Anthony Elanga shocked after finding out who the fastest Newcastle United player is
Anthony Elanga Left Stunned by Surprise Speed Stats Ahead of £55m Newcastle United Move
Anthony Elanga is on the verge of completing his £55 million transfer to Newcastle United, and the winger has already made headlines — not just for the deal, but for his surprising discovery about the club’s fastest player. Just before sealing the high-profile switch from Nottingham Forest, Elanga was left in disbelief when he learned that fellow winger Anthony Gordon isn’t considered the quickest player on Tyneside.
Supporters on Tyneside are buzzing as Newcastle push forward with an ambitious summer transfer window, and the imminent arrival of Elanga is one of the most exciting developments so far. With personal terms already agreed, the Sweden international is expected to be unveiled as a Newcastle player shortly and will join Eddie Howe’s squad ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.
Elanga is said to be thrilled about the opportunity to work under Howe, whose progressive, attacking style is a perfect fit for the 23-year-old’s explosive pace and directness. He’s also eager to link up with fellow Swede and star striker Alexander Isak, with whom he already shares a strong off-field relationship. According to reports, Elanga and Howe have already spoken in detail about the winger’s role at the club and where he can further improve once he settles into first-team training.
Given his blistering pace and high work rate, Elanga is widely expected to become a regular starter for Newcastle almost immediately, likely displacing Jacob Murphy in the starting XI. His speed and agility perfectly complement Howe’s attacking philosophy, which emphasizes high pressing, quick transitions, and dynamic movement in the final third.
Elanga, who has frequently backed himself to be one of the quickest players in the Premier League, may well take over the title of Newcastle’s fastest player. However, during a fun video segment with Sky Sports — where he was asked to guess the fastest player at each Premier League club — the former Manchester United winger was visibly surprised to learn that Gordon isn’t currently considered the top speedster at Newcastle. Instead, that title belongs to full-back Tino Livramento.
The revelation came as a shock to Elanga, who responded with a stunned expression and exclaimed, “Tino?!” after being told that Livramento held the top speed at the club. Though Livramento may not have the widespread reputation for being lightning-fast, internal data and metrics show the young defender’s speed is seriously underrated.
Livramento was a key figure for Newcastle toward the end of last season, stepping up in a big way after Lewis Hall suffered a long-term injury. The former Chelsea academy star showed impressive adaptability, shifting over to the left side of defence, and delivering strong performances that helped Newcastle remain competitive across competitions. Despite being overlooked for England’s senior squad under Thomas Tuchel, Livramento bounced back with a stellar European U21 Championship campaign.
While Livramento’s speed may have surprised many, Elanga’s pace is already well documented. According to The Athletic, the Swedish international clocked a top speed of 36.66 km/h last season, ranking him as the third-fastest player in the entire Premier League. He also recorded 730 total sprints, the seventh-highest tally in the division — with Anthony Gordon placing fifth. In terms of sprinting frequency, Elanga spent 1.11% of his total time on the pitch in full sprints — again ranking third, just behind Gordon.
These elite numbers underline why Newcastle are so eager to complete the signing. Once Elanga officially joins, Newcastle’s front three — potentially made up of Elanga, Gordon, and Isak — will be one of the quickest in the league, capable of devastating any defence with their directness, movement, and breakneck pace.
Eddie Howe will hope that Elanga can replicate — and even build upon — the strong form he showed during his two seasons at Nottingham Forest. There, he made a name for himself as a reliable wide threat, able to stretch defences, beat opponents one-on-one, and create chances at high speed.
Now, with his move to St. James’ Park imminent, Elanga looks poised to take the next step in his career — and potentially become one of the defining wingers in English football over the coming years. Newcastle fans, understandably, cannot wait to see him light up the Premier League in black and white.