Sesko hits blistering speed in Everton victory, but he’s not United’s quickest player this season – report

Benjamin Sesko’s exploits with RB Leipzig prompted Manchester United to break the bank for his signature last summer. The Slovenian made a name for himself at the Red Bull Arena after joining the Bundesliga club from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2023. Sesko spent his formative years at various clubs in his country before moving to Salzburg in 2019. He spent two seasons out on loan with FC Liefering and was so impressive in his second campaign that it opened the door to Salzburg’s first team. For the next two seasons, he continued his upward trajectory with Salzburg, and subsequently earned a move to Leipzig. In his two campaigns with the Bundesliga club, the Slovenian scored 39 goals from 87 games and turned heads in the Premier League. Sesko’s arrival in the Premier League Sesko was heavily linked with Arsenal in the summer of 2024, but the player ended up signing a new deal at the Red Bull Arena. While the Gunners were expected to return for the Slovenian last summer, they opted to sign Viktor Gyokeres instead. United, meanwhile, were looking for a new No. 9 following Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles at Old Trafford and decided to invest around £74 million in Sesko. While the 22 year old had a slow start at the Theatre of Dreams, he has picked up pace since the turn of the year. Sesko has scored eight goals in 24 appearances across all competitions for the Premier League giants, which include six goals in his last seven games. Benjamin Sesko Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2211711-1,135′ FA Cup111—90′ EFL Cup11—-90′ Total2413811-1,315′ Source: Transfermarkt. Sesko famously registered a top speed of 35.7 kmph last season with RB Leipzig and on Monday, he gave fans a glimpse of his terrifying pace against Everton. During an electrifying counter-attack, the Slovenian ran 70 yards across the pitch, leaving James Tarkowski biting the dust, and scored the only goal in the 1-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. United’s second fastest man this season According to Opta as relayed by United’s website, Sesko clocked a top speed of 35.3 kmph during Monday’s game. The Slovenian started behind Tarkowski but his pace helped him arrive in the box ahead of the English defender and score past Jordan Pickford. In the process, Sesko bettered his previous record from December, when he logged 34.9 kmph in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United. However, it was not enough to make him the fastest man at the Theatre of Dreams this season. That honour belongs to Bryan Mbeumo, who hit a top speed of 36.3 kmph during the 1-1 draw against Fulham in August last year. The Cameroonian has been in red-hot form since joining United last summer and his sizzling pace has become a potent weapon during counter-attacks. Mbeumo picked up his third assist of the season when he set up Sesko against Everton this week, and also has 10 goals to his name so far. While he remains the undisputed speedster at Old Trafford for now, Sesko’s progress suggests that the 26 year old will have competition for top spot soon. MANCHESTER UNITED’S TOP SPEEDS IN 2025/26 RankPlayerOpponentVenueTop Speed 1Bryan MbeumoFulhamCraven Cottage36.3 km/h 2Benjamin SeskoEvertonHill Dickinson Stadium35.3 km/h 3Benjamin SeskoNewcastleOld Trafford34.9 km/h 4AmadSpursOld Trafford34.6 km/h 4Diogo DalotLiverpoolAnfield 34.6 km/h Final Thoughts Despite his recent run of form, Sesko is yet to start a game under Michael Carrick. Calls to include the Slovenian in United’s starting XI against Crystal Palace on Sunday are now getting stronger, and one could argue that the youngster certainly deserves the chance. Featured image by Carl Recine/Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.