Speed has always been one of the most valuable traits in modern soccer, and right now, no one in the Premier League is doing it faster than Micky van de Ven.
The Tottenham Hotspur defender has established himself as the fastest player in the league since Opta began tracking sprint data in the 2020/21 season. It’s a remarkable distinction, especially considering his position.
Van de Ven has been clocked at over 23 miles per hour on three separate occasions, a level of speed few players ever reach, let alone repeat. His top mark came in January 2024, when he hit 23.22 miles per hour during a 3-2 win over Brentford. That sprint stands as the fastest recorded in the Premier League in the Opta tracking era. To put that into context, only two other players have ever crossed the 23 miles per hours threshhold.
The other fastest players
Kyle Walker, a longtime speed benchmark and former Manchester City standout, reached 23 miles per hour in 2023. Jackson Tchatchoua, currently with Wolverhampton Wanderers, recorded 23.1 miles per hour in 2025.
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That places van de Ven alone at the top. What makes his speed even more notable is his role. Most of the league’s fastest players operate in wide areas: full-backs and wingers who rely on pace to create or defend space along the flanks. Central defenders are rarely part of that conversation.
His pace allows Tottenham to play a more aggressive defensive line, knowing he has the recovery speed to track down attackers in open space. It’s also a key reason he’s become an important figure for the Netherlands national soccer team, where defensive versatility and athleticism are essential.
The data also reflects a broader trend
Speed in the Premier League is largely dominated by younger players, typically between the ages of 21 and 24. Van de Ven fits squarely in that range, aligning with what performance metrics suggest is the physical peak for sprinting ability in elite soccer.
While players like Erling Haaland can reach impressive speeds for their size and position, they still fall short of the top-tier sprint marks recorded by van de Ven and others in that exclusive group. The impact is clear for Tottenham.
Van de Ven’s speed is a tactical advantage. It allows the team to defend differently, recover faster and take risks that slower back lines simply can’t afford. In a league where margins are small and transitions happen quickly, having the fastest player on the pitch can change everything.
