Premier League’s fastest goal records

In the Premier League, every second counts. But on rare occasions, a single moment can define an entire match before most fans have even taken their seats.

From kick-off chaos to lightning-fast finishes, the league has produced some astonishingly quick goals that left defences stunned and stadiums still settling in.

These aren’t just goals, they’re blink-and-you-miss-it pieces of history. Here are the fastest goals ever scored in Premier League history.

5 – Alan Shearer – 10.52 seconds (Newcastle United v Manchester City, January 2003)

It was only fitting that the Premier League’s greatest ever goalscorer would feature on this list.

Alan Shearer’s thunderous strike after just 10.52 seconds against Manchester City at St James’ Park was the fastest ever home goal at the time and remains the quickest left-footed goal in Premier League history.

Remarkably, it was also Shearer’s first ever opening-minute goal in the competition and his 218th Premier League strike.

4 – Abdoulaye Doucoure – 10.18 seconds (Everton v Leicester City, February 2025)

This was route-one football in its purest form: Garner to Pickford. Pickford long. Doucoure goal.

All inside 10.18 seconds.

Everton stunned relegation rivals Leicester almost instantly, taking the lead before most fans had even settled in. It would also become the earliest Everton had ever scored twice in a Premier League game, with Beto doubling the lead minutes later.

3 – Ledley King – 9.82 seconds (Bradford City v Tottenham Hotspur, December 2000)

A goal from a defender featuring on this list is definitely a surprise but when you factor in who the defender was…it gets stranger!

Ledley King goals were rare. A goal in under ten seconds? Almost unthinkable.

The Tottenham captain, a centre-back known more for defensive elegance than attacking threat, netted after just 9.82 seconds against Bradford City to set a new Premier League record at the time.

It was also his first ever Premier League goal, coming in only his eighth appearance. Of King’s 10 Premier League goals, only two were scored outside London. This was one of them and easily the most iconic.

2 – Phillip Billing – 9.11 seconds (Arsenal v Bournemouth, March 2023)

The Emirates was stunned into silence after just 9.11 seconds when Phillip Billing smashed Bournemouth into a shock lead against league-leading Arsenal.

It remains the second-fastest Premier League goal ever.

Bournemouth added to their tally, making it 2-0 and threatening a major upset. That’s when Arsenal got to grips with the game, recovered from the early, early shock and got back in it.

Thomas Partey and Ben White scored to make it 2-2, with Reiss Nelson netting a dramatic winner in the 97th minute. The comeback made headlines, but Billing’s lightning bolt of an opener made history.

1 – Shane Long – 7.69 seconds (Watford v Southampton, April 2019)

The fastest goal in Premier League history belongs to Shane Long, and it may never be beaten.

After a loose attempt to play it long, Long pounced with ruthless instinct and finished after just 7.69 seconds. Vicarage Road was still waking up. Watford were still asleep. History had already been made.

As per Sky Sports, the goal came during a rare hot streak for Long, who went on to score in three consecutive starts for the first time in his career. But even with the streak fading, the record remains untouched.