Latest statistics from Opta, have now revealed the biggest walkers in the Premier League this season and one Tottenham Hotspur player has made the top five.
Football requires a balance between sprinting, jogging, and, sometimes, just walking. While goalkeepers rarely have to run, outfield players’ movement patterns often reveal a lot about their style of play.
Opta has been compiling various statistical insights throughout the season, and Tottenham players have been popping up frequently.
It has been revealed that Micky Van de Ven is the quickest in the Premier League, while stats have shown that Kulusevski’s work rate is unmatched in terms of distance covered in the League.
But now, another Spurs player has been recognised—not for their sprints or pressing, but for the amount of time they spend walking.
Cristian Romero among the Premier League’s biggest walkers
Opta’s latest statistics on the biggest walkers in the Premier League make for an interesting read. The top 35 spots are all occupied by goalkeepers—understandable, given their limited movement. But among outfield players, some unexpected names emerge.
Wolves’ Matheus Cunha tops the list, walking for 77.6% of his game time this season. Despite this, the Brazilian has been a key figure in attack, scoring 13 goals and providing four assists. It just goes to show that walking doesn’t always equate to a lack of influence.
Adama Traoré is another standout name, with the Fulham winger alternating between walking pace and explosive bursts of speed.
But when it comes to defenders, Tottenham’s Cristian Romero makes the top five, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ezri Konsa. Meanwhile, Noni Madueke, Raúl Jiménez, and Callum Hudson-Odoi rank among the next-highest non-defenders on the list.
Walking stats tell an interesting story
While Romero features prominently on the walking list, other statistics tell a different story. Opta has revealed that West Ham’s Tomáš Souček spends the least amount of time walking (54.2%) of any Premier League player, a testament to his tireless running in midfield.
In terms of sheer distance covered while walking, Arsenal’s David Raya leads the way, having walked 114.9 km this season.
Van Dijk isn’t far behind, covering 112.1 km while walking in his 29 Premier League games. It just goes to show that movement in football isn’t just about running—it’s about knowing when to move, when to hold position, and when to conserve energy.