Chelsea Star Named The Fastest Player In The Premier League This Season

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has been named the fastest player in the Premier League this season.

According to speeds recorded by stats service Opta, Rudiger clocked the fastest speed of any player in the top tier of English football in a match against Brighton earlier this season.

Rudiger reached a speed of 36.7 kmph (22.8 mph), putting him top of the pile in the Premier League - narrowly ahead of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and former Wolves winger Adama Traore.

Salah and Traore are joint-second on the list after clocking a speed of 36.6 kmph (22.7 mph) this season.

Another Liverpool player, Ibrahima Konate, is fourth on the list after managing 36.2 kmph (22.5 mph).

Meanwhile, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Leicester forward Patson Daka are joint-fifth with 36.1 km/h (22.4 mph).

Rudiger is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season and is not able to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge due to the current sanctions against club owner Roman Abramovich.

The 29-year-old defender has held pre-contract negotiations with a number of European football's top clubs, including the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich.

Rudiger insists he is fully focused on Chelsea despite the uncertainty over his long-term future.

Rudiger has won both the Champions League and Club World Cup under Thomas Tuchel within the last year and the Germany international says he's proud of what the club has achieved.

"I'm proud of my whole career, but what's happened in the last year, it's amazing," Rudiger told PA.

"As a group we have achieved a lot, and had a great time. There have also been some downs, which is normal, I think. Personally, of course I'm enjoying this moment.

"It's one thing though when you feel good, when everything is well set up and the team is performing well.

"But I think I showed who I am when times were difficult, and this is what counts more to me. Because in good times everyone shines, everyone is good, so there's no need to say anything.

"But the real character of a person is what you see when he is down, and this is what I proved, to myself. It's not about proving to someone else, just proving to myself.

"I think a career's all about chapters. When you're young it's a different chapter. But this chapter, yeah, it's some of the best football I'm playing."