Players from
Barcelona
,
Chelsea
, and
Manchester United
stand out as some of the most innovative players in Europe’s top divisions this season up until now.
A player who can reliably set up scoring opportunities for teammates is invaluable—and several of the superstars featured in this top 10 showcase how this specific statistic signifies excellence.
Here are the 10 players who have registered the most ‘key passes’ (the final pass before a team-mate shoots at goal) in Europe’s five major leagues – La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League and Ligue 1 – in 2024-25. Where two players are tied, we’ve put them in order of the superior per-minute ratio.
10. Rayan Cherki – 75
Cherki had another standout season with Lyon in Ligue 1, generating 75 opportunities for his teammates over the course of the season.
Definitely, there will be significant attention drawn to the 21-year-old this coming summer.
9. Enzo Fernandez – 79
The 24-year-old maintains the flow in midfield for Chelsea and has also been among their leading players in generating scoring opportunities.
Given his impressive tally of 79 key passes in the Premier League, it’s little surprise that Real Madrid has shown interest in him recently.
8. Junya Ito – 83
The Japanese winger has had an outstanding season, leading Ligue 1 in chances created and surpassing all others in this aspect.
The 32-year-old player from Reims is currently having the finest form of his career so far. If he were just half a decade younger, one might think that numerous teams would be eager to secure him with contracts.
7. Joshua Kimmich – 83
Even though Bayern Munich has numerous inventive playmakers listed on their roster, Kimmich unexpectedly holds the position of their second-most creative player.
Mainly due to his duties during set pieces, the German midfielder is presently generating an opportunity every 34.9 minutes.
It’s good that they have recently secured his future with the team until 2029.
6. Mohamed Salah – 89
Although Salah is primarily recognized for his scoring abilities, his creative talents have also been notably prominent during the 2024-25 season.
In addition to netting 29 goals, the Egyptian striker has also delivered an outstanding 18 assists in the Premier League, achieving a goal involvement every 71.9 minutes.
After suffering setbacks with Liverpool in other areas, his prospects for the Ballon d’Or have diminished. However, his outstanding performance in the Premier League continues to keep Liverpool’s star player in discussions for the award for now.
READ:
2025 Ballon d’Or power rankings: Salah falls following tough week
5. Cole Palmer – 89
Even though Palmer has recorded just two assists since the beginning of 2025, he remains one of the top playmakers in Europe.
His form might have dipped during the season half of the campaign, but class is permanent. We’re in no doubt he’ll be among the top chance creators again next season.
4. Raphinha – 91
When Raphinha transferred from Leeds United during the summer of 2022, he didn’t disappoint in his initial seasons with Barcelona, though he also failed to make a remarkable impact.
However, since 2024-25 began, he has emerged as a world-class superstar under Hansi Flick’s rejuvenated Barcelona team.
Rumors circulated about his possible departure during the summer, but he has quickly established himself as an essential lead figure in this endeavor.
Raphinha earned the title of La Liga’s Player of the Month for August and has maintained this level of performance subsequently, accumulating 18 goals along with nine assists in the league.
3. Bruno Fernandes – 91
Despite Manchester United having a terrible 2024-25 season, Fernandes remains one of the leading playmakers across Europe.
He has generated 91 opportunities for his fellow players; however, just 10 of these have turned into assists, which might underscore issues with United’s scoring accuracy.
Roy Keane might not fully believe in the Manchester United skipper’s capabilities.
but we are.
2. Michael Olise – 91
It has indeed been an impressive first season for Olise at Bayern Munich.
For his debut season, he has secured the Bundesliga title and consistently served as Bayern’s primary playmaker, generating an impressive 91 scoring opportunities.
1. Alex Baena – 95
Villarreal, led by Marcelino, has been performing well in La Liga this season, with former Newcastle player Ayoze Perez and left winger Alex Baena standing out notably.
Considering his outstanding performance, it comes as no surprise that clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Newcastle have apparently shown interest in the 23-year-old Spanish player.
Baena appears to be an incredibly promising prospect.
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TRY A QUIZ:
Could you list all players who have achieved 50 or more assists in the Premier League?
