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Scoring a goal in football is famously tough, but some players are proving that theory wrong in the Premier League.
Take Philip Billing from Bournemouth, for instance. On March 4, 2023, he stunned everyone at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium by scoring just 10 seconds into the match. After some debate about the exact timing, it was confirmed as the second-fastest goal in Premier League history!
Then there’s Brentford, who have turned early goals into an art form in 2024. First, Yoane Wissa netted a goal just a minute into a game against Manchester City, and in their very next match, Bryan Mbeumo followed suit by scoring in the first minute against Tottenham. It’s clear that starting strong is becoming their signature move!
Fastest goal in Premier League history
The fastest goal ever scored in a Premier League match belongs to Shane Long, who netted for Southampton against Watford on April 24, 2019. Long managed to intercept a pass from Craig Cathcart and cleverly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Ben Foster, doing so in just 7.69 seconds!
This incredible feat broke the previous record held by Ledley King, who scored for Tottenham Hotspur against Bradford City in the 2000/01 season. King’s goal came after only 9.82 seconds, courtesy of a deflected shot from 25 yards out.
Philip Billing is currently in second place on this list, with his goal against Arsenal on March 4, 2023, officially clocked at 9.11 seconds.
Though Brentford players Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have made headlines with their quick goals—Mbeumo scoring in 23 seconds and Wissa in 22—they don’t quite crack the top 10 fastest goals in Premier League history.
Top 10 fastest goals in Premier League history
| Time (seconds) |
Scored by | Match | Season | |
| 1. | 7.69 | Shane Long | Watford vs Southampton | 2018/19 |
| 2. | 9.11 | Philip Billing | Arsenal vs Bournemouth | 2022/23 |
| 3. | 9.82 | Ledley King | Bradford vs Tottenham | 2000/01 |
| 4. | 10.52 | Alan Shearer | Newcastle vs Man City | 2002/03 |
| 5. | 10.54 | Christian Eriksen | Tottenham vs Man United | 2017/18 |
| 6. | 11.90 | Mark Viduka | Charlton vs Leeds | 2000/01 |
| 7. | 12.16 | Dwight Yorke | Coventry vs Aston Villa | 1995/96 |
| 8. | 12.94 | Chris Sutton | Everton vs Blackburn | 1994/95 |
| 9. | 13.48 | Kevin Nolan | Blackburn vs Bolton | 2003/04 |
| 10. | 13.52 | James Beattie | Chelsea vs Southampton | 2004/05 |
Why was the time of Philip Billing’s goal at Arsenal changed?
Initially, Philip Billing’s goal was recorded at around 11 seconds into the match against Arsenal, which would have put him in fifth place on the all-time list for the fastest Premier League goals. However, after some review, that time was adjusted to a precise 9.11 seconds, elevating him to second place.
This discrepancy arose due to a slight pause right after the referee’s whistle before the game officially kicked off. Opta, the official data provider for the Premier League, later confirmed that Billing’s goal time was indeed 9.11 seconds. This adjustment highlighted the importance of accurate timing in football statistics!