Football has room for every body type, but there’s always been something captivating about watching a genuine giant tower over everyone else on the pitch. From goalkeepers who fill the entire frame of the goal to strikers who turn crosses into near-automatic aerial duels, the Premier League has hosted some seriously tall players over the years. Here’s a look at the biggest of them all.

Kjell Scherpen — 206cm (6ft 9in)

Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen sits at the very top of the list, matching the tallest height ever recorded in Premier League history. Scherpen previously spent time at Brighton & Hove Albion without making a league appearance, before moving on to spells in the Netherlands and Austria. He’s now returned to English football with newly-promoted Ipswich Town, giving fans a fresh chance to see the competition’s tallest-ever player in action.

Costel Pantilimon — 203cm (6ft 8in)

Romanian goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon is the tallest player to have made a genuine impact in the Premier League, with spells at Manchester City, Sunderland, and Watford. His height was a clear asset between the posts, and during his time at Sunderland alone he kept 17 clean sheets across 54 league appearances.

Lacina Traore — 203cm (6ft 8in)

Ivorian striker Lacina Traore matched Pantilimon’s height during a brief and injury-hit spell at Everton. His time at Goodison Park never quite took off, but his sheer size made him instantly memorable to anyone who saw him play, even in limited minutes.

Nikola Zigic — 202cm (6ft 7in)

Serbian striker Nikola Zigic arrived in the Premier League following a spell at Valencia and became a genuine cult figure at Birmingham City. Renowned for his aerial dominance, Zigic was central to Birmingham’s League Cup triumph in 2011, using his height to create constant problems for opposition defenders.

Peter Crouch — 202cm (6ft 7in)

No list like this would be complete without Peter Crouch, arguably the most iconic tall player in Premier League history. Crouch scored 108 Premier League goals across spells with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Stoke City, and as of recent record-keeping, remains the modern-era leader for headed goals in the competition with 53. Beyond the goals, Crouch became a beloved figure in English football for his self-deprecating humor and surprisingly deft technical ability for a player of his size.

Stefan Maierhofer — 202 cm (6 ft 7 in)

Austrian striker Stefan Maierhofer’s Premier League career was brief, largely limited to substitute appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2010-11 season. Still, his height made him a memorable target-man option whenever he came off the bench.

Dan Burn — 201cm (6ft 7in)

Dan Burn is the tallest current outfield player fans will regularly recognize, and unlike most players on this list, his height hasn’t limited him to a single role. The Newcastle United defender has played across the back line, including at left-back and as part of a back three, and has been a key figure in Newcastle’s Champions League qualification in recent seasons.

Paul Onuachu — 201cm (6ft 7in)

Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu brought his imposing frame to the Premier League after a prolific goalscoring career in Belgium, adding another towering target-man option to the competition’s history.

Thibaut Courtois — 200 cm (6 ft 7 in)

Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois built much of his Premier League reputation on his combination of height and reflexes, using his frame to make himself an imposing presence in goal during his time at Chelsea.

Kristoffer Ajer — 198cm (6ft 6in)

Rounding out the list is Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer, who built his early reputation at Celtic before moving south to Brentford. His height continues to make him a serious aerial threat at both ends of the pitch, particularly from set pieces.

Why Height Still Matters in the Modern Game

Even as football has increasingly rewarded speed, technique, and positional intelligence, height remains a genuine competitive advantage in specific moments, set pieces, aerial duels, and commanding a goal box. It’s no coincidence that goalkeepers and centre-backs dominate this list, though a handful of towering strikers have carved out real reputations by turning their size into a weapon in the final third.

With Scherpen back in the league at Ipswich, the tallest chapter of Premier League history has a fresh face to watch in 2026-27.