Manchester United rounded off their Premier League season in emphatic fashion, defeating Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Sunday to cap a remarkable campaign under manager Michael Carrick.

The result, coming on the final day of the 2025-26 season, was defined by a historic individual milestone as captain Bruno Fernandes became the first player in Premier League history to register 21 assists in a single season, surpassing the long-standing record of 20 jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The record-breaking moment arrived in the 33rd minute when Fernandes whipped in an outswinging corner from the right flank and Patrick Dorgu powered a header past Brighton goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen to put the visitors ahead. The assist was Fernandes’ 21st of the league season, moving him beyond Henry, whose record had stood since Arsenal’s title-winning campaign of 2002-03, and De Bruyne, who equalled it during his time at Manchester City. United doubled their advantage before the break when Amad Diallo and Mason Mount combined neatly to set up Bryan Mbeumo for a composed tap-in, before Fernandes put the result beyond doubt early in the second half, converting from Dorgu’s pass to make it 3-0 with his ninth league goal of the season.

Fernandes, who was named Premier League Player of the Season for his extraordinary individual contribution, was a constant menace throughout the afternoon. Nine of his 21 assists came from set pieces, and his ability to dictate play from deep as well as contribute directly in front of goal underscored why he has been the heartbeat of Carrick’s revival at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese captain now has 106 goals in total for the club since joining from Sporting CP in 2020, and his numbers this term have placed him in conversation with the greatest creative players the Premier League has ever seen.

Brighton, who needed a result to secure a higher European berth, were comfortably second best throughout and the defeat leave them finishing eighth, consigning them to the UEFA Conference League next season.

The hosts had their moments in the early exchanges, with Diego Gomez and Maxim De Cuyper both wasting opportunities before United seized control, but they never recovered once the opener arrived. Danny Welbeck, making his 400th Premier League appearance as a second-half substitute, offered little by way of a Brighton comeback in what proved to be a difficult afternoon for Fabian Hürzeler’s side.

For Carrick and United, the win rounded off an impressive second half of the season that saw the Red Devils clinch third place and secure a return to the UEFA Champions League. Carrick boasts the best points-per-game average of any Premier League manager this season, and Sunday’s victory was his 12th in 17 games in charge.

With Fernandes rewriting the record books and a Champions League campaign to look forward to, United head into the summer with genuine optimism restored.