The Premier League has staged a plethora of talented strikers over its 31-year history, though only 11 have scored 150 goals or more.
With that in mind, Football FanCast has decided to take a look at the top all-time Premier League goalscorers.
Without further ado, here is the list…
Rank
Player
Scored for
Goals
Alan Shearer
Blackburn, Newcastle
Harry Kane
Tottenham
Wayne Rooney
Everton, Man Utd
Andrew Cole
6 clubs
Mohamed Salah
Chelsea, Liverpool
Sergio Aguero
Man City
Frank Lampard
West Ham, Chelsea, Man City
Thierry Henry
Arsenal
Robbie Fowler
Liverpool, Leeds, Man City
Jermain Defoe
5 clubs
10 Jermain Defoe 162 goals
Jermain Defoe has enjoyed a marvellous career at a number of different clubs. The Londoner scored 162 goals across 496 appearances in the Premier League, which is a phenomenal total when you consider the fact he never featured for a title-challenging side.
The former England international produced his most prolific top-flight season in 2009/10, scoring 18 goals for Tottenham Hotspur, helping the Lilywhites achieve a fourth-placed finish.
The 41-year-old returned to the North London club in 2022 as part of the Academy coaching staff and as a Club Ambassador.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
57
20
6
Tottenham Hotspur
361
140
31
West Ham United
104
40
3
Sunderland
100
37
4
Rangers
74
32
10
Bournemouth
64
23
2
Portsmouth
36
18
5
Toronto
21
12
3
9 Robbie Fowler 163 goals
Robbie Fowler was a wonderfully gifted footballer and had a deadly left foot, striking 163 Premier League goals in 379 appearances for three different clubs.
Despite a prolific goal return, the Liverpool-born forward only amassed 26 caps for England, which he admitted was ‘nowhere near enough’.
“I only got 26 caps, which was nowhere near enough, and I always felt I was only there to make up the numbers, not be offered a real chance to play,” Fowler said.
Perhaps England undervalued his abilities but his hometown club certainly didn’t. Liverpool fans consider him one of the greatest-ever players to pull on the famous red shirt.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
26
7
3
Liverpool
369
183
49
Manchester City
92
27
5
Leeds United
32
14
1
Perth Glory
28
9
0
Northern Fury
26
9
4
Cardiff City
16
6
1
Blackburn Rovers
6
0
1
Muangthong United
2
0
0
8 Thierry Henry 175 goals
Thierry Henry is often namechecked in conversations regarding the greatest Premier League players of all time, which evinces just how ridiculously good he was.
The former Arsenal forward won a whopping four golden boots in England’s top flight and was a part of the infamous Invincibles team.
Jamie Carragher on Henry: “There is only one winner (greatest striker in Premier League history). It amazes me anyone would ever debate it. It is not even close. Thierry Henry is not only the greatest Premier League striker, he is the greatest Premier League player.”
The Frenchman has the second-best Premier League goal-to-game ratio (0.68) since 2000, a feat only bettered by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Trophy
Year(s)
Supporters’ Shield
2013
UEFA Super Cup
2010
Supercopa de España
2010
Copa del Rey
2009
FIFA Club World Cup
2009, 2010
Champions League
2009
LaLiga
2009, 2010
Confederations Cup
2003
Community Shield
2002, 2004
FA Cup
2002, 2003, 2005
Premier League
2002, 2004
UEFA EURO
2000
World Cup
1998
Ligue 1
1997
7 Frank Lampard 177 goals
Frank Lampard is the only midfielder in the top 10, having netted 177 Premier League goals in 611 appearances.
The former Chelsea skipper had an uncanny knack for arriving late into the penalty area and slotting home, a trait that very few players possessed.
The three-time Premier League champion was one of the best players in the world during his pomp and came second in the 2005 Ballon d’Or rankings to Barcelona’s Ronaldinho.
The 106-cap England international is generally considered the best player to ever play for Chelsea.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
106
29
12
Chelsea
648
211
145
West Ham United
179
33
18
Manchester City
38
8
4
New York City FC
31
15
4
6 Sergio Agüero 184 goals
Sergio Agüero, who is synonymous with THAT goal against Queens Park Rangers, was a prolific marksman during his 10-year spell at Manchester City.
Quite remarkably, the Argentine forward only won one Golden Boot award, despite surpassing the 20-goal mark in six separate seasons.
Agüero left the Citizens in 2021 and Pep Guardiola was visibly upset when speaking to Sky Sports, admitting that he cannot be replaced.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
33
26
8
Champions League
7
6
1
FA Cup
1
0
0
League Cup
1
0
0
5 Mohamed Salah 185 goals
There is little doubt that Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is one of the true PL greats. Approaching 200 goals after steering the Reds to another Premier League title in 2024/25, there seems to be no stopping the Egyptian, who is also set for another Golden Boot.
Only three players have reached a double century, so Salah’s recent contract extension at Liverpool will surely provide the goal machine enough time to get amongst the other heroes of Premier League history.
Salah also leads the way for African Premier League goalscorers by some margin, with former Reds teammate Sadio Mane his closest challenger in that regard, as the Senegalese trails by some 74 goals (and counting).
Season
Club
Appearances
Goals
2013/14
Chelsea
10
2
2014/15
Chelsea
3
0
2017/18
Liverpool
36
32
2018/19
Liverpool
38
22
2019/20
Liverpool
34
19
2020/21
Liverpool
37
22
2021/22
Liverpool
35
23
2022/23
Liverpool
38
19
2023/24
Liverpool
32
18
2024/25
Liverpool
36
28
4 Andrew Cole 187 goals
Andrew Cole held the record for the most goals scored in a 42-game Premier League season, netting a colossal 34 goals for Newcastle United during the 1993/94 campaign.
Another deadly period in front of goal ensued the following season before Manchester United acquired his services for a British transfer record fee worth £6.25m in January 1995.
Cole went on to enjoy a trophy-laden seven-year spell with United and formed a deadly partnership with Dwight Yorke. The duo amassed 53 goals between them during the treble-winning 1998/99 campaign.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
40
34
13
FA Cup
3
1
0
League Cup
2
6
1
3 Wayne Rooney 208 goals
Some will tell you Wayne Rooney underachieved in his career, which is extraordinary considering he became Manchester United and England’s record top goalscorer.
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The Birmingham City boss emerged as England’s golden boy as a 16-year-old and was thrust into first-team action thereafter – which was perhaps a contributing factor to his early decline.
And quite unfairly, people forget just how good he was because of that, though, his astonishing 208 Premier League goal tally speaks for itself.
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
120
53
21
Manchester United
559
253
145
Everton
117
28
8
D.C. United
52
25
14
Derby
35
7
3
2 Harry Kane 213 goals
Harry Kane is the only active player on this list and was tipped to become the all-time leading Premier League goalscorer before he completed an £86.4m move to Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich in the summer, so that feat may not be achieved now.
The 30-year-old has started life at Bayern in electrifying form, scoring 21 goals whilst laying on seven assists in just 16 appearances.
Such form could see him acclaim the Ballon d’Or next year, though, he’ll likely have to triumph with England at the Euro’s.
Tottenham Hotspur do have a buyback option, so it will be fascinating to see if Kane does return to the North Londoners before the close of his career.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
13
18
5
Champions League
6
4
3
DFL-Supercup
1
0
0
1 Alan Shearer 260 goals
Alan Shearer tops the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer charts with a total of 260 goals, putting him 47 clear of second-placed Kane.
The Newcastle native collected three Golden Boot awards and fired home 34 goals in a single league season with Blackburn Rovers, helping the Lancashire club acclaim their first and only Premier League title.
Shearer remained loyal to his hometown club and famously turned down two offers from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, which ultimately came at the expense of silverware.
But he cemented himself as a Newcastle United legend and now has a statue outside St James’ Park, evincing his heroic status at the Tyneside club.
Former Magpies boss Graeme Souness on Shearer: “In my opinion, Alan Shearer is the greatest English centre-forward there has ever been without a shadow of a doubt; he’s a very, very special player. He makes average balls into great balls.”
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
England
63
30
11
Newcastle United
405
206
58
Blackburn Rovers
162
123
30
Southampton
132
32
2
