When it comes to penalties in the Premier League, few players have caused more chaos inside the box than Raheem Sterling. His pace, quick feet, and ability to draw fouls have frustrated defenders for over a decade — and now, as of the 2023–24 season, Sterling stands alone at the top of one of football’s most fascinating statistics: the most penalties won in Premier League history.

Sterling Leads the Way

It was an otherwise forgettable day for Chelsea and Sterling in August 2023 when they fell 3–1 to West Ham. Yet, amid the disappointment, Sterling managed to break a record. His darting run into the box forced a foul from Tomáš Sou?ek, giving Chelsea a penalty — and giving Sterling his 26th penalty won in Premier League history.

That spot-kick moved him ahead of Leicester legend Jamie Vardy, who had drawn level a few months earlier in a high-scoring encounter between Fulham and Leicester City. Vardy’s penalty against Fulham in May 2023 was his 25th earned foul inside the box, tying him with Sterling — until Sterling’s decisive tumble in east London pushed him back into sole possession of first place.

Sterling’s record-breaking total is spread across three clubs:

• Liverpool: 4 penalties won
• Manchester City: 19
• Chelsea: 3

That tally reflects both his longevity and his consistency in winning spot-kicks across different teams, systems, and managers. Nineteen penalties for a single club also puts him level with Wilfried Zaha, who won all 19 of his penalties while dazzling for Crystal Palace.

The Top Penalty Winners in Premier League History

Here’s how the all-time list currently stands:

1. Raheem Sterling – 26
2. Jamie Vardy – 25
3. Wilfried Zaha – 19
4. Alan Shearer – 15
5. Danny Welbeck – 14
6. Andrew Johnson – 14
7. Gabriel Agbonlahor – 13
8. Emile Heskey – 13
9. Ashley Young – 13
10. Mohamed Salah – 13
11. Luis Suárez – 13

It’s a list dominated by forwards and wingers known for their direct running and quick turns of pace. Sterling, Zaha, and Vardy all share that particular knack for isolating defenders, drawing contact, and forcing split-second decisions that so often lead to a penalty.

Interestingly, both Danny Welbeck and Mohamed Salah remain active Premier League players, meaning they could still climb higher in the years to come.

The Masters of the Art: Penalties Won in a Single Season

While Sterling and Vardy lead the all-time totals, the record for most penalties won in a single Premier League season belongs to Andrew Johnson, who earned an astonishing eight penalties for Crystal Palace during the 2004–05 campaign.

That season, Palace’s attack relied heavily on Johnson’s pace and his ability to force defenders into awkward challenges. Despite his efforts — and those numerous penalties — Palace were relegated that year. It remains one of the most remarkable individual records in Premier League history.

The full list of top single-season penalty earners includes:

1. Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace, 2004–05) – 8
2. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City, 2015–16) – 7
3. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, 2018–19) – 6
4. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City, 2017–18) – 6
5. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United, 2023–24) – 6

Each of these players embodies that same fearless drive into the box, often forcing defenders into clumsy, desperate tackles. For Vardy, his seven penalties during Leicester’s 2015–16 title-winning season were crucial — his relentless runs behind defenses defined the Foxes’ counterattacking style.

The Teams That Loved a Penalty

At team level, no club has benefited from penalty decisions more in a single campaign than Manchester United, who won a record 14 penalties in the 2019–20 season under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. That record-breaking year came hot on the heels of United’s 12-penalty haul in 2018–19, cementing their reputation for earning spot-kicks through aggressive forward play and, some would argue, a bit of refereeing fortune.

Here’s how the top team totals look:

1. Manchester United (2019–20) – 14
2. Leicester City (2015–16) – 13
3. Manchester United (2018–19) – 12
4. Leicester City (2020–21) – 12
5. Chelsea (2023–24) – 12
6. Arsenal (2006–07) – 12
7. Blackburn Rovers (1994–95) – 12
8. Crystal Palace (2004–05) – 12
9. Liverpool (2013–14) – 12
10. Chelsea (2009–10) – 12

While the introduction of VAR in 2019 has undoubtedly contributed to a rise in the number of penalties awarded — with fouls that might previously have gone unnoticed now being reviewed in slow motion — the most attacking sides continue to dominate these charts.

Interestingly, Chelsea’s 12 penalties in the 2023–24 season saw them join this elite group, even during a campaign where they often struggled for consistency.

The Other End of the Scale: Teams With Zero Penalties

At the opposite extreme are the rare clubs that have gone through an entire Premier League season without being awarded a single penalty. It’s a short but ignominious list, featuring sides who either lacked attacking penetration or simply suffered from bad luck.

The most recent example came in 2022–23, when Bournemouth became just the ninth team in Premier League history to go a full campaign without a penalty. Given that every other team in the league that season won at least three, their ability to stay up without any spot-kick advantage was remarkable.

Other teams that have shared this unwanted record include:

• Queens Park Rangers (1994–95)
• Wimbledon (1998–99)
• Southampton (2000–01)
• Blackburn Rovers (2003–04)
• Tottenham Hotspur (2004–05 & 2012–13)
• Charlton Athletic (2004–05)
• Portsmouth (2005–06)
• Swansea City (2012–13)
• Burnley (2017–18)
• Bournemouth (2022–23)
• Wolves (2024–25)

The Fine Margins of Football

Whether it’s Sterling’s record-breaking knack for drawing contact, Vardy’s lightning breaks, or Palace’s penalty-rich relegation season, these statistics highlight one of football’s great truths: the margins between glory and despair are often decided from 12 yards.

Penalties may seem routine, but earning them — consistently, across seasons and clubs — takes a special kind of player. Raheem Sterling’s place at the top of this list is a testament not just to his agility and persistence, but to the subtle art of provoking mistakes in the game’s most dangerous area.