Since its inauguration in May 1992, the English Premier League has had its fair share of world-class attackers. While most excel in one area — scoring or creating — a brilliant few have excelled at both with admirable proficiency.
In the list below, we will honour the finest all-rounders the Premier League has ever seen. Join us as we count down the nine fastest players to reach 100 goal contributions in the Premier League. Let us begin!
#9 Andrew Cole (Newcastle United & Manchester United) – 127 Games
Kicking off the list is the legendary Andrew Cole, who recorded 100 goal contributions in the Premier League in 127 matches. Across Newcastle United and Manchester United, Cole scored 72 goals and turned provider 28 times.
After learning the ropes at Newcastle United (1993-1995), he moved to heavyweights Manchester United. Following a seven-and-a-half-year run, during which he won five titles and one Golden Boot, he joined Blackburn Rovers. Short stints at Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, and Sunderland followed before he retired from the sport.
Cole played 414 Premier League games, scoring 187 goals and claiming 73 assists.
#8 Les Ferdinand (QPR & Newcastle United) – 126 Games
Les Ferdinand’s name rarely comes up in conversations about the Premier League’s best goalscorers. However, when he started his journey in 1992-93, there was little doubt that he would make it to the top.
The former English striker enjoyed a brisk start in the Premier League, scoring 77 goals and providing 23 assists in just 126 league appearances. He scored 60 goals in 110 games for Queens Park Rangers, while the remaining 17 strikes came in 16 games for Newcastle United.
Ferdinand then went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City, and Bolton Wanderers, but he never quite lived up to expectations. He played 351 games for said teams in the Premier League, scoring 149 goals and providing 49 assists.
#7 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United & Chelsea) – 122 Games
Chelsea great Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reached 100 Premier League goal contributions in 122 games. Hasselbaink, who played 69 league games for Leeds United across two seasons before joining the Blues in 2000, hit the back of the net 70 times and claimed 30 assists.
The former Netherlands international played 288 Premier League matches in his career, scoring 127 goals and winning the Golden Boot two times. His first one came with Leeds United in 1998-99 (18 goals), while his second arrived in his debut season at Chelsea (23 goals). Hasselbaink, however, never tasted Premier League success.
#6 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) – 121 Games
The epitome of grace, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry needed 121 games to cross 100 goal contributions in the Premier League. The French superstar hit the back of the net 72 times and claimed 29 assists.
Henry moved to the Premier League in the summer of 1999. Under Arsene Wenger, he learned to operate through the middle, and the rest, as they say, is history. He won his first Premier League title in 2001-02 before helping the Gunners complete an unbeaten charge to the championship in 2003-04.
Henry, who left for Barcelona in June 2007 before returning for a super-short loan spell in 2011-12, played 258 league games in England, scoring 175 goals and providing 74 assists. He won a record four Golden Boots during his time in North London.
#5 Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – 118 Games
In fifth place, we have Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine reaching triple digits in goal contributions in 118 Premier League games. Aguero, who had to retire prematurely due to a heart condition, scored 77 goals and provided 23 assists.
Manchester City’s ascension began shortly after they signed Aguero from Atletico Madrid. The former Argentina striker was ruthless and determined to a fault, which made him the perfect man to lead City’s ambitious project.
He scored the most famous goal in Premier League history on Matchday 38 of the 2011-12 season, firing City to a 3-2 win over QPR in injury time and sealing their first league title. He added four more titles to his name (2013-14, 2017-18, 2018-19, & 2020-21) before departing the club for Barcelona.
Aguero featured in 275 league games for City, recording 184 goals and 47 assists and claiming the Golden Boot in 2014-15.
#4 Mohamed Salah (Chelsea & Liverpool) – 116 Games
Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah has clinched the fourth space in the rankings, registering 100 goal contributions in the Premier League in 116 outings. The Egypt international scored two goals and provided an assist in 13 league matches for Chelsea (two seasons) before recording 71 goals and 26 assists in 103 games for Liverpool.
Salah has served as Liverpool’s undisputed talisman since his move in 2017. Not only has he scored with remarkable frequency, but he has also showcased his creativity time and again, propelling his team to crucial wins. In the Premier League, Salah has scored 184 goals and provided 86 assists in 292 appearances, winning the league in 2019-20 and the Golden Boot three times.
The former AS Roma forward, who is likely to win his fourth Golden Boot this season (27 goals), should get his hands on the title for the second time in May.
#3 Eric Cantona (Leeds United & Manchester United) – 116 Games
Premier League icon Eric Cantona needed 116 games to record 100 goal contributions in the Premier League. Cantona, who played 13 league games at Leeds United before switching to Man United, scored 58 goals and provided 42 assists.
Cantona went on to conquer the English top flight four times with the Red Devils: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, and 1996-97. Before hanging up his boots, Cantona played 156 Premier League games, scoring 70 goals and providing 56 assists.
#2 Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers) – 100 Games
Arguably the greatest-ever English striker to play in the Premier League, Alan Shearer recorded 100 goal contributions — 79 goals and 21 assists — in his first 100 Premier League games. Shearer reached his special milestone at Blackburn Rovers.
A season after helping Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title, Shearer joined Newcastle United. His blistering form continued for the Magpies, but he could not add another title to his name. During his illustrious career, Shearer played 441 games in the English top flight, scoring a record 260 goals and providing 64 assists. He won the Golden Boot an impressive three times.
#1 Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 94 Games
Erling Haaland shattered many hearts in the summer of 2022 when he agreed to join Manchester City in a world-record €222 million (£185.7 million) deal. The Norwegian reportedly had offers from some of the biggest clubs in the world, but he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.
His journey at Manchester City has been record-shattering, as he recorded 100 goal contributions in the Premier League in just 94 appearances. The two-time Premier League champion scored 84 goals and provided 16 assists for the Cityzens.
Across competitions, the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner has played 138 games for City, scoring a whopping 120 goals.
