Football clubs, not only just in the Premier League but those from all corners of the planet, take great pride in nurturing talent through their academy ranks in the hopes they'll be able to go on and do wonderful things in the beautiful game. That may not be for the side that developed them from a young age; nowadays, that is seldom the case.
The breakthrough rate, especially at the upper echelons of the English football pyramid, is rather low. In 2022, a report suggested that 97% of Premier League academy players never play a minute in the top flight, which is a telling sign of the modernisation of football and how academies play their part. A new study by Training Ground Guru, who have completed said study since 2016/17, have revealed which academies are thriving the most.
Their rankings assess academies across England on the number of graduates who made at least one 2024/25 appearance in the top five English leagues – the Premier League, Football League and National League – as well as Europe's top five divisions, which are La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1. From Manchester City to Southampton, let's take a look at the top 25.
25-11
Bayern's Michael Olise celebrates
Newcastle United's best academy graduate of all time is Alan Shearer. Since the striker, the northeast club have not enjoyed the same success from an academy perspective, as evidenced by their 25th-placed ranking. Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, who possess one of the strangest rivalries in football history, enjoyed plenty of success with their youth ranks last season.
Up next are the likes of Leicester City, now in England's second tier competition, and Norwich City, who produced the likes of Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy. Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland – who stand proud as the producers of Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford – follow, before Middlesbrough and Fulham stand respectively tall in 16th and 15th.
Reading, although it may not seem like it at first glance, have been the producer of a litany of talented footballers over the years. Michael Olise of Bayern Munich is their most notable graduate of recent times. Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, with Daniel Farke's promotion-winning side, are unfortunate to not break into the top ten, rank 13th, 12th and 11th respectively.
10 Sheffield United – 94.45
Kyle Walker
The first of two clubs on this list who don't play their football in the Premier League is Sheffield United. The Blades may have a Category Two academy but don't let that cloud over the abundance of talent produced from their academy ranks over the years: for example, David Brooks, who spent four years at the club between 2014 and 2018, now plays for Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United and Kyle Walker, who played for Manchester City and AC Milan last term, have been two of England's greatest defenders in recent years. They both graduated from Sheffield United's academy ranks in the mid-to-late 2000s. In their current squad, Oliver Arblaster is the most notable academy gem-turned-senior star.
9 Southampton – 96.95
Tyler Dibling in action for Southampton
Over the years, Southampton gained a reputation for being Liverpool's feeder club – think Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Peter Crouch spring to mind. Although none are academy graduates, the youth ranks down south are no joke! Tyler Dibling, who was signed by Everton over the summer of 2025, was a key member for the Saints last term; Jack Stephens has been a squad mainstay for years following his emergence from the academy.
Harrison Reed of Fulham, Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa and Nathan Tella – a winger who now plies his trade in Germany for Bayer Leverkusen – are all former academy stars of Southampton. They may have all moved on and achieved bigger and better things elswere, especially Tella, but Southampton will always hold a special place in their hearts.
8 West Ham United – 105.94
declan rice arsenal midfielder
Over the years, West Ham United have been renowned for producing some of England's brightest talents: Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard were all developed in east London. Of course, the aforementioned triumvirate are no longer enjoying their playing days; Declan Rice, now of Arsenal, is though. Now among the best midfielders in world football, he mastered his craft with the Hammers.
In terms of players that remain at the club and are looking to become legends of the club, Oliver Scarles and George Earthy – who are 19 and 21 years of age, respectively – are among those. West Ham have always been a club that tends to treat their academy prospects well and that's proven by their ranking as the eighth-best academy.
7 Liverpool – 111.63
Curtis Jones
Be honest, did you expect to see Liverpool, the reigning champions of England's top flight, so low on the list? Seventh is not a poor ranking by any stretch of the imagination – but the Reds should be a club striving to be the best in class in all departments. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones are two Liverpool-born academy graduates that played for the Reds last term.
After moving from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, Raheem Sterling became one of the club's most prized academy stars. A legend among Premier League circles, the 30-year-old winger is now on the books of Chelsea under Enzo Maresca. Their tally will have gone up this year, given London-born Rio Ngumoha, 17, is now expected to be a regular in senior proceedings.
6 Tottenham Hotspur – 126.11
Harry Kane
Although one of Tottenham Hotspur's most notable academy graduates, Sol Campbell, broke Spurs hearts when he moved to Arsenal, they've not always had such bad luck with their youngsters. Two words: Harry Kane. The English striker is widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards in the history of the Premier League and is now leading the line for Bayern Munich.
Harry Winks of Leicester City played top flight football with the Foxes last season; as did former Spurs star Oliver Skipp. Even Noni Madueke, 23, played for Spurs when he was younger. Troy Parrott, rather than stay in England, opted for an overseas move in the summer of 2024 as he joined AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. The young striker spent time in the club's academy between 2017 and 2024.
5 Manchester City – 127.37
phil foden
Since Sheikh Mansour took over Manchester City in September 2008, there has been much more of an importance placed on nurturing the crème de la crème of young talent – and there has been some clear improvement, as evidenced by Phil Foden's stratospheric rise from fresh-faced teenager to a six-time Premier League winner. The Englishman is the perfect example of the club's never-ending conveyor belt of supreme talent.
Kieran Trippier, who rose through the club's ranks post-takeover, now earns his corn under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United; Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, too, has moved on in the name of more game time and Cole Palmer, widely regarded as one of world football's greatest players at the moment, is Chelsea's go-to man.
4 Everton – 135.38
harrison armstrong
Notably rising from eighth to fourth, Everton – often overshadowed by their Merseyside rivals Liverpool – are a club whose academy prowess is largely forgotten about. They were crucial in the development of Wayne Rooney, after all. Anthony Gordon, now at Newcastle United and pushing for a starting spot for England, also has Everton to thank.
In the modern era, Roman Dixon and Harrison Armstrong both made their Premier League debuts for the Toffees under David Moyes in 2024/25. What Everton tend to specialise in, however, is producing players that move onto pastures new – the aforementioned Gordon is the perfect example. As is the case of Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson, who spent his early footballing years at Goodison Park.
3 Manchester United – 138.34
kobbie mainoo manchester united
A football club steeped in immense folklore, there are very few that can say they are as loud and proud of their academy as Manchester United are. According to Training Ground Guru, the Red Devils 'dominated' the first three editions of the Rankings, but that is no longer the case. Kobbie Mainoo, Old Trafford through and through, remains at the club, though his future may be up in the air.
Youngsters that have graduated from Carrington have thrived elsewhere, too. Angel Gomes now earns his corn in France's top flight while Scott McTominay has become a serious Ballon d'Or contender after a one-season spell at Napoli. The beauty of United's academy ranks will forever prevail the test of time.
2 Arsenal – 157.2
bukayo saka arsenal
Although there are skeptics that believe there is no pathway into the first team at Arsenal, the emergence of 15-year-old attacking midfielder Max Dowman has proved that wrong. Not forgetting that Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, two of England's best teenage talents, have also been promoted by Mikel Arteta in recent times.
Then, there's Bukayo Saka. Loved by all around the Emirates Stadium, the Englishman has been willing to carry the Gunners on his back with his creative genius. Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and the like were unable to make the grade in north London but are still in London, playing for Brentford, Crystal Palace and Fulham, respectively.
1 Chelsea – 187.99
reece james-1
By no surprise, Chelsea have retained their spot as England's best producer of talent – and that's largely thanks to their well-oiled academy system, which could potentially begin to decline if they continue to spend big on overseas talent. However, in terms of their very own, a grand total of eighteen of their graduates made an appearance in the Premier League and other European leagues last season.
Blues skipper Reece James, having made just under 200 appearances for the west Londoners, is the most notable Cobham graduate of late; elsewhere, Conor Gallagher, who was in the same age group as James, moved to Atletico Madrid for more game time in the summer of 2024. Last term, he played 32 times in La Liga.