Joao Pedro etched his name into the Premier League record books after scoring the fastest goal ever recorded on the opening matchday of a season, handing Chelsea a lightning-fast start against Fulham.
The Brazilian striker needed just 33 seconds to open the scoring, capitalizing on a Cole Palmer pass to finish cleanly and grant Chelsea an ideal start to their new campaign.
Despite setting the opening-weekend record, Pedro’s goal remains well behind the fastest goals overall in Premier League history; Shane Long leads the all-time list with his 7.69-second strike for Southampton against Watford in 2019, while Philip Billing ranks second with his goal for Bournemouth against Arsenal after 9.11 seconds.
Joao Pedro’s historic moment comes just days after Chelsea announced a contract extension tying him to the club until the summer of 2034 while handing him the coveted number 9 shirt—a clear statement regarding his central role in the club’s long-term project as their primary striker.
Chelsea signed the 24-year-old from Brighton in July 2025 for £55 million plus £5 million in add-ons. He immediately featured in the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring three goals, including one in the final victory against Paris Saint-Germain.
Joao Pedro finished his debut season with the Blues as the team’s top scorer, registering 20 goals and 6 assists in 50 matches across all competitions—including 15 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League—earning him Chelsea’s Player of the Year award for the 2025–2026 season.
