An explosive first step can decide a deciding moment in a game with spit seconds the difference between a goal going in or staying out. With modern science and genetics, the game has seen athletes of the next level be in every position on the pitch.
Pace has been a mainstay in English football and many of its all-time greats were able to leave the opposition chasing shadows. And in today's game there are many pacey players causing havoc.
Some stand out of the crowd though in the Premier League. Speed kills and these are the quickest players in England right now.
10. Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
Chelsea have one of the most unpredictable and high pace attacks in the Premier League right now.
Pedro Neto is one the key reasons that defenders have long days with his blistering pace and tricky dribbling. He's now added more goals to his game which makes anyone have to be touch tight with him in the box to stop him getting a shot off.
Clocking in at 35.3 km/h has made him one of the best counter attacking wingers in Europe.
9. Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City)
After Coventry's promotion to the top flight, their dynamic right-back has wasted absolutely no time announcing himself to Premier League wingers.
Hitting a top speed of 35.26 km/h in the opening weeks of the 2026/27 season, Milan van Ewijk operates as a relentless, high-speed engine down the flank. His recovery pace allows Coventry to remain aggressive, knowing he can track back to snuff out counter-attacks in the blink of an eye.
8. Robinio Vaz (Hull City)
Another player from a team that has just come up, Robinio Vaz has been a hidden gem for the tigers. Clocking 35.28 km/h early in his debut Premier League campaign, the young attacker is a terrifying prospect in transition.
Hull City don't have much of the ball so having someone who can just make a run over the top is a blessing for them to get points on the board.
7. Gonzalo García (Fulham)
Being the man to replace Adama Traore at Craven Cottage is gonna be a tough task to even be in the same conversation as pace.
Hitting a blistering 35.34 km/h this season, Gonzalo García operates with an incredibly direct, aggressive running style. When he knocks the ball into open space, there are very few full-backs in the country who can stay in front of him on the wing.
6. Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Newcastle)
Matias Fernandez-Pardo has seamlessly adapted to the brutal physical demands of the Premier League, registering a massive top speed of 35.4 km/h.
The Belgian winger's ability to hit his absolute peak speed within just a few strides makes him an incredibly dangerous weapon, particularly when in one-vs-one situations out wide.
5. Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United)
Bryan Mbeumo has been free roaming from striker to the wing while being at Manchester United.
When you have a player hitting 30+ km/h while making runs in behind or in the 18 yard box makes defenders have to have their heads on a swivel. He's quick with the ball at his feet too and can finish when given a yard of space so not just an off ball threat.
4. Thierno Barry (Everton)
Everton’s £27million signing from Villarreal has given the Toffees a direct focal point they've been missing the last couple seasons.
Hitting 35.5 km/h at 6 foot 5 with the Usain Bolt archetype gives defenders a race and also a physical battle. When Everton win the ball back in deep areas, Thierno Barry is already off and running to be through on goal.
3. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
When pace meets physical dominance, quick thinking and ridiculous acceleration you get the robot that is Erling Haaland.
Haaland is a goalscoring cyborg, and his sheer straight-line speed (frequently clocking over 35.5 km/h) is a massive part of his unstoppable traits. When a ball is played into the space, you already know the result when the Norwegian latches onto the ball.
2. Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
The man who has been supplying Haaland this season while also chipping in with goals himself, Antoine Semenyo is rapid with or without the ball.
He has power which goes with his explosive pace as a winger clocking in the second highest top speed in the league this season. When you're going against a low block having someone to make that run or beat their man to make a chance is vital to not drop points in the title race.
1. Bradley Barcola (Liverpool)
There might be questions on his final product since his big money move to England but there is no doubt about his unstoppable velocity.
Leading the league in highest top speed, Bradley Barcola has started to warm up for the reds with a hat trick in the Champions League. With tricky feet, a long frame and can go inside and out, Barcola on his game can terrorise any fullback tasked with dealing with him
