Youth team transfer analysis: Major clubs reap profits but only a select few make smart deals

With the increasing attention on academies in football, young prospects can secure vast profits for clubs to a greater extent than ever before.
This analysis examines transfers from 26 major clubs’ youth/reserve teams to identify who makes the smartest deals.
Why it matters: The value of selling proven talent has increased immensely over the last 10 years, so clubs have invested huge amounts in developing their academies.
The perspective: Transfer revenue is a cornerstone metric in most clubs’ financials. However, a large profit in the short-term can turn out to be a source of regret for a club if those players’ valuations multiply quickly at their new clubs.

Talent in football is being spotted and lured by top clubs at younger ages than ever before. Youth team competitions such as the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League have commercialised under-21 squads, allowing everyone to watch the big prospects in-game.

However, not all players make the cut from the reserve team or youth level to the first team at these major clubs. Instead, promising but not yet exceptional talent is being sold to other, smaller clubs.

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