Bradley Barcola sets early speed record at Liverpool

Bradley Barcola has made an instant impression following his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain to Liverpool, with the French winger already setting a Premier League benchmark in his debut.

The transfer, valued at close to €150 million including bonuses, placed significant expectations on the 24-year-old, who responded by helping Liverpool secure a 2-0 away victory over Ipswich Town.

Introduced in the 64th minute, Barcola replaced Spanish forward Victor Munoz and immediately brought pace and directness to Liverpool’s left flank. Although he did not score, his impact was measured in another way, as GPS tracking recorded him reaching a top speed of 35.9 km/h during his half-hour on the pitch.

That figure makes Barcola the fastest player of the 2026-27 Premier League season so far, ahead of Coventry’s Milan van Ewijk and Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, who have both been clocked at 35.3 km/h. The display underlined the explosiveness and acceleration that made him such an attractive target for Liverpool’s recruitment team.

For Barcola, the performance offers a positive start to life in England after leaving PSG. His ability to stretch defences with raw speed could prove a valuable weapon as Liverpool push on multiple fronts. If he can combine that pace with consistent end product, the Reds may well feel their substantial investment is already paying dividends.