Picture this: you're in the infancy of your life. You've laced up your boots and headed down to the local park for a casual kick-a-bout. You channel your inner Wayne Rooney if you supported Everton, your inner Paul Scholes if you supported Manchester United, your inner Frank Lampard's if you supported West Ham United and you think about making it as a professional footballer.
It's the dream for millions from all corners of the globe but, in reality, it's only capable for a select few who are talented enough to face the tireless trials and tribulations of academy football and come out of the other end.
Fans feel a gripping affinity for those players who are deemed 'local lads'; Alan Shearer, the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer, is loved, cherished, idolised by many of the St James' Park faithful, Manchester United legend Gary Neville will forever be a beloved figure for those associated with Old Trafford Steven Gerrard's a forever icon inside the Anfield echo chamber.
But, in the 2025/26 Premier League season, which clubs boast the highest number of 'local' players? And why is nurturing young players close to your ground in the decline? According to The Athletic's analysis, a total of four clubs – Aston Villa, Leeds United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers – boast zero local players.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – One Local Player
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As alluded to, there is a distinct lack of local-born talent in England's top flight. Following Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2025, that is especially the case at Anfield; as now, as of 2025/26, Curtis Jones is the only one flying the Merseyside flag high. The midfielder has been on the books of his hometown club since the age of nine.
Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, too, are banking one player. For the latter, hardened midfielder Ryan Yates – who has played just shy of 250 appearances for the Garibaldi – was born and bred in Nottingham. If it was up to him, he'd most likely want to stay for the entirety of his career in the engine room. They have plenty of Nottingham-born youngsters in the academy, though.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Two Local Players
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A club steeped in immense history, Manchester United are a club who pride themselves on their academy. It's been a cornerstone of their success since their inception – in 1878, when they were still called Newton Heath – and, to this day, it's an incredibly important part of their history. Kobbie Mainoo, who is struggling to worm his way into senior proceedings under Ruben Amorim, is among the players local to Manchester. Tyler Fredricson, too, grew up close to Old Trafford. Everton, too, are a club that value the usefulness of a brilliant academy.
Wayne Rooney, from back in the day, is one of their most notable players that grew up locally. Nowadays, the likes of James Garner and Harry Tryer – a Crosby-born goalkeeper yet to make his senior debut – are the only Scouser on the books of the Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit. By virute of having Dane Scarlett and Brandon Austin, both born in London, on the books at Tottenham Hotspur are keeping the locality and community feeling of Spurs thriving.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Three Local Players
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Manchester City, similarly to their rivals United, are a club that are keen to dip into their academy, pluck out a local lad and turn him into a key player for the senior team. Phil Foden springs to mind. As do the likes of Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly. They are the three local players who boss Pep Guardiola uses on a regular basis. Thanks to being situated in London, in the south-western area, Fulham have a three-man collection of players that are considered 'local'.
Sunderland and Newcastle United, who boast one of the fiercest rivalries in world football, are two very proud sides from the northeast of England, which has produced plenty of enviable talent over the years. For Eddie Howe's Magpies, Dan Burn is from Blyth; Lewis Miley is from Stanley and Mark Gillespie is from Newcastle upon Tyne. Those across the River Tyne also have three local players: Chris Rigg, Dan Niel and Anthony Patterson.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Four Local Players
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When Brighton & Hove Albion were plying their trade in the Championship, which was the case until their promotion campaign in 2016/17, they often relied on local lads coming through their youth ranks. They now have an eye for talent abroad before flipping them for an absurd amount of profit – but Fabian Hurzeler's Seagulls have four local lads on their books. As examples, Solly March, who is Brighton through and through, is from Eastbourne; Jack Hinshelwood is from Worthing.
Brentford, who have been in a similar position to Brighton over the years, also made the most of homegrown, local talent. Although he represents Jamaica on the international stage, centre-back Ethan Pinnock was born in Lambeth, London. London-born Myles Peart-Harris has followed in the footsteps of Pinnock by switching his allegiance to Jamiaca, but he remains a local lad to the Bees.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Five Local Players
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Chelsea, over the years, have possessed one of the best academies in Premier League history. In terms of their local players at the time of writing, Tosin Adarabioyo – despite emerging through City's academy ranks – is from London originally. Blues skipper Reece James, too, is also from the capital of England. Also included are Tyrique George, Jamie Gittens and Josh Acheampong.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Six Local Players
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Mikel Arteta's men are the only side in England's primary division that boast a total of six 'local' lads. Bukayo Saka – widely regarded as one of the best wingers in world football – has Hale End coursing through his veins and was born in Earling, London. Youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, two peas in a pod, are also local boys. As is the teenage phenomenon that is Max Dowman.
2025/26 Premier League Teams – Seven Local Players
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Incredibly, both West Ham United and Crystal Palace – according to The Athletic's in-depth report – boast a total of seven players local to their respective grounds. Formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Max Kilman's move to east London in the summer of 2024 means that he's been added to the list alongside the likes of promising academy graduate Oliver Scarles and 21-year-old George Earthy, whose birthplace is the London Borough of Havering. Another is defensive midfielder Freddie Potts.
Like many on this list, Oliver Glasner's Palace outfit benefits largely from being born in a city with a population of around 10 million – the capital city of England. The Seagulls, compared to many clubs in the Premier League, have a very England-centric squad, with many of them being born in London; that includes captain Marc Guehi, Romain Esse, Nathaniel Clyne and Eddie Nketiah.