The race to be the Premier League’s fastest player is under way once again.

The opening weeks of the 2026/27 season have produced an early leader in Bradley Barcola, while established speedsters such as Bryan Mbeumo, Pedro Neto and Anthony Elanga are already appearing near the top of the rankings.

However, early-season speeds do not tell the whole story. Comparing this campaign’s figures with data from the completed 2025/26 season shows which players are approaching their previous best and how far the current field remains behind last year’s fastest sprint.

The 2026/27 figures are the fastest officially recorded speeds published as of 15 September 2026. Since the season is still in its early stages, the rankings are provisional and will change as more matches are played.

The Fastest Premier League Players in 2026/27 So Far

1. Bradley Barcola, Liverpool: 35.93km/h
2. Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United: 35.36km/h
3. Milan van Ewijk, Coventry City: 35.26km/h
4. Pedro Neto, Chelsea: 35.26km/h
5. Rayan, Bournemouth: 35.14km/h
6. Kristoffer Ajer, Brentford: 35.08km/h
7. Ian Maatsen, Aston Villa: 34.96km/h
8. Reinildo Mandava, Sunderland: 34.87km/h
9. Anthony Elanga, Newcastle United: 34.86km/h
10. Cristhian Mosquera, Arsenal: 34.83km/h

1. Bradley Barcola, Liverpool: 35.93km/h

Bradley Barcola is the fastest player in the 2026/27 Premier League so far.

The Liverpool winger reached 35.93km/h against Ipswich Town, recording the speed only six minutes after coming on for his Premier League debut.

Barcola’s early lead is particularly impressive because he produced it without playing the full match. It immediately demonstrated the acceleration and direct running Liverpool added to their attack by signing him from Paris Saint-Germain.

His speed is most dangerous during transitions. Barcola can begin from a wide position before accelerating into the space behind a full-back, providing an immediate outlet when Liverpool recover possession.

There is still room for the early benchmark to rise. Barcola’s 35.93km/h sprint is 1.37km/h slower than the fastest speed recorded in the Premier League last season, suggesting the race is far from settled.

2. Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United: 35.36km/h

Bryan Mbeumo currently sits second after reaching 35.36km/h for Manchester United against Everton.

The figure confirms Mbeumo’s status as one of the division’s most effective runners, although it remains below his best speed from last season.

Mbeumo reached 36.34km/h during the 2025/26 campaign, placing him among the 10 fastest players in the competition. His current-season best is therefore 0.98km/h slower than the mark he produced last year.

That difference should not be interpreted as evidence that he has become slower. A recorded maximum depends heavily on match circumstances and whether a player is given enough open space to reach full speed.

If Mbeumo can match his 2025/26 figure, he would overtake Barcola’s current benchmark and move to the top of this season’s rankings.

3. Milan van Ewijk, Coventry City: 35.26km/h

Milan van Ewijk has made an immediate impression for Coventry City by recording a top speed of 35.26km/h.

The Dutch full-back is a new entry in the Premier League speed rankings, having played outside the division last season. His pace is one of Coventry’s most useful assets as they adapt to top-flight football.

Van Ewijk can use his speed to overlap in attacking situations before recovering quickly when possession changes hands. That combination is especially important for a full-back playing in a team likely to face periods of sustained pressure.

His current sprint places him only 0.10km/h behind Mbeumo and level with Pedro Neto. It also gives Coventry one of the fastest defenders in the league.

4. Pedro Neto, Chelsea: 35.26km/h

Pedro Neto shares third place with Van Ewijk after reaching 35.26km/h for Chelsea against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Neto also appeared among the fastest players of 2025/26, when he registered a maximum speed of 36.32km/h. That was 1.06km/h faster than his best effort in the new campaign.

The Chelsea winger is especially dangerous because he can maintain much of his pace while carrying the ball. Top-speed measurements often record off-the-ball running, but Neto can also lead counterattacks and beat defenders without surrendering possession.

His 2025/26 performance indicates that he has the capacity to challenge Barcola’s lead. Neto only needs the right match situation and enough open space to approach his previous maximum.

5. Rayan, Bournemouth: 35.14km/h

Rayan has recorded a top speed of 35.14km/h for Bournemouth, placing him fifth in the early standings.

As a new entrant to the Premier League rankings, he does not have a comparable top-flight figure from the 2025/26 campaign. His performance instead provides the first benchmark for his career in the competition.

Rayan’s pace gives Bournemouth an outlet when they recover possession. Even when he does not receive the ball, his movement can force defenders to retreat and create space for teammates.

His early figure also puts him within touching distance of the leading group. A relatively small improvement would move him above Van Ewijk, Neto and Mbeumo.

6. Kristoffer Ajer, Brentford: 35.08km/h

Kristoffer Ajer is one of the more surprising names in the top 10.

The Brentford defender has reached 35.08km/h this season, demonstrating that exceptional speed is not limited to smaller wingers and attacking full-backs.

At approximately 1.98 metres tall, Ajer combines an unusually large frame with impressive straight-line speed. His long stride allows him to cover ground rapidly once he reaches full pace.

That recovery speed is extremely valuable for a central defender. It enables Ajer to chase attackers towards his own goal, defend space behind an advanced back line and move across to cover for teammates.

His presence in the rankings makes him one of the most distinctive athletes in the competition.

7. Ian Maatsen, Aston Villa: 34.96km/h

Ian Maatsen has reached 34.96km/h for Aston Villa, improving on the 34.68km/h maximum he recorded during the 2025/26 season.

That represents an increase of 0.28km/h and makes Maatsen one of the few players to have already exceeded his best figure from last year.

His speed supports an adventurous style of play. Maatsen can overlap, move into central areas and make forward runs without leaving his team permanently exposed when possession is lost.

The Aston Villa defender is currently the only player in the 2026/27 top 10 with a confirmed improvement on his previous season’s listed maximum.

8. Reinildo Mandava, Sunderland: 34.87km/h

Reinildo Mandava has registered a top speed of 34.87km/h for Sunderland.

His inclusion illustrates the importance of recovery pace for modern defenders. Reinildo can use his acceleration to cover space behind teammates, move across the defensive line or pursue an attacker breaking towards goal.

Unlike some of the younger players on the list, Reinildo combines his speed with significant experience. That enables him to judge when to engage an opponent and when to delay before accelerating.

His figure is slightly below the 35km/h threshold, but it is still enough to place him comfortably inside the early-season top 10.

9. Anthony Elanga, Newcastle United: 34.86km/h

Anthony Elanga has recorded a leading speed of 34.86km/h for Newcastle United this season.

That figure is well below his 2025/26 maximum of 36.35km/h, which placed him sixth in last season’s final rankings. The difference between the two speeds is 1.49km/h.

Elanga also has a history of reaching even higher speeds in the Premier League. His pace has consistently made him one of the competition’s most dangerous transition players.

His relatively modest position in the current list is therefore unlikely to offer an accurate picture of his maximum capability. If he approaches last season’s figure, he would move ahead of Barcola and take first place.

Elanga is consequently one of the strongest candidates to climb the rankings as the campaign develops.

10. Cristhian Mosquera, Arsenal: 34.83km/h

Cristhian Mosquera completes the current top 10 with a speed of 34.83km/h.

The Arsenal centre-back is another new addition to the Premier League rankings, meaning there is no directly comparable figure for him from last season’s competition.

His pace is particularly valuable in Arsenal’s system. A team that controls possession high up the pitch must be prepared to defend counterattacks across large areas, placing significant demands on its central defenders.

Mosquera’s ability to recover quickly allows Arsenal to maintain an aggressive defensive position while reducing the risk created by passes played behind the back line.

How This Season Compares with 2025/26

The early 2026/27 rankings remain some distance behind the speeds recorded during the completed 2025/26 campaign.

Jackson Tchatchoua produced last season’s two quickest sprints, reaching 37.30km/h against Everton and 36.97km/h against Crystal Palace. His leading effort was the third-fastest speed recorded in Premier League history since the current tracking data began in 2020/21.

Gabriel Martinelli registered the next-fastest performance at 36.74km/h, followed by Djed Spence at 36.62km/h and Destiny Udogie at 36.41km/h.

The leading speeds from 2025/26 were:

1. Jackson Tchatchoua, Wolves: 37.30km/h
2. Jackson Tchatchoua, Wolves: 36.97km/h
3. Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal: 36.74km/h
4. Djed Spence, Tottenham Hotspur: 36.62km/h
5. Destiny Udogie, Tottenham Hotspur: 36.41km/h
6. Anthony Elanga, Newcastle United: 36.35km/h
7. Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United: 36.34km/h
8. Pedro Neto, Chelsea: 36.32km/h
9. William Osula, Newcastle United: 36.29km/h
10. Anthony Gordon, Newcastle United: 36.26km/h

Other notable performances included Erling Haaland at 36.20km/h, Jeremie Frimpong at 36.18km/h, Daniel James at 36.13km/h and Yankuba Minteh at 36.11km/h.

Every player in last season’s final top 10 exceeded 36km/h. By comparison, no player has yet broken that barrier in 2026/27.

Players Appearing in Both Seasons’ Rankings

Three players feature in the 2026/27 top 10 after also finishing among the fastest 10 players last season:

• Bryan Mbeumo: 36.34km/h in 2025/26 and 35.36km/h in 2026/27
• Pedro Neto: 36.32km/h in 2025/26 and 35.26km/h in 2026/27
• Anthony Elanga: 36.35km/h in 2025/26 and 34.86km/h in 2026/27

Ian Maatsen also provides a useful season-on-season comparison. His current speed of 34.96km/h is already above his 2025/26 maximum of 34.68km/h.

Barcola, Van Ewijk, Rayan and Mosquera do not have directly comparable Premier League speeds from last season, making their early performances new additions to the competition’s data.

Who Is the Fastest Premier League Player in 2026/27?

Bradley Barcola is currently the fastest Premier League player of the 2026/27 season after reaching 35.93km/h.

However, the previous season’s data suggests his lead is vulnerable.

Mbeumo, Neto and Elanga all recorded higher speeds in 2025/26 than Barcola has managed so far. If any of them return to their previous best, they will move above the Liverpool winger.

Barcola’s current mark is also 1.37km/h slower than the 37.30km/h sprint that made Tchatchoua the fastest player of last season.

Final Thoughts

The early 2026/27 speed rankings combine exciting new arrivals with several established Premier League runners.

Barcola has set the first significant benchmark, while Van Ewijk, Rayan and Mosquera have brought new names into the conversation. Ajer has shown that exceptional pace is not restricted to attacking players, and Maatsen has already surpassed his best speed from the previous campaign.

The historical data suggests the fastest sprint of the season is still to come. Mbeumo, Neto and Elanga have all previously exceeded 36km/h, while players including Martinelli, Spence, Udogie, Gordon, Haaland and Frimpong have yet to appear in the current top 10.

Barcola leads for now, but based on last season’s evidence, the battle to become the fastest player in the 2026/27 Premier League is only beginning.