As then-Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen famously once said: “You can’t win anything with kids”. But does that notion really bear any weight? Clubs across the world – and especially in the Premier League – pump millions into their academy set-ups to ensure their best chance at success for years to follow.
In the space of a decade, there has been a collective change in Premier League teams: academies have transformed from being on the periphery of each club’s thinking to being an essential cog in title-winning teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool.
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But academies have been instrumental since the respective inceptions of each club in the English top flight. Barcelona, Ajax, Athletic Bilbao and the like fly the flag high across continental football, but what about those in England's top division? Using the ranking factors below, here are the top ten academies in Premier League history.
Ranking Factors
Quality of academy players – An obvious, but important, factor. How good are the players that each entrant produces?
Value – Particularly in the financial madness of the modern game, price is important. How much money have each entrants' talents generated them?
Impact – How critical has presence of youth players been to the success of each entrant?
Longevity – One-club players are increasingly rare, but for how long do youth talents tend to play for each entrant?
10 Greatest Academies in Premier League History
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10 Everton
Wayne Rooney, Richard Dunne, Leon Osman, David Unsworth, Ross Barkley
As evidenced by Liverpool’s never-ending list of academy talent over the years, it’s not unfair to say that Merseyside, as a whole, boasts a talent pool that cities from all corners of England would be jealous of – and Everton share that crown to an extent.
None other than Wayne Rooney, who is widely revered as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, was Everton’s crown jewel before Manchester United swooped in for the then-teenage sensation in 2004.
Ireland legend Richard Dunne, the all-action Leon Osman, penalty specialist and free-roamer, Ross Barkley, join the aforementioned Rooney in the throng of stars who have been spat out of Halewood. It’s a shame they have little success to show for.
9 Aston Villa
Jack Grealish, Gareth Barry, Gary Cahill, Lee Hendrie, Darius Vassell
The Jack Grealish of old, the one that dazzled at his very brightest between 2013 and 2021, was the best version of himself – and that’s all thanks to the fruits of Aston Villa’s academy, which saw him turn from kid to man under their tenureship.
The club’s big following have borne witness to plenty of graduating talent over the years. Lee Hendrie, too, was a combative midfielder who earned the adoration of the Holte End in the 13-year period between 1994 and 2007.
A cornerstone of the Premier League years, the Midlands-based outfit’s influence has been underpinned by their knack for unearthing talent, such as one of the most underrated English players of all time in Gareth Barry, Lee Hendrie and Darius Vassell.
8 Leeds United
Jonathan Woodgate, James Milner, Fabian Delph, Kalvin Phillips, Aaron Lennon
Albeit not the club that automatically springs to mind when thinking of academy products that have gone on to pull up significant trees in their careers – but Leeds United’s academy has always generated a lot of buzz and excitement.
Aaron Lennon, James Milner and Kalvin Phillips were all unearthed by the club from Yorkshire. Despite their years of misfortune of late, having spent time down in the Championship, the Whites were a staple part of England’s top flight.
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Even Archie Gray, now plying his trade at Tottenham Hotspur, is a product of Leeds’ well-run youth system. In decades past, they were one of the leading clubs in terms of producing youth and, although things have taken a slight decline, there is no overlooking the plethora of talent they’ve unboxed.
7 West Ham United
Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Mark Noble
A club with tradition oozing out of every crevice, West Ham United have done a superb job of producing some of England’s best talent and then selling them on for pure profit – which is one of the prime objectives of academies in this country.
Although some supporters assume that the east Londoners are merely a stepping stone for players such as Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, that is simply not the case. West Ham has been a place for serial nurturing.
And that’s what some of the best academies are best suited for. While some have spent millions investing in talent, West Ham have been one of the trailblazers at unearthing some of the best prospects English football has had to offer.
6 Southampton
Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Theo Walcott
While producing overwhelmingly prosperous academy prospects has never produced anything but a little trouble for Southampton since the top flight’s re-branding to the Premier League in 1992, keeping their hands on said talent certainly has been.
Gareth Bale carved out an enviable career in Spain’s capital for Real Madrid. Luke Shaw became one of the best left-backs in Premier League history. And Alan Shearer, while many assume he came through Newcastle’s United academy, also learned his goalscoring craft on the south coast.
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It's quite the roster of players for a club who’ve never really been in contention for becoming a title-winning outfit, but they continue to be a breeding ground for some of the nation’s brightest prospects – and the tricky Tyler Dibling is the latest example.
5 Arsenal
Bukayo Saka, Cesc Fabregas, Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere, Emiliano Martinez
Arsenal’s conveyor belt of talent – more commonly known as Hale End – has been on hand to produce the likes of Tony Adams and even Andy Cole in the pre-Premier League years, but the collection of talent that have been nurtured on the red side of north London is no joke.
The team behind the scenes at the Emirates Stadium have continued to work night and day to ensure that their academy set-up is still one of the best in class. Bukayo Saka, who is now regarded as one of the best wingers in world football, has become the face of the Gunners.
Not forgetting the untouchable Cesc Fabregas, the imperious Ashley Cole, the hugely promising Jack Wilshere who have all emerged from the club’s goldmine of talent. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the latest to experience the rise.
4 Manchester City
Phil Foden, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Cole Palmer, Kasper Schmeichel, Daniel Sturridge
Manchester City, helped by Pep Guardiola’s tactical genius, have become the dominant force in England’s top division of football since Sheikh Mansour took over in 2009 – and to complement such supremacy, the Citizens have established a strong youth academy that often produces talented crops of players.
Even pre-takeover, the Citizens were evidently adept at producing talent such as Daniel Sturridge, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kieran Trippier – all of whom have enjoyed glittering stints at the top of the English game, albeit sometimes away from the Etihad Stadium.
Think of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers as the players of recent times that have become notable assets in England’s top flight. The issue with the four-in-a-row champions is not regarding their production line, it’s about knowing if and when to let them go elsewhere.
3 Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen
Liverpool, one of England’s most domineering clubs, have always upheld their tradition of trusting in youth. Think Steven Gerrard – with the red side of Merseyside coursing through his veins – who carved out a wonderful career for the Reds.
But he, once, was being nurtured in the depths of their academy set-up. As were the likes of Steve McManaman, who is regarded as one of the greatest British players to ply their trade overseas, and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen.
Placing said belief in youngsters has served Liverpool well over the years and of their current side, Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold – a talent widely viewed as one of the greatest defenders in world football – are doing their best to keep the tradition rolling.
2 Chelsea
Reece James, John Terry, Declan Rice, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jamal Musiala
One of the great joys of football culture is watching a young player become a fully-fledged senior star and Chelsea, based in west London, have done that time and time again: from the likes of John Terry to Declan Rice to Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Terry is the perfect embodiment of being Chelsea through and through, as he started out as a fresh-faced youngster before becoming one of the club’s greatest players of all time. In fact, he is their third-highest appearance maker in their history.
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Perhaps one of the capital club’s biggest regrets will be allowing Jamal Musiala to leave before the supreme dribbler became one of the most sought-after youngsters in world football. That doesn’t put a darkening cloud over their constant production of now-skipper Reece James and the like.
1 Manchester United
Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Marcus Rashford, David Beckham, Gary Neville
A club who prides themselves on investing in and utilising their exuberance of youth is Manchester United – and what better way to kick-start with the well-documented Class of 92? The likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham were all churned out of Carrington in the Premier League's infant years.
Although there may be a slight decline in the number of soon-to-be stars becoming regulars in the senior set-up, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Kobbie Mainoo, a future superstar, are the names of late who have been the club’s crowning youth products.
And Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment means that more money is being put to the side to focus on finding the next big superstars. Albeit synonymous with buying football’s biggest stars, their goldmine of talent cannot be ignored – and that's exactly why the 13-time Premier League champions take the cake.