Top 10 fastest midfielders in Premier League 2022-23 season

Brentford, Chelsea, and Wolves players dominate the list

When talking about midfielders, we don’t associate them with traits like pace and speed because that is something forwards are usually meant to do, but the Premier League’s quickest midfielders are certainly no foot draggers. Looking at the highest ‘top speeds’ across the 2022–23 Premier League season, we’ve had a look at the fastest midfielders.

10. Solly March

Club: Brighton, appearances: 33, top speed: 35.39 km/h

Solly March is Brighton through and through; since their promotion, he has been an ever-present figure for the team among players leaving for bigger clubs. Roberto De Zerbi’s men were utterly breathtaking this campaign as Brighton secured European football for the first time in their history, and it was a local lad whose exploits often went under the radar.

When we think of the modern Brighton, we think of South American stars unearthed and developed into world beaters, but March is just getting better with every season. The Eastbourne midfielder ranked in the top 10 for most chances created from open play of any player in the Premier League in 2022-23 (52) and also ranked 10th for highest ‘top speed’ by a midfielder.

9. Kevin Schade

Club: Brentford, appearances: 18, top speed: 35.43 km/h

A mid-season signing by Brentford to give them options on the bench, but they hit the jackpot with this. The two-capped Germany international impressed in spells for the west London club following his loan move from SC Freiburg, with his ‘top speed’ of 35.43 km/h firing him into the top 10 for Premier League midfielders. It’s the kind of pace that should — and did — flourish in Thomas Frank’s high-octane system of moving parts and blurry-eyed interchanging. He should be their man to watch next season.

8. Harvey Barnes

Club: Leicester City, appearances: 34, top speed: 35.44 km/h

It was a season to remember for Barnes personally when his club fell from grace and the Premier League altogether. In years gone by, Jamie Vardy would have been considered Leicester City's fastest player, but that mantle has since been passed on to Harvey Barnes, who clocked some pretty terrifying numbers in 2022–23.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep the Foxes in the top flight, but it wasn’t for the want of trying on Barnes’ part, who bagged an impressive 13 goals and registered a deadly ‘top speed’ of 35.44 km/h. You can expect him to be snapped up this summer by other clubs hovering with their carts over this fallen club.

7. Chem Campbell

Club: Wolves, appearances: 5, top speed: 35.45 km/h

The 20-year-old Chem Campbell made a pretty decent impression in 2022–23. Although the academy gem spent the second part of the season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, in the first half, he racked up just five Premier League appearances, one of which saw him clock a ‘top speed’ of 35.45 km/h, placing him among the division’s fastest runners. It's not a bad impression to leave when you have so many games to prove your worth.

6. Bryan Mbeumo

Club: Brentford, appearances: 38, top speed: 35.47 km/h

Here is one more name that was frequent in the goals and teams of fantasy league managers. The Bees have only had 18 outfield players feature in all 38 games for their respective Premier League clubs; Bryan Mbeumo was one of the first names on the sheet. The 23-year-old was sensational in 2022–23 as he registered 17 direct scoring contributions (nine goals, eight assists) and frightened defenders with his Sonic speed. With Schade on one side and Mbeumo on the other, Brentford really are a terrifyingly quick side, and that’s one more reason why they are the only club to get better than the Premier League Champions, Manchester City.

5. Kamaldeen Sulemana

Club: Southampton, appearances: 18, top speed: 35.65 km/h

Here’s one more player from the relegated team, Kamaldeen Sulemana. More renowned for his skill, trickery, and creativity than just outright runs, he is one of the quickest midfielders to come out this season. He looked like a game-changing acquisition in January when Southampton prised him away from Rennes, but the 21-year-old was unable to patch up an already capsizing side. Still, plenty of Premier League clubs will be keeping tabs on him this summer, if not for his playmaking exploits, then for his lightning speed alone.

4. Denis Zakaria

Club: Chelsea, appearances: 7, top speed: 36.09 km/h

Similar to Chelsea’s season, we forgot about Denis Zakaria as well. A talented player from Borussia Monchengladbach, it’s safe to say the Switzerland international has struggled since trying to make that next step up. Juventus loaned him out, but even Chelsea couldn’t make good use of him, with just seven Premier League appearances in 2022–23. Still, one of those delivered a ‘top speed’ of 36.09 km/h, which is an utterly ridiculous burst of pace, and he surely will be making waves at Old Lady next season upon his return.

3. Matheus Nunes

Club: Wolves, appearances: 35, top speed: 36.32 km/h

Well, Wolves and speedsters go hand in hand, and here’s someone this time making his presence known in the midfield. Considered more of a refined and press-resistant metronome—a tempo-setter if you will —Matheus Nunes is also deceptively fast. In fact, he is the third-fastest midfielder in the Premier League according to his 2022–23 ‘top speed’. You can see why Liverpool were linked with him last summer; imagine those scorching runs in a relentless counter-pressing set-up.

2. Arnaut Danjuma

Club: Tottenham Hotspur, appearances: 9, top speed: 36.34km/h

When it was announced that he would join Spurs from Villareal on a short-term loan, they looked to have pulled off a real coup in January with the temporary deal for Arnaut Danjuma. But they sensibly opted for the ‘try before you buy’ policy, with the loanee scarcely featuring in the second half of their desperate campaign. He did, however, make one glaring contribution, recording the second-highest ‘top speed’ in the Premier League — oh, and his late, late goal against Bournemouth, which was ultimately cancelled out later.

1. Mykhailo Mudryk

Club: Chelsea, appearances: 15, top speed: 36.63km/h

There is not a shred of doubt about this name topping the list; of course, this is the guy who is considered to be the upcoming Kevin De Bruyne. The bleach-haired winger has Super Saiyan stardust in his boots, and he used that to his advantage in his Premier League baptism of fire. Officially the third-fastest player in the entire division across 2022–23, Mauricio Pochettino will relish the chance to work with him — and his lightning speed, which gives Hazard vibes at times.