SPissing has always been one of the most valuable traits in modern football, and currently no player in the Premier League does it faster than Micky van de Ven.
The Tottenham Hotspur defender has established himself as the fastest player in the league since Opta started tracking sprint data in the 2020/21 season. This is a notable difference, especially considering his position.
Van de Ven has clocked speeds of over 33mph on three separate occasions, a level of speed that very few players reach and are unlikely to repeat. His best record was in January 2024, when he clocked 33.22mph in a 3-2 win over Brentford. This sprint is the fastest recorded in the Premier League in the Opta tracking era. To put this into context, only two other players have crossed the 23 mph threshold.
other fastest players
Long the benchmark for speed, former Manchester City standout Kyle Walker reached 37mph in 2023. Jackson Ciaccia, who currently plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, clocked a speed of 37mph in 2025.
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This leaves Van de Ven as the sole leader. What makes his speed even more remarkable is his role. Most of the league’s fastest players play in wide areas, such as full-backs or wingers who rely on pace to create space or defend along the flanks. Central defenders are rarely part of that conversation.
His speed allows Tottenham to play a more attacking defensive line as he has the recovery speed to track attackers in open spaces. This is also the main reason why he has become such an important figure for the Dutch national soccer team, where defensive versatility and athleticism are essential.
The data also reflects broader trends
The speed of the Premier League is mainly dominated by young players between the ages of 21 and 24. Van de Ven fits right into that spectrum, with the physical peak of sprinting ability in elite football consistent with what performance metrics suggest.
Players like Erling Haaland can reach impressive speeds for his size and position, but he still falls short of the top-level sprint marks recorded by Van de Ven and other players in that exclusive group. The implications for Tottenham are clear.
Van de Ven’s speed is a tactical advantage. This allows teams to defend differently, recover faster and take risks they would never be able to take with a slower backline. In a league with small margins and quick transitions, having the fastest player on the pitch can make all the difference.
