.

As he himself said recently, he is indeed “the complete player”, possessing supreme drive and work ethic in midfield, combined with incredible passing, crossing and shooting ability. As Jamie Redknapp opined this season, he just might be the “best passer the Premier League has ever seen”. With crossing prowess not seen since the days of Beckham, he has the power and drive of Gerrard, with the subtlety, technique and speed of thought of Xavi and Iniesta... a scary thought indeed. 

 9) Cesc Fàbregas

With 111 assists in the Premier League, he ranks at no. 2 in the all time list despite spending significantly less time in the league than many of the men he surpassed. The World Cup winner, who became Arsenal Captain aged only 21, shined for 8 seasons as Arsenal’s leading light, with many memorable European nights including away in the San Siro vs AC Milan, and helping Arsenal to their only ever Champions League Final. He then came back to England, leading the league with assists once again as Mourinho’s main creator-in-chief with Chelsea, before defying expectations under Conte to win another league title despite being written off at the beginning of the season. 

8) Edwin van der Sar

In playing out from the back and being a cool and calming presence, van der Sar was ahead of his time. Joining Fulham from European superpower Juventus was a shock move, but he quickly proved his quality with 4 consistent years, helping the newly promoted team to solidify their Premier League status. He then moved to Manchester United, a move Sir Alex Ferguson lamented hadn’t taken place years earlier. A huge and influential figure in goal, van der Sar was the keeper Manchester United were missing, consistently showing his quality with great saves during this time at Old Trafford. 

His save from Anelka’s penalty gave United their 3rd Champions League trophy and earned him the Man of the Match award. His string of sensational saves was a key factor in United’s 2008-09 title win, with many games being won by a 1-0 scoreline. He also holds the worldwide single season league record for number of minutes in a single season without conceding a goal, stretching over an unbelievable 21 hours of football! To have a clean sheet % of 42% despite playing for a newly promoted team for 4 of his 10 years in the Premier League just goes to show how great he really was. To win UEFA’s club goalkeeper of the year award in 2009 at 38, and to play at the highest level until 40 and bow out in a 3rd Champions League final for United, is a testament to both his skill and dedication. 

7) Nemanja Vidić

The Serbian was one the great Premier League defenders, enjoying a trophy laden 8 years at Manchester United. He formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the defence with Rio Ferdinand, helping the club to 5 Premier League trophies, 3 League Cups and 3 Champions League Finals - winning one and losing two to all time great Barcelona sides, along with a FIFA Club World Cup to top it off. A Fierce competitor, he also came up with some thumping headers in critical games. He helped Van der Sar and the United defence to the longest run without conceding a goal in Premier League history, an achievement which stands to this day. 

6) Vincent Kompany

Mr Man City, Vincent Kompany led the Noisy Neighbours to 4 Premier League trophies. Despite a litany of injuries, Kompany always showed up when it mattered most and scored many crucial goals, maybe none more so than the spectacular 35 yard screamer vs Leicester towards the end of the 2018-19 season, helping City secure the league title in one of the most desperately close title races in years. Brought in just before the official takeover of the club by Sheikh Mansour, Kompany led their ascent to the top of English Football with his defensive ability, allied with great athleticism and an extraordinary will to win.

5) Didier Drogba

Chelsea’s greatest Premier League striker was one of the most iconic players to grace the league, his pony tail flying in the wind as he directed one bullet header after another past despairing keepers up and down the country and across Europe. None more famously so then against Bayern Munich in the dying embers of the 2012 Champions League Final. Not content with this, he then sent Neuer the wrong way from the penalty spot to secure the West London club their first ever Champions League trophy.

More than just a goalscorer, he was the perfect frontman for José Mourinho as he led the line and allowed those around him to flourish, including his midfield goal scoring extraordinaire teammate Frank Lampard. He disproved the notion that a team needs a striker to score 20 league goals to win a title by bringing a mixture of delicate hold up, silky technique and bruising centre forward play. In the process he helped Chelsea win 4 league titles. 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups and 1 Champions League, Abramovich’s holy grail.

4) Patrick Vieira

Captain Invincible, Patrick Vieira is one of the greatest ever Premier League midfielders. He was a colossal figure at the heart of Arsene Wenger’s side, just as comfortable finishing off sweeping moves as he was launching into destructive tackles in titanic midfield battles. He led a star studded Arsenal team from the front with distinction, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups after the turn of the century with the North London club. He also managed to win another FA Cup in the twilight of his career when at Manchester City in 2011. He helped Arsenal solidify their place as one of English Football’s greatest teams, wrote the blueprint on how to be a and is still the only Premier League captain to lift the trophy without tasting defeat 16 years on. 

3) Sergio Agüero

The most prolific marksmen in Man City’s history, the Argentine has lit up the Premier League for 9 years and counting. Signed for a then record £38M deal from Atletico Madrid in 2011, Agüero has made that look like a steal, with a sensational return of 180 goals in 260 matches for the club, including the most dramatic goal in Premier League history in the 94th minute, helping the team to their first ever Premier League trophy. He comes in at number four in the all time Premier League scorers list, despite only playing in the league for 9 years. Whether it be in a dynamic front two with Tevez, a partnership with Dzeko or fighting off the challenge of Gabriel Jesus to start for Pep and lead the team to a record breaking 100 points, ‘Kun’ Agüero has continuously risen to the challenge and cemented himself as one of English Football’s greatest ever strikers.

2) Cristiano Ronaldo

The promising but skinny Portuguese winger matured into the World’s best in 6 magical years at the Theatre of Dreams, wowing fans up and down the country with his majestic performances on the wing for Sir Alex Ferguson. A tricky winger with a penchant for an enchanting stepover, he transformed himself into the most devastating player in world football through incredible dedication, stunning freekicks and a burning desire to be the best. 

He returned to England after the 2006 World Cup almost as a persona non grata, and ended the season, 23 goals and a Premier League winners medal later, as the best player in the country. However, his best was yet to come; in the 2007-08 season he went to another level, scoring 42 goals in all competitions, 31 in the league, and led Manchester United to their 3rd Champions League trophy, leaping high to score one of many soaring headers. This culminated in him winning his first Ballon D’or, which would become one of many.

 In his next and final season with the club, he led United to their third successive Premier League trophy and to another Champions League final.  He just misses out on #1 spot due to his fairly early exit stage left from the Premier League, but I doubt that will be of much concern to him!

1) Thierry Henry

The most inimitable man in Premier League history, Thierry Henry brought Va Va Voom into English Football’s lexicon with his jaw dropping, era defining performances under at Arsenal, proving once and for all that style and substance could go hand and hand to great effect. Impudent flicks, graceful dribbling and finessful flourishes combined at searing speed propelled Henry to number 6 on the Premier League’s all time scoring list. 

More than just a great goal scorer, Henry was also a scorer of many, many great goals, including his incredible flick, spin and volley vs Manchester United which left Henry with all the sauce. Iconic celebrations, a fierce winning mentality and creativity rarely seen in a frontman were combined to create many stunning moments in the red and white (and redcurrant) of Arsenal. He played a central role in firing the club to an Invincible season and bagged over 20 goals in 5 consecutive seasons, remaining the only player in Premier League history to record over 20 goals and 20 assists in the same season. A fitting recipient of the #1 spot. 

Honourable Mentions

Petr Cech, Eden Hazard, Patrice Evra, David Silva, N’Golo Kante, Dennis Bergkamp