Second after Rooney: Sakai achieved 50+50 goals and assists in the Premier League at the age of 24.
Bukayo Sakai officially joined the elite club of the Premier League. At the age of 24 and 255 days, the Arsenal winger became the second youngest player in the history of the tournament to reach this milestone. The record was broken by Wayne Rooney, who reached this milestone at the age of 24 and 84 days.
For Sakai, this isn’t just a statistical achievement. It’s a confirmation of his status as one of the key architects of modern English football. Since he became a regular member of Arsenal’s team in 2018, he’s gone from being a promising graduate of the academy to a player whose decisions often determine the outcome of matches. His ability to combine explosive dribbling skills, calmness in front of the goal, and tactical discipline make him a unique talent among English players today.
Comparing him to Rooney is inevitable, but the context is completely different. Rooney started his career at Everton, while his peak performance came during his time at Manchester City, where he played in a more attacking style. Sakai, on the other hand, grew up under Mikel Arteta’s system. In this system, players need to not only create opportunities but also return to the defense, control the areas around them, and make decisions under intense pressure. This multi-tasking ability makes Sakai’s achievements even more significant.
The numbers of 50+50 goals and assists in the Premier League are a testament to the elite status of these players. In the history of the tournament, only a few dozen players have achieved this milestone. Sakai became part of this list at the age of 24, which highlights his remarkable stability and lack of serious injuries, which often hinder the development of young players. His contributions to Arsenal’s success in recent seasons are hard to overstate. His decisive goals, assists for his teammates, and leadership skills have made him one of the most important players in the league.
There are new historical milestones ahead. If he continues to maintain this pace, Sakai could not only break previous records, but he could also become the first player to reach 50+50 goals and assists at the age of 24. For now, he continues to write his own chapter in the history of the Premier League—with confidence, without any excesses, but with mathematical precision, which is highly valued in England.