Speed kills in the Premier League. Always has, always will. Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United all have some serious pace in their squads this season, but they're not alone.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry once said, "Speed is always important." He'd know—he was one of the quickest to ever lace up boots in England. But Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskás had a different take: "The ball should run faster than the man!" He believed running without purpose was pointless.
Using data from Gradient Sports via The Athletic, we've identified the fastest players based on maximum acceleration over the first three meters of a sprint. That explosive burst can be the difference between beating your man or getting shut down.
The Speed Merchants Making Defenders Nervous
11. Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) - 5.5 m/s²
Remember when Aina burned past Kyle Walker? The Nottingham Forest defender left his phone "frantic" with messages from friends after dusting the legendary Manchester City speedster. Walker's response? "You're pretty quick... you caught me flat-footed." High praise from someone who's made a career out of his pace.
10. Alex Scott (Bournemouth) - 5.6 m/s²
Scott might be the most deceptive name on this list. The midfielder doesn't look lightning fast on the pitch—he glides rather than sprints. But those numbers don't lie. His rapid acceleration helps Bournemouth's high-pressure system work, allowing him to close down opponents and escape tight situations.
9. Noah Okafor (Leeds United) - 5.6 m/s²
Daniel Farke called Okafor "a player of high potential" when he arrived at Leeds. His main weapon? Pure speed. The finishing and creating chances might still be developing, but that pace is already elite level.
8. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) - 5.6 m/s²
Pep Guardiola gushed last season: "Jérémy is the best player in the world in the first five meters." Interestingly, Doku has deliberately slowed down this year. Why? His teammates couldn't keep up with him! By being more measured, he's already racked up nine assists—a career best. That's smart football.
7. Pedro Neto (Chelsea) - 5.6 m/s²
Neto was born to be an athlete. His dad played professional roller hockey, his mum played volleyball, and his twin sisters won national trampolining titles. Even his uncle was a pro footballer. But none of them were as quick as Pedro.
6. Diego Gómez (Brighton) - 5.7 m/s²
Gómez has played in seven different positions for Brighton this season. That versatility wouldn't be possible without his electric acceleration. He's like a Swiss army knife who can run like the wind.
5. Benjamin Šeško (Middlesbrough) - 5.8 m/s²
At 6'5" with a thunderous shot and blistering pace, Šeško looks like he was built in a lab. The 22-year-old showed off his speed with a brilliant goal against Everton in February. Defenders hate facing someone that tall who can move that fast.
4. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United) - 5.8 m/s²
Wilfried Zaha knows Wan-Bissaka's pace all too well from their Crystal Palace days. During a match in 2023, Zaha broke clear but heard footsteps behind him. "I thought, 'Oh my God... it's Aaron.'" Wan-Bissaka caught him and made the tackle. Zaha's reaction? "Any other player..."
3. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) - 5.9 m/s²
Mitoma turned down a pro contract at 19 to study dribbling at university. He strapped GoPros to players' heads, studied diet, and consulted an Olympic hurdler about running technique. His conclusion? The best players shift opponents' center of gravity. Being ridiculously quick helps too.
2. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) - 5.9 m/s²
England boss Thomas Tuchel loves Gordon's directness: "He just collects high intensity runs, he collects meters in sprints." That relentless pace is Gordon's ticket to the World Cup squad. For Newcastle, he's a constant threat behind defenses. Backing the Magpies in matches where Gordon starts could be smart—his pace creates chances even when they're not dominating possession.
1. Alex Jiménez (Fulham) - 6.0 m/s²
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid winger tops the charts. After initially struggling with the Premier League's intensity, Jiménez has found his rhythm. "In my game, I try to have pace, drive and speed," he explained. "It's something I can take from one league to another." And right now, no one accelerates faster than him in England's top flight.
When you're analyzing matches this season, remember that pace can change games in an instant. Teams with multiple speedsters on this list—like Chelsea, Brighton, and Manchester City—have options to hurt opponents on the counter-attack. That's worth considering when evaluating match dynamics and potential outcomes.
