Because of how fast-paced the Premier League is, all players must be nimble. As the saying goes, “slow and steady wins the race.” However, this isn’t always the case when competing in England’s first division.
The fastest players in the division include Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur, Matheus Nunes of Manchester City, and Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest. However, who is the slowest of them all in terms of statistics?
According to Sergio Busquets of Barcelona, Olivier Giroud of France, and Mertesacker of Arsenal, the top ten football players in history who were renowned for their slowness [ranked]
Per Mertesacker is among the top ten football players in history who were renowned for their slowness.
2.
According to Opta Analyst, seasoned Fulham custodian Bernd Leno has the lowest top speed of any player in England’s top division this season, reaching a maximum of 23.6 km/h. But what about players who only play outfield?
According to Opta’s comprehensive research of speed, these are the five slowest Premier League players this season after eliminating goalkeepers from the rankings and concentrating only on the fastest speed of every player in the top flight thus far.
5 Manchester United, Casamiro
Maximum velocity: 30.2 km/h (18.8 mph)
Many Old Trafford supporters were thrilled about the serial winner and, more significantly, what he could offer Manchester United, the once-dominant Premier League team, when Casemiro arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022.
He had an absolutely outstanding debut season under Erik ten Hag, but his form has since declined. And the fact that he frequently falls behind his adversary embodies that. Actually, 18.8 mph is the fastest speed he has attained this season.
Admittedly, the Brazilian, who was included in Toni Kroos’ best XI consisting of the German’s teammates, has never been known for his running speed, but when it becomes damning, Ruben Amorim might consider selling.
4.
Soucek, Tomas, West Ham United
Maximum velocity: 30.2 km/h (18.8 mph)
Tomas Soucek, a gifted midfielder, has been at West Ham United since he permanently left Slavia Prague, the top club in his own country, in the summer of 2020. Since then, he has played 238 games for the east Londoners, although the 30-year-old isn’t exactly renowned for his ability to keep up with the action.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tomas Soucek of West Ham walks less than any other Premier League player (54.2%) as of April 2025.
Instead, along with the previously mentioned Casemiro, the 79-cap Czech Republic international is tied for fifth place in the Premier League for slowness. Despite his inability to get off to a fast start, Soucek is still crucial to West Ham’s success, and under Graham Potter’s leadership, he has appeared in every game to date.
3 Arsenal, Mikel Merino
Maximum velocity: 29.8 km/h (18.5 mph)
Despite being a central midfielder by trade, Mikel Merino, who joined Arsenal in the summer, has frequently been utilised as the north Londoners’ only line-leading prospect due to the team’s ongoing striker problems and Kai Havertz’s injury, particularly since the beginning of the year.
Merino, who was admired by Barcelona prior to his move to the city, has had to acquire a number of new skills in order to become a makeshift striker, one of which is the ability to run at full speed behind the line of defence.
https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1907152744240001033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1907152744240001033%7Ctwgr%5E18bb1c73dba8d4cca3843ea7ad06381664b807c0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2Fslowest-players-premier-league-this-season%2F
However, it’s fair to assume that the gaunt 28-year-old has had difficulty understanding it. He is now the third-slowest player in the Premier League, with a top speed of 29.8 km/h (18.5 mph) as of April 2025.
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Craig Dawson
Maximum velocity: 29.6 km/h (18.3 mph)
In the summer of 2023, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had previously played for West Ham United, made the decision to rely on Craig Dawson’s defensive expertise and experience. He had made about a hundred appearances in the capital before that.
However, his top speed of 29.6 km/h (18.3 mph), which is the second-lowest of all players now earning their corn in the English top flight, shows that things haven’t been as sweet since transferring to Wolves’ Molineux.
The centre defender, who has made 61 appearances for his present employers, may not have the opportunity to increase his fastest sprint pace this season before departing the team because he is currently banned from Vitor Pereira’s squad as of April 2025.
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, first
Maximum velocity: 29.4 km/h (18.2 mph)
After David Silva left Manchester City, Bernardo Silva, a six-time Premier League winner, assumed the role of the team’s creative genius. However, the magician, a 100-cap Portugal international, isn’t renowned for his quickness.
Although he is still among the highest paid players in the Premier League, it’s safe to say that Silva’s compensation is more commensurate with his propensity for setting up opportunities and managing the Citizens’ pursuit of greatness than with his ability to reach peak speeds.
The 30-year-old, who has made 40 appearances across all competitions this season, is still an important member of Pep Guardiola’s team despite his pace—or apparent lack thereof. The Portuguese’s tendency to hover around the pitch could not be helpful.
xz
