With the development of conditioning and training regimes in football, players are pushing the limits of their bodies in order to perform.
With speed, this is no exception. As the game has evolved, players have become faster and are able to last for longer periods at high speeds in order to keep up with the change in the way football is played. But it does beg the question of who is the fastest player. In that crucial moment, having a sprinting advantage could get you to the ball first compared with your opponent and give you enough time to move the ball to safety.
But who are the fastest players in the EFL? What are their fastest recorded speeds, and how do they stack up against athletes from other divisions?
Josh Murphy
In a list from last year, Josh Murphy was listed as the ninth fastest footballer in world football. Recorded at 22.7mph (36.5kph), the Portsmouth winger recorded that average over five games, only being beaten by one other footballer in the EFL and England, which will appear later in this list.
However, when it comes to video games, this is not reflected, with the EA Sports FC games giving him a total pace of 87, well below multiple EFL footballers. He does have familial bragging rights when it comes to his brother, with Jacob Murphy only having 82 pace by their same metric, and the pair are dead level when it comes to real life after the Newcastle United player has been recorded to be at 36.5kph.
Milan van Ewijk
Milan van Ewijk is one of the fastest players in the EFL right now. The Coventry City fullback’s pace means that no opposing attacker could possibly outrun him, making him a very effective defender in holding up play so the defence can get into the correct position.
As for accurate speeds, he hasn’t been monitored properly since arriving in England, meaning the most recent data comes from his time back in his homeland of the Netherlands. Whilst playing for Heerenveen, he recorded a top speed of 34.7 kph (21.5mph), which saw him be the fastest player in the Eredivisie for the 2022/23 season.
Alex Bangura
An unfortunate thing with EFL football is that GPS data for players is rarely available, meaning that sometimes determining how fast a player is has to come down to human judgment. Some of these ratings are linked to the most recent EA Sports FC data sets, and Alex Bangura sits second across the EFL in speed according to their ratings. The Sierra Leone international is ranked at 92 pace, with 93 acceleration and 92 sprint speed. It makes him the fastest player in the Middlesbrough squad, with Emmanuel Latte Lath only one rating behind.
Corey Blackett-Taylor
Like Bangura, there is no data for Corey Blacket-Taylor’s pace, meaning once more we must work from EA Sports’ information. They also rank him as a 92-paced player, with both acceleration and sprint speed matching that number. However, there is testimony for the Derby County winger’s ability to run, with coaches at Charlton crediting him with “electric pace” during his time in South London
David Ajiboye
Another person who’s data is from EAFC, David Ajiboye is the first of two Peterborough United players on this list. At 91 pace, he is joint-sixth in the EFL for the fastest players in the game. The 26-year-old has 92 acceleration and 91 sprint speed, and showed that in limited appearances on loan for York City and Newport County last season, and is sure to do the same for his new club of Carlisle United heading into next season’s National League.
Jayden Fevrier
The highest ‘bronze-rated’ player in the EFL when it comes to pace, Fevrier is level with Ajiboye for pace on the base stat. However, he is slightly lower based on the individual metrics with 90 acceleration and 91 sprint speed. His stats were greatly improved compared to the previous game, earning a +15 stat boost overall compared to EAFC 24.
Kelly Nmai
League Two’s fastest player is Salford City’s Kelly Nmai, who has 90 pace in the EA Sports game. The winger, who has been heavily linked with a move to Bolton or Peterborough this summer, has 90 pace with both acceleration and sprint speed matching those totals. He has improved compared to the last game, with an increase of five, and an increase of eight on his sprint speed total.
Isaac Olaofe
Charlton Athletic new boy Isaac Olaofe is another rapid player, with his EAFC stat for pace at 91 rated. His acceleration and sprint speed are the same, and that means he is the joint-fastest strikers in the most recent addition of the game. He was also given a ‘Quick-Step’ playstyle, meaning he has been noted for his explosive bursts when beginning a sprint and given that ability within the game.
Dan James
If you were to go off of the ratings set by EA Sports in their wildly popular EA Sports FC (formerly known as FIFA) franchise, Dan James is the fastest footballer in the EFL and in the top 20 when it comes to fastest footballers included in the game. It gives the Welshman a 93 pace rating, with 94 acceleration and 93 sprint speed.
His lightning fast speed has been a benefit for Leeds when on the counter, but his all time record pace recorded was during his time at Manchester United, when he clocked in at a staggering 35.67kph (22.1mph) in a game against Crystal Palace, and has matched similar speeds in the EURO 2020 tournament and for Leeds during his time in the press-heavy system of Marco Bielsa.
Ricky-Jade Jones
According to recent reports, Ricky-Jade Jones is tied for being the fastest footballer on the planet. In 2024, he recorded an average speed of 23.3mph (37.49kph) for Peterborough United across five matches.
The 22-year-old has been clocked to run 100m in 10.9 seconds, just over one second above Usain Bolt’s world record pace across the distance. And taking his average top speed into account, Jones would have been the fastest player in the Premier League, with Tottenham centre-back Micky Van De Ven recording a league best 23.2mph.
