Fastest Serie A Players

Serie A is generally played at a slower pace than the Premier League and Bundesliga. Speed is not a necessity in the same way, evidenced by the number of players who have excelled in Italian football deep into their thirties and even into their forties.

On the other hand, a slower pace of play means those with electric speed have more of an impact. Rapid acceleration is more noticeable when games can trundle along with lower blocks and passive possession.

Of course, not all Italian teams play in the same manner, but it’s noticeable that Serie A is different stylistic from its peers in England and Germany.

Noah Okafor

Joining Milan from RB Salzburg in 2023-24, Noah Okafor has been limited to a substitute role for much of his Serie A career to date. The Swiss international has still managed to show off his lung-bursting pace down the flanks.

Initially catching the eye with Salzburg, Okafor has been an impact substitute for the Rossoneri. His ball-carrying statistics are nothing to get too excited about, and it remains to be seen if he can become more than a squad player at San Siro.

For now, Serie A fans will have to settle for brief cameos from the former Basel forward.

David Neres

David Neres signed with Napoli before the 2024-25 season after a couple of years with Benfica. Like Okafor, he has been limited to a bench role so far, with only one start in Serie A as of December 4th.

Still, Neres has been able to exhibit his quickness and dribbling ability. Neres is into his age-27 season, but his burst of speed is yet to leave him.

Over the last 365 days, the former Ajax winger ranks in the 98th percentile in progressive carries and the 89th percentile in shot-creating actions.

Manuel Lazzari

Despite turning 31 years old at the end of November, Manuel Lazzari remains one of the fastest Serie A players. Lazzari is the oldest player on this list.

The Lazio full-back still flies up and down the right flank. Few full-backs can rival his progressive carries and progressive passes received numbers, which show he stretches the opponents.

It’s unlikely Lazzari remains on this list for much longer, but more and more athletes have been able to resist Father Time in recent years.

Theo Hernandez

Since breaking through with Alaves in 2016-17, Theo Hernandez has been among the fastest players in world football. Now into his age-26 season, the Frenchman is still one of the quickest players in La Liga, which has been an asset at both ends of the pitch for Milan.

Impactful on the overlap or underlap and with the recovery pace to track down almost any winger in world football, Milan have done well to keep hold of Hernandez.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see Hernandez move to Real Madrid or Manchester City in the next couple of years.

Rafael Leao

The third Milan player on this list, Rafael Leao has attracted interest from around Europe over the last couple of years. The Rossoneri have managed to hold onto the Portuguese star, despite wealthier clubs being rumoured as suitors.

Leao has recorded 62 goal involvements across the last three Serie A seasons. His underlying numbers have been relatively consistent, while posting impressive ball-carrying metrics.

Like Hernandez, Milan have their work cut out to retain Leao if he manages to post another 20+ goal contribution season.