Who’s responsible for the fastest goal in Premier League history? We run through the top 10 quickest strikes across the competition.
In 2019, Shane Long broke a record that had stood for nearly 19 years – the fastest Premier League goal in history. Just 7.69 seconds into the Tuesday evening clash between Watford and Southampton at Vicarage Road, the then-Republic of Ireland international striker put Saints 1-0 up. From the kick-off, Long charged down Craig Cathcart’s hopeful ball forward, latching on to it and dinking over the on-rushing Ben Foster.
Until recently, all goal times were rounded up to the nearest second, so there wasn’t a definitive list of the fastest goals in Premier League history. That changed in 2018. As the Premier League’s official data supplier, Opta used archive footage and video technology to measure the quickest strikes in the competition’s history to the nearest hundredth of a second.
So here you have it; the definitive list of the 10 fastest goals in Premier League history.
1. Shane Long (7.69 seconds)
Watford vs Southampton, 23 April 2019, Vicarage Road
Shane Long’s goal against Watford came in a hot streak for the Southampton striker. It was the first time he had scored in successive Premier League starts since May 2016. In fact, Long also scored in his next start, making it the first time he scored in three consecutive Premier League starts, with those goals coming against Liverpool, Watford and Bournemouth. Nevertheless, he didn’t get anywhere near Jamie Vardy’s record of 11 consecutive games with a goal for Leicester City in November 2015.
2. Phillip Billing (9.11 seconds)
Arsenal vs Bournemouth, 4 March 2023, Emirates Stadium
Phillip Billing’s opener for Bournemouth against Arsenal on in March 2023 was scored after just 9.11 seconds, making it the second-fastest goal scored in Premier League history. Mikel Arteta’s side, who were top of the Premier League at the time, were stunned further when Marcos Senesi doubled Bournemouth’s lead in the second half. But goals from Thomas Partey, Ben White and a 97th-minute winner from Reiss Nelson ensured Arsenal still took all three points. It was the first time Arsenal had come back from a two-goal deficit to win a Premier League game since doing so against Spurs in February 2012.
3. Ledley King (9.82 seconds)
Bradford City vs Tottenham Hotspur, 9 December 2000, Valley Parade
A centre-back by trade, Tottenham legend and former captain Ledley King was never known as a goal scorer. King scored 10 goals in 268 Premier League appearances, with six of these goals coming via headers.
The English defender’s strike after 9.82 seconds against Bradford City was his first-ever goal in the competition, coming in just his eighth top-flight appearance. Only two of his 10 Premier League goals were scored north of London: his first against Bradford in December 2000 and his last against Man Utd in April 2010.
4. Alan Shearer (10.52 seconds)
Newcastle United vs Manchester City, 18 January 2003, St James’ Park
It’s no surprise that one of the 260 goals netted by the all-time leading Premier League scorer makes the list. Alan Shearer’s goal after 10.52 seconds against Man City is still the fastest ever for a home side and the quickest left-footed strike in the competition’s history. This goal was the England international’s first in the opening minute of a Premier League game, and his 218th in the competition. The Newcastle striker only failed to notch in the 39th minute and 47th minute across all Premier League matches. With 260 goals, Shearer is a full 47 clear of Harry Kane in the all-time scoring charts.
5. Christian Eriksen (10.54 seconds)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United, 31 January 2018, Wembley Stadium
Even though the Danish schemer’s strike isn’t the quickest in Premier League history, at 10.54 seconds it is still the fastest goal ever at the new Wembley despite İlkay Gündoğan’s best efforts in the 2023 FA Cup final. Tottenham have a long history of scoring goals in the opening minute. Only Chelsea and Everton (both 12) have scored more goals in the first 60 seconds of a Premier League match than Spurs (11).
6. Mark Viduka (11.90 seconds)
Charlton Athletic vs Leeds United, 17 March 2001, The Valley
Mark Viduka’s strike after 11.90 seconds against Charlton is the fastest goal by any non-European in Premier League history. Interestingly, Leeds United have scored six goals in the opening minute of Premier League games but none of them have come at Elland Road. Viduka remains the Yorkshire club’s highest Premier League goal scorer (59).
7. Dwight Yorke (12.16 seconds)
Coventry City vs Aston Villa, 30 September 1995, Highfield Road
Dwight Yorke’s effort against Coventry City for Aston Villa is the fastest-headed goal scored in Premier League history, coming in at 12.16 seconds. Yorke is used to being in the Premier League record books – in November 2000, the Trinidad & Tobago striker became the first non-Englishman to score 100 goals in the competition.
Yorke also held the record for the fastest hat-trick from the start of a game (22 minutes vs Arsenal in February 2001) for over 14 years until Sadio Mane broke the record in May 2015 (16 minutes) for Liverpool by scoring three goals in just 2 minutes and 56 seconds, which has never been bettered. Yorke finished his Premier League journey with 123 goals in 375 appearances across a career that saw him win the title three times with Manchester United as well as the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
8. Chris Sutton (12.94 seconds)
Everton vs Blackburn Rovers, 1 April 1995, Goodison Park
Only two of Chris Sutton’s first 39 Premier League goals came in the first 10 minutes, while five of his next eight strikes came in this period, including his goal against Everton after 12.94 seconds. Everton are familiar to being 1-0 down in the opening minute of Premier League games; the Toffees have conceded 10 goals in the first minute of Premier League games, the most of any side in the competition’s history.
9. Kevin Nolan (13.48 seconds)
Blackburn Rovers vs Bolton Wanderers, 10 January 2004, Ewood Park
Kevin Nolan’s goal after 13.48 seconds against Blackburn Rovers was one of five Bolton have scored in the opening minute of a Premier League game, while three of those strikes were assisted by Kevin Davies. This effort was one of two Nolan scored in the first minute, also scoring after 51 seconds for West Ham against Fulham in September 2012. Only 12 other players have scored two or more in the opening minute of Premier League games in the competition’s history.
10. James Beattie (13.52 seconds)
Chelsea vs Southampton, 28 August 2004, Stamford Bridge
James Beattie’s goal after 13.52 seconds against Chelsea is Southampton’s second entry in the top 10, while Jay Rodriguez was very close to making it three in the top 10. He scored at 13.68 seconds against Chelsea in 2013, which is the 12th-fastest goal in Premier League history. Beattie went from ecstasy to agony in this contest, scoring an own goal 33 minutes later – one of 56 instances of a player scoring a goal and an own goal in the same Premier League match.
A Bonus.. 11. Asmir Begovic (13.64 seconds)
Stoke City vs Southampton, 2 November 2013, Britannia Stadium
Asmir Begovic became the fifth goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal after this freak effort, which saw Begovic’s long clearance downfield deceive Southampton’s Artur Boruc. Not only is it the 11th-fastest goal in Premier League history but it is the furthest goal scored since 2003-04 when Opta started recording such data (95.66 yards). Begovic’s goal against Southampton dethroned Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard’s 92.2-yard effort against Bolton Wanderers in 2012, which had previously held the record for the furthest goal scored in Premier League history.
Other Fastest Premier League Goals
12th fastest: Jay Rodriguez – Southampton vs Chelsea (13.68 seconds) on 1 December 2013
13th fastest: Jesús Navas – Manchester City vs Tottenham (13.76 seconds) on 24 November 2013
14th fastest: Naby Keita – Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town (15.20 seconds) on 26 April 2019
15th fastest: Jay Rodriguez – Burnley vs Sheffield United (15.80 seconds) on 2 December 2023
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