According to some, the fastest goal ever scored in an official, organised game, came just 2.1 seconds after kick-off. However, that came in a Scottish non-league match, on a relatively short pitch (when we are talking about goals this quick, the size of the pitch is important). Nonetheless, Gavin Stokes’ incredible strike in 2017 is, we reckon, the fastest ever.
More recently, Jacob Murphy scored for Newcastle against Spurs after 61 seconds, the Magpies racing into a 3-0 lead after just nine minutes. That game, in April 2023, saw the Geordies five to the good with only 21 minutes on the clock but in truth, the opener, in the second minute of the clash, was rather pedestrian in terms of the fastest ever in the Premier League.
In fact, just a few days earlier Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz netted against Arsenal after a mere 27 seconds. Even that, however, was decidedly sluggish when compared to the very fastest goals scored in the entire history of the PL.
What is the Fastest Goal in Premier League history?
According to the official Premier League website, 11 goals have been scored within 13.64 seconds of kick-off. Quite why they chose 11 and 13.64 seconds we don’t know. However, what we do know, is that at the very top of the list is Shane Long.
10 Fastest Goals in Premier League History
| Time (Seconds) | Player | For | Against | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.69 | Shane Long | Southampton | Watford | 23rd Apr 2019 |
| 9.11 | Philip Billing | Bournemouth | Arsenal | 4th Mar 2023 |
| 9.82 | Ledley King | Tottenham | Bradford | 9th Dec 2000 |
| 10.52 | Alan Shearer | Newcastle | Manchester City | 18th Jan 2003 |
| 10.54 | Christian Eriksen | Tottenham | Manchester Utd | 31st Jan 2018 |
| 11.90 | Mark Viduka | Leeds | Charlton | 17th Mar 2001 |
| 12.16 | Dwight Yorke | Aston Villa | Coventry | 30th Sep 1995 |
| 12.94 | Chris Sutton | Blackburn | Everton | 1st Apr 1995 |
| 13.48 | Kevin Nolan | Bolton | Blackburn | 10th Jan 2004 |
| 13.52 | James Beattie | Southampton | Chelsea | 29th Dec 2004 |
Long bagged the quickest-ever goal in the Premier League after just 7.69 seconds. He scored for Southampton against Watford on 23rd April 2019. One thing that makes his strike even more remarkable is that Watford actually kicked off! The quickest of the quick goals, often not scored at the elite level, have come straight from kick-off. Indeed, you can see the fastest ever goal below, a fine example of such a strike.
Not only did Long not score in that way, but his team didn’t even begin the game with the ball. Instead, the ball was played back to the Watford centre back but Long was too quick, charging down an attempted pass. The ball fell kindly for the Irish striker who then produced a delightful, chipped finish to score inside eight seconds. The perfect start for the Saints but it was the perfect end for the Hornets as they equalised in the 90th minute! Andre Gray was the scorer, the game ending 1-1 despite Southampton having been ahead for 89 minutes!
Previous Records
Prior to Long’s short wait for glory, it is rather surprising that centre back Ledley King held the record for the fastest goal in the Premier League. Moreover, King held that record for almost two decades and, for a man who only scored 12 senior goals, it is rather amazing that one of those came within 10 seconds. After just 9.82 seconds in fact!
Ledley King: Unlikely Holder of the PL record for 19 years
The one-club defender, a superb reader of the game whose career was plagued by injuries, made history on 9th December 2000. He scored with a rather tame, deflected effort from long range against Bradford. That was his first goal for the club and in that stage of his Spurs career he was often used as a midfielder. That may make his goal slightly less hard to believe but even so, the former England man is not someone many would have pegged as the holder of a goalscoring record for almost 20 years.
Arteta’s Arsenal Slow off the mark again
In between the strikes of Long and King as the second-fastest goal in the PL, we have one scored in March 2023. Arsenal clearly have a thing for letting relegation-threatened south-coast teams score very early as this goal, by Philip Billing, was scored by Bournemouth.
Shocking just about everyone the Cherries scored after just 9.11 seconds with what looked like a pre-rehearsed routine from kick-off where they attacked down Arsenal’s left. Many inside the Emirates were still taking their seats when a stunned silence descended. The Gunners would come back to win an incredible game 3-2, having been 2-0 down after 61 minutes, bagging the winner in the seventh minute of added time.
Yorke Wastes No Time
Dwight Yorke once held the record for the fastest goal in Premier League history thanks to a strike he bagged on 30th September 1995. Timed at just 12.16 seconds his bullet header for Aston Villa against Coventry came from a Villa kick-off. Attacking down the right they worked space for a cross which the tricky attacker powerfully headed home to set his side on the way to a 3-0 victory away from home.
Chris Sutton Scores quickest goal but record lasts just months
Some records last for years but many are broken almost as soon as they are set and Chris Sutton held the record for the fastest goal in the PL for a matter of just six months. On 1st April 1995 the Everton faithful must have thought it was a joke when Sutton scored against the Toffees at Goodison after just 12.94 seconds.
The Toffees were in a relegation battle whilst Blackburn were flying high and would go on to win the title. Alan Shearer doubled Rovers’ lead after just seven minutes and Evertonians must have feared the worst. In the end they managed to avoid a humiliating defeat, going down by just a 2-1 scoreline.