The 13 Fastest Players in the 2025/26 Premier League
- Think Football Ideas
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
The Fastest Feet in the Premier League: Top 13 Sprinting Stars of 2025/26
That you run fast in the Premier League doesn’t automatically make you decisive or dominant, yet speed has become a critical dimension in the English top flight.
When players first step onto these pitches, there is an immediate recognition of the league’s intensity, and one of the most evident metrics is velocity.
Players capable of reaching remarkable top-end speeds can stretch defences, create space, and influence outcomes in seconds. For coaches and supporters, identifying the fastest individuals has become as compelling as evaluating goals, passes, or tackles.
Here are The 13 Quickest Players in the 2025/26 Premier League
13. Chelsea – Pedro Neto – 35.09 km/h
Chelsea’s wide attacker thrives on bursts of acceleration that destabilise opposition defences. Pedro Neto has shown an instinctive understanding of when to sprint, finding pockets of space along the flank and exploiting mismatches.
His top speed of 35.09 km/h, which was recorded in the Blues' first match of the campaign against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, underlines the physical demands placed on modern wingers, particularly in a system where transitions occur at a breakneck pace.
Beyond the raw numbers, Neto’s timing, movement, and ability to sustain these bursts over a full match contribute to Chelsea’s attacking identity.
12. West Ham United – Jean-Clair Todibo – 35.10 km/h
West Ham’s defensive structure benefits from the Frenchman’s top-end speed, which allows him to close down threats rapidly and recover in tracking runs.
Clocking 35.10 km/h against Chelsea, Todibo demonstrates how a defender can blend anticipation with athleticism, covering for teammates and neutralising counter-attacks.
His pace ensures that high lines or pressing strategies can be executed confidently, giving the Hammers’ backline a safety net.
Moreover, his acceleration adds depth to transitional plays, supporting both defensive and offensive shifts with remarkable fluidity.
11. Arsenal – Gabriel Martinelli – 35.28 km/h
Arsenal’s Brazilian winger continues to deliver a combination of agility and explosive movement, reaching 35.28 km/h in their season opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He often bursts into speed when breaking into attacking lanes.
His speed allows him to exploit spaces behind defensive lines, creating opportunities for teammates while stretching opposition formations.
Martinelli’s ability to maintain such intensity throughout games demonstrates the value of pace beyond mere sprinting; it underpins tactical executions, pressing patterns, and dynamic attacking sequences, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most consistent and dangerous threats on the flanks.
10. Manchester City – Abdukodir Khusanov – 35.68 km/h
City’s emerging talent offers a rare blend of acceleration and control, hitting 35.68 km/h in top-speed runs that outpace several established stars.
Khusanov’s pace enhances positional flexibility, allowing Guardiola to deploy him in varying roles across transitions and counter-attacks.
While not yet a household name, the ability to cover distances quickly complements tactical instructions, supporting both defensive recovery and forward surges.
His quickness is a reminder of how high-calibre velocity can influence the rhythm and structure of England’s most sophisticated squads.
9. Tottenham Hotspur – Wilson Odobert – 35.70 km/h
Tottenham Hotspur’s young forward consistently uses his speed to unsettle defenders, reaching a top velocity of 35.70 km/h against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth just before the season’s first international break.
Odobert’s sprints create separation, enable overlapping runs, and allow Spurs to exploit gaps in compact defensive blocks.
His acceleration is more than a physical metric; it is a weapon for shaping tempo, timing, and positional awareness.
In a league where narrow margins define outcomes, Odobert demonstrates how pace can be decisive for offensive penetration, supporting both transitional attacks and sustained pressing strategies effectively.
8. Brighton and Hove – Brajan Gruda – 35.82 km/h
Brajan Gruda has quickly emerged as one of the Premier League’s fastest players this season, demonstrating both pace and composure on the ball.
His top speed of 35.82 km/h was recorded in Brighton’s impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Amex Stadium, underlining his ability to break defensive lines with explosive runs.
Since joining Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2024 on a contract through 2028, Gruda has steadily adapted to English football, scoring his first goal on 10 May 2025 during a 2-0 triumph away at Wolves.
7. Nottingham Forest – Ola Aina – 35.82 km/h
Ola Aina blends experience with explosive runs down the flank, achieving 35.82 km/h when engaging in overlapping movements or defensive recoveries.
Nottingham Forest’s tactical setup relies on his capacity to shuttle quickly between defensive duties and attacking support. His speed magnifies the impact of wide play, giving opponents limited time to adjust.
Beyond sheer numbers, Aina’s combination of timing, endurance, and tactical awareness illustrates how consistent high-speed performance can sustain a team’s momentum throughout matches while enhancing strategic versatility.
6. Liverpool – Jeremie Frimpong – 35.86 km/h
Liverpool’s right-sided dynamo leverages a 35.86 km/h top speed to create both offensive width and defensive reassurance. Frimpong’s ability to accelerate rapidly allows him to track opposing wingers while initiating forward thrusts that unsettle structured defences.
His pace translates into tangible advantages during transitions, overlapping movements, and counterattacks. Klopp’s former system emphasised the importance of explosive runs, and Frimpong embodies that principle under Arne Slot, demonstrating how top-end speed can influence the flow of play and the timing of critical interventions across the pitch.
5. Newcastle United – Anthony Elanga – 36.00 km/h
Elanga exemplifies the modern winger’s need for rapid bursts of speed, reaching 36 km/h to break defensive lines or support counter-attacks.
Newcastle relies on his acceleration to stretch space, draw markers, and facilitate attacking fluidity. Beyond the raw metric, his top-end velocity allows teammates to operate more effectively, opening angles for passes or delivering penetrative runs that shift positional dynamics.
This combination of pace, timing, and spatial awareness underscores why Elanga has become a crucial weapon in Newcastle’s evolving tactical framework.
4. Brighton & Hove Albion – Yankuba Minteh – 36.11 km/h
Minteh’s stride length and explosive tempo make him a central element in Brighton’s attacking threat, reaching a peak of 36.11 km/h.
His speed is applied both in open-field surges and pressing sequences, offering versatility across offensive and defensive phases. By leveraging his pace, Minteh creates uncertainty in defensive lines, stretching opponents horizontally and vertically.
The combination of raw velocity, tactical intelligence, and consistency allows Brighton to execute transitions with precision, highlighting how acceleration contributes to overall team cohesion and chance creation.
3. Leeds United – Daniel James – 36.14 km/h
James continues to impress with his sprinting ability, reaching 36.14 km/h as he exploits space behind defenders. His pace underpins counter-attacking strategies, enabling rapid changes in momentum that force defensive reshuffling.
Beyond speed, James’ timing and decision-making allow him to influence attacking sequences effectively, whether by drawing fouls, generating numerical advantages, or initiating key passes.
The Welshman’s ability to combine velocity with positional intelligence makes him a consistent threat in Premier League fixtures.
2. Manchester United – Bryan Mbeumo – 36.36 km/h
Bryan Mbeumo’s top speed of 36.36 km/h places him among the league’s elite accelerators, blending raw athleticism with technical awareness.
Positioned often in a creative role, his rapid bursts allow Manchester United to exploit transitional moments, bypass congested midfield areas, and generate dangerous openings.
Mbeumo’s speed is integral to pressing, creating separation from markers, and offering instant solutions in tight spaces. The combination of agility, anticipation, and sprinting ability demonstrates how velocity enhances both individual impact and collective strategy.
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers – Jackson Tchatchoua – 37.30 km/h
At the summit of the speed charts, Tchatchoua has reached 37.30 km/h, exemplifying how acceleration can redefine positional influence.
Wolverhampton leverages his pace for overlapping runs, defensive recoveries, and counter-attacks, maximising spatial exploitation.
Beyond the numerical measure, his instinctive timing and ability to sustain high velocity under pressure illustrate the broader tactical benefits of speed.
Tchatchoua’s performance highlights that in a league governed by milliseconds and inches, velocity remains a transformative factor shaping outcomes on both ends of the field.
Table Showcasing The 13 Fastest Players in the 2025/26 Premier League Campaign
Rank | Player | Club | Top Speed (km/h) |
1 | Jackson Tchatchoua | Wolves | 37.30 |
2 | Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | 36.36 |
3 | Dan James | Leeds Utd | 36.14 |
4 | Yankuba Minteh | Brighton | 36.11 |
5 | Anthony Elanga | Newcastle | 36.00 |
6 | Jeremie Frimpong | Liverpool | 35.86 |
7 | Ola Aina | N. Forest | 35.82 |
8 | Brajan Gruda | Brighton | 35.82 |
9 | Wilson Odobert | Tottenham | 35.70 |
10 | Abdukodir Khusanov | Man City | 35.68 |
11 | Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | 35.28 |
12 | Jean-Clair Todibo | West Ham | 35.10 |
13 | Pedro Neto | Chelsea | 35.09 |
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