Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history, finding the net after 7.69 seconds for Southampton against Watford on 23 April 2019.
Long’s goal came at Vicarage Road almost immediately after kick-off. Watford’s Craig Cathcart’s attempted clearance was intercepted, allowing Long to race through and lift the ball over goalkeeper Ben Foster. Southampton eventually drew the match 1–1 after Andre Gray equalised late.
The timing made Long’s strike faster than the previous Premier League record, set by Ledley King for Tottenham against Bradford City in 2000. King’s goal had been recorded at 9.82 seconds, so Long lowered the mark by more than two seconds. The record concerns the elapsed time from the referee’s opening whistle, not the time shown on a television clock or the minute displayed in match statistics.
A common mix-up is confusing this record with the fastest goal in all football competitions, where different leagues and unofficial timings are involved. In the Premier League specifically, Long remains the canonical answer.