Is Burnley’s goalscoring hero Wout Weghorst the tallest player in the Premier League?

Cameron Loftus
19 February 2022

The Clarets new 6ft 6in striker opened his account in fine style against Brighton to lift his sides to new heights. But where does he stand in comparision to the rest of the Premier League?

Weghorst scored the Clarets' first, assisted their second and had a hand in the third as they beat Brighton 3-0 to move off the bottom of the Premier League table.

To celebrate the 6ft 6in (1.97m) striker's first goal in English football, we look at each Premier League team's tallest player to see how they match up to the Dutch international.

Arsenal - Arthur Okonkwo

We begin the list with a fairly unknown name. Eighteen-year-old Okonkwo is 6ft 7in (2.01m) tall and despite being just 18 is already third in line when it comes to Gunners goalkeepers.

He made his debut for the under-23 side aged just 17 and was promoted to the first team at the start of the current season, appearing on the bench five times in the Premier League.

Aston Villa - Tyrone Mings and Robin Olsen

Centre-back Tyrone Mings has a rival for the title of tallest player at Villa with the arrival of loan signing Robin Olsen from Roma. Both stand at an impressive 6ft 5in (1.96m).

Brentford - Pontus Jansson

The Bees' Swedish leader also happens to be their tallest player at 6ft 5in (1.96m). He is yet to miss a match for Brentford this season. However, despite his height, he has won only half the aerial battles of team-mate Ethan Pinnock (66 to 120).

Brighton - Robert Sanchez

With Dan Burn having upped sticks for Newcastle, it is the man between the sticks, Robert Sanchez, who is now their tallest player at 6ft 6in (1.97m). The Spaniard leads the Premier League's high claims for the season with 42, 14 clear of his nearest rival, Burnley's Nick Pope.

Burnley - Nick Pope, Wout Weghorst

Incredibly, Weghorst is not even the tallest player at his own club! England keeper Nick Pope is also 6ft 6in (1.97m), though he has been listed as 6ft 3in by both the FA and the Premier League. However, in an interview, Pope was adamant he was 6ft 6in, going on to say: "The average door is six-foot-six-inches…I've banged my head on a few!"

Chelsea - Edouard Mendy

Best Goalkeeper 2021, Edouard Mendy is Chelsea's tallest player at 6ft 4in (1.94m).

Since arriving in September 2020, the Senegal keeper has kept 25 clean sheets in 52 Premier League games and also helped his side to Champions League glory in 2021.

Crystal Palace - Jack Butland

Jack Butland was tipped for big things when starting out for Birmingham City and that definitely didn't include being Crystal Palace's second choice keeper at the age of 28.

Capped for England at every level from under-16 to the senior team, the 6ft 5in (1.96m) Butland has made just five Premier League appearances in the last season-and-a-half for the Eagles.

Everton - Asmir Begovic

Begovic seems to have been around the Premier League for an eternity having turned out for Portsmouth, Stoke, Chelsea, Bournemouth and now Everton in a top-flight career spanning 253 games.

The 6ft 6in (1.99m) Bosnian is also one of a select few keepers to have scored in the competition's history, finding the net for Stoke against Southampton in 2013.

Leeds United - Illan Meslier

One of the most promising keepers in world football, Meslier has been exceptional since joining the Elland Road outfit in 2019. The France under-21 keeper has been in fine form this season and despite his lanky 6ft 5in (1.96m) frame is quickly off his line, ranking third for clearances among top-flight keepers, with 27.

Leicester City - Jannik Vestergaard

The former Southampton defender has failed to make a big impact since arriving at the King Power, making only six starts for the Foxes. He's not best designed for those low bench roofs either, with the Dane standing at 6ft 6in (1.99m).

Liverpool - Joel Matip and Rhys Williams

Three of Liverpool's keepers top 6ft 2in but it is two of their centre-backs who are the tallest in the team. Joel Matip and Rhys Williams both come in at 6ft 4in (1.95m). Williams has just returned from a loan spell at Swansea, while Matip (79) currently lies just four behind Virgil van Dijk (83) for aerial battles won despite having played three games less than his central-defensive partner.

Manchester City - Zack Steffen and Rodri

Midfield maestro Rodri and goalkeeper Steffen (6ft 2in, 1.91m) may be dwarfed by some of their Premier League rivals but it is making no difference on the pitch, with Pep Guardiola's men currently looking down on the rest of the top flight.

Manchester United - Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic

Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic at 6ft 4in (1.94m) are the tallest United players, even with Cristiano Ronaldo standing on his tiptoes. In 194 top-flight appearances Maguire has made an impressive 521 headed clearances. Six of his ten Premier League goals have also come with his head.

Newcastle United - Dan Burn

Eddie Howe on Dan Burn and Matt Targett:

"I'm really excited to see them transition into the team. They're experienced Premier League players who have both done well for their respective clubs prior to joining us. Dan has a slight toe problem which is hopefully not too serious." pic.twitter.com/vbbvND8MEn
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 7, 2022

Signed in the winter window, Burn stands at 6ft 7in (2.01m) which marks him out as the Premier League's tallest outfield player. Has actually made twice as many clearances off the line with his head (2) as he has scored headed goals (1).

Norwich City - Angus Gunn

Son of former Norwich goalkeeper Bryan, Angus has followed in his father's footsteps by taking a goalkeeping jersey at Carrow Road. Unfortunately his has 28 on the back rather than 1. Nevertheless, the 6ft 5in (1.96m) keeper has appeared in Norwich City's last four games, keeping a clean sheet against Watford and then conceding just one against Crystal Palace. He won't want to be reminded, however, that his other four Norwich appearances this term have seen him concede 15.

Southampton - Fraser Forster

A commanding presence between the sticks, Forster joins Arsenal keeper Okonkwo at 6ft 7in (2.01m). The duo have got some way to go to match the world's tallest keeper, FC Copenhagen academy product and former Accrington, Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk keeper Simon Bloch Jorgensen. The Dane is reported to be 6ft 10in (2.10m).

A lot of people asking just how tall our new @DulwichHamletFC signing Simon Bloch Jørgensen is...

Here's all 6ft 10.5 inches of him stood next to 6ft 5 Joe Hart while training for @WestHamUtd under 23s team! #Beast ⚽🧤#DulwichHamlet #DHFC #DHST #12thman #Transfer #GreatDane pic.twitter.com/PIbSRaKCmE
— Lawrence (@DulwichCookie) February 7, 2019

Tottenham Hotspur - Pierluigi Gollini

There's something about second-choice goalkeepers and being tall. Spurs' understudy to World Cup winner Hugo Lloris is their tallest player at 6ft 4in (1.94m).

Watford - Ben Foster

The 38-year-old has come a long way from his time at Racing Club Warwick, racking up 374 Premier League appearances. The 6ft 4in (1.93cm) keeper, known as 'The Cycling GK' on YouTube, already looks to have his path mapped out after the game, but 13top-flight appearances this term show he's not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

West Ham - Alphonse Areola

We thought it would be Czech midfield man Tomas Soucek too, but it is yet another goalkeeper who takes the accolade of his club's tallest player. Areola is 6ft 5in (1.95m). Soucek for the record is just 6ft 3in (1.92m).

Wolves - Willy Boly

Sidelined for much of the season with injury and yet to make an appearance in 2021/22, Wolves' Ivorian centre-back rounds off our list of giants at 6ft 5in (1.95m). Three of the Ivory Coast international's five top-flight goals have come with his head.