Top 10 players who has the most Premier League shots on target

What is the best feeling in football? Putting the ball in the back of the net? Delivering an excellent assist to your teammate? Making a crunching tackle and saving the game for your side? Well, these are all tangible parameters that define your success on the pitch. But there’s also a metric that tells how efficient any player is with or without adding anything to the scorecard. That metric is shot on target. If not for the goals column, you can judge how good a team or a player is by the number of shots they have on target. In this article, let us find out who are the top 10 players with the most number of shots on target in the history of the Premier League.

What is a shot on target?

A shot on target is a goal-bound shot from any player, that either crosses the line or gets saved by the goalkeeper or blocked by the opposition players or cleared off the line. It is to be noted that the shots that hit the woodwork ie the crossbar or either of the two posts won’t be counted as a shot on target. To further break this down, we can make a simple example. Every goal is a shot on target, but not every shot on target is a goal.

Top 10 Players With The Most Premier League Shots On Target

With data sourced from the official Premier League website, we have made a list of the top 10 players with the most on-target in the Premier League. The top 10 list to everyone’s surprise consists of a wide range of players. It has cold-blooded strikers, swashbuckling wingers, and journeymen in the right mix. So sit back and go through the list of the players ranging from one clubmen to journeymen.

10) Jamie Vardy – 305

We are starting off the list with a perfect example of a Barclaysman. Jamie Vardy’s story is one for the Hollywood movies. His journey from Fleetwood town to a Premier League champion is inspiring, to say the least. Vardy played a pivotal role in keeping Leicester afloat in 2015 before they went on to clinch the title in 2016 in a fairytale manner.

At 37 and back in the Premier League, he is aging like fine wine. With 4 goals to his name already, he is the leading light for the Foxes as they look to beat the immediate drop. Vardy’s fitness may prove to be a concern in the longer term as he looks to make moves up the list of the top 10 players with the most shots in Premier League history. But as usual, there would be no end to his antiques on the pitch.

9) Raheem Sterling – 317

Sterling broke out as a 17-year-old onto the Premier League stage for Liverpool. His trickery on the ball, his agility and his pace made him an instant hit on Merseyside. He formed an unlikely trio with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge that almost propelled Liverpool to a league title in 2014. He left the club in controversial circumstances and hit his peak at Manchester City.

Sterling’s prime saw him compete with the best in Europe for numbers as he played a crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Blues. His direct running in behind and getting into goal-scoring positions lead to him accumulating north of 300 shots on target. He left Manchester after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola.

Ever since it has been hot and cold for the English winger. Still 29, he has had an unsuccessful spell at Chelsea. He moved to London rivals Arsenal on loan this season. He hopes to find some form and regain his previous goal-scoring feats under Mikel Arteta. There is still a good chance for him to move up the list.

8) Son Heung-Min – 321

The South Korean moved to the Premier League in 2015 and can be easily regarded as the best Asian player in the league. Having spent close to a decade in North London, he is close to calling Tottenham his home. Son’s early seasons with the Spurs have seen him transform from a flashy winger to a deadly output-oriented forward.

He is a winger who is two-footed, full of creativity and lethal finishing. Son formed an incredible partnership with Harry Kane at Spurs. The duo simply had a telepathic connection with each other and would take the games away in a flash. As Kane left Spurs, Son had to don the mantle of the main man under Ange Postecoglou. He has excelled in a central role as a number nine and has kept on adding to his tally of goals and most shots on target.

Also Read: Ranking Premier League Clubs by Net Spend Since 2022

7) Romelu Lukaku – 331

The Belgian striker is a polariser of the crowd. On his day, he is the best striker in the world and when it is not his day, he is a manchild. There is nothing in between for him. At Napoli currently, he is enjoying another spell of fine form. It remains to be seen if this continues or if it turns out to be another false dawn.

Having started his Premier League career at Chelsea, Lukaku rose to fame after an excellent loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. He was then sent on loan to Everton where he cemented his status as one of the best young strikers in the league after sealing a permanent move. His finishing although inconsistent was highly regarded and the linkup play was the talk of the town. A highly anticipated move to Manchester United was quickly marred by a personal slump and turmoil at the club.

Lukaku left for Italy following the United nightmare. He then returned to British soil as a record transfer for Chelsea. The debut event unfolded excellently as he scored against Arsenal just minutes in. However, the usual Lukaku saga unfolded and he found himself in the dark. The usual shot machine and in the Premier League was nowhere to be soon. He was then sold to Italy after Lukaku himself admitted that he was unhappy.

6) Jermain Defoe – 342

The Slender Striker, perhaps the best super sub in the league is a story of persistence and longevity. In a career that spanned nearly two decades in the Premier League, he is rightfully in the top 10 players with most shots on target. He started his journey at West Ham United and quickly became the manager’s favourite. Defoe’s exploits at Boleyn Ground were well received in London and local rivals Tottenham pounced when the chance came.

It is at Tottenham that Defoe gained his Hero status. Key winners off of the bench and ever presence on the goal scorers list made him a fan favourite. Despite never being a ceiling riser, he was going on in the Premier League. He turned into more of a journeyman after Tottenham. Defoe moved to Sunderland where he scored a high-profile Tyne-Wear derby winner late on in the game. He then had brief spells at Bournemouth in the Premier League before calling it a day back at Sunderland.

5) Robin van Persie – 360

The enigmatic Dutch striker is one of the most prolific strikers in the history of the league. Blessed with incredible technique, he started out as a left winger. Arsene Wenger at Arsenal gave van Persie’s career a proper boost after making him a striker. The transition period at Arsenal saw him become the lone striker with a license to drop deep, take set pieces and dictate everything. He repaid the faith with excellent strikes and plenty of shots on target in the Premier League.

Despite winning the Golden Boot in his final season at Arsenal with 30 goals, van Persie swapped Arsenal for fierce rivals Manchester United in the hunt for silverware. Robin van Persie hit the ground running by winning another Golden Boot as he guided United to another league title and winning his first Premier League title. However, injuries started creeping up and he fell out with the management. Hence he made the move to Turkey where the injury struggles continued. He returned to his boyhood club Feyenoord before guiding them to a trophy and hanging up his boots.

4) Sergio Aguero – 423

Sergio “Kun” Aguero is widely regarded as one of the most technical forwards in the Premier League. The Argentine was not the tallest or the strongest but he made up for it with his excellent predatory moment and sublime finishing. Aguero arrived from Atletico Madrid as a promising young striker. His career really took off at Manchester City. During his 10-year stay in Manchester, he thrived under multiple managers like Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.

Aguero has a knack for scoring huge goals often termed as clutch goals. None were better than his strike against QPR late in stoppage time that dramatically gave Manchester City their first-ever league title. He won the Golden Boot for the 2014/15 season as well. The Argentine holds the record for the most shots on target in a single Premier League game with 8(vs Tottenham in 2014). Aguero’s lore only grew on as he fired Pep Guardiola’s side to Centurions and developed into the best striker in the world. He then moved to Barcelona in what he called a dream move.

Aguero had to retire early due to a tragic medical condition that prevented him from playing football at the highest level.

3) Mohamed Salah – 438

Talk about finding success in the same place that doubted you. From being termed not good enough by Jose Mourinho to finding himself in the debates for the best foreign import into the league. Mohamed Salah has gone from a bit part player at Chelsea to being termed a one-season wonder to the best player in the world again now. His journey is incredible and what’s more so incredible is him being a winger and in 3^rd place in the top 10 players with the most Premier League shots on target.

Mohamed Salah was brought to England by Chelsea as an exciting 22-year-old winger in 2014. He found it hard to get going in a new country under harsh conditions and was shipped off after a couple of loans. This only fueled his hunger and when the Premier League came calling in 2017, he was set to conquer it. Jurgen Klopp, the ex-Liverpool manager forged a legendary front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. They conquered Europe and England in quick succession with Salah at the front.

The Egyptian King has a wand of a left foot and a footballing genius that is only rivalled by only the greatest of the game. Usually reliant on pace early in his career, the trademark Salah move was cutting in from the wing and curling the ball home.

At 32 now, Salah despite losing pace is at the peak of his powers. Operating as a creator and a scorer in Arne Slot’s dominant Liverpool, he is putting up ridiculous numbers. With his fitness, he is not going to slow down any time soon and will be eyeing to make it to the top of the list.

Also Read: Top 10 longest serving Premier League players for every club currently

2) Wayne Rooney – 467

Well, if you were looking for English excellence in this list, your wait has come to an end. Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers that the Premier League has ever seen. Born and bred in Merseyside, well the Blue part of it, he was an instant star. Everton knew they had an all-timer on their hands. They could only cherish him for a couple of years when he truly broke out as Manchester United came calling. Sir Alex Ferguson known for his talent id has got it right once again as he shaped Rooney into a great of the game.

The versatile English striker could play anywhere across the front line. His pace, physicality, and energy combined with his ball striking and moment made him a defender’s nightmare. Rooney would soon go on to become Manchester United’s highest goal-scorer of all time along with winning multiple Premier League titles. Even when he lost pace, his intelligence meant that he could play deeper and still be effective. He had a fairy tale ending of sorts when he went back to his boyhood club Everton for a short stint before he retired.

Rooney truly had a flamboyant play style as well as a lifestyle as he was constantly in the limelight off the field as well.

1) Harry Kane – 523

Well, this is English excellence of the highest order. Harry Kane is a matter of English pride and is widely regarded as the best striker in world football. Currently plying his trade in Germany, records used to tumble before Kane on a regular basis. No wonder he’s on top of the list of top 10 Premier League strikers with the most shots on target. Although Harry Kane is a striker it feels very awkward to just contain him as only a striker. His gameplay goes way beyond simply scoring goals which is not as simple as Kane makes it look like.

Kane is not the fastest athlete in the world by any chance. He is a bundle of technique, energy, game awareness and of course, finishing that simply makes him unstoppable. Tottenham Hotspur needed some time to realise the greatness of Kane as he was sent on loans to develop fully. But once he had the chance to start for Tottenham, he unleashed goals like never before in the league. Right foot, Left foot, Headers, Power shots, curlers, and chipped finishes he had every type of finish in his lockers. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Kane almost spearheaded Tottenham to league and European glory. Ultimately it was not to be as Kane was forced to leave England in the hunt for trophies.

He left London for Munich in the summer of 2023 with 208 goals to his name. Many in and around the English game expected Kane to stay in England and go for Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal record of 260. Kane however, couldn’t turn down an offer from European heavyweights Bayern Munich. Still plundering record in the Bundesliga, he is eyeing the first trophy of his career this season. Perhaps when it is all done, Kane could someday return home and go for the record eh? Now that’s a question for some other day.

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