Most valuable academy XI revealed
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Whilst new summer signings understandably offer huge excitement for fans across the globe, not much can beat a homegrown player progressing through the ranks to play for the first-team. ‘He’s one of our own’ rings from the terraces. The relatability with the fans is always higher with a player who has come through at the club itself. But which current Premier League sides have done best at developing stars through their own youth ranks? Here at Transfermarkt, we have calculated the teams in the English top-flight who have the most valuable collection of former academy players.
Which Premier League clubs have most valuable former academy players?
Perhaps surprisingly, leading the way are actually Arsenal. The Gunners boast a combined market value of €269 million from the five academy graduates of Bukayo Saka (€150m), Ethan Nwaneri (€55m), Myles Lewis-Skelly (€45m), Reiss Nelson (€16m), and Karl Hein (€3m). In second place are Manchester City with a combined market value of €229m from seven former academy players. The most valuable of which are Phil Foden (€100m), Rico Lewis (€40m), and Oscar Bobb (€25m). Third goes to Chelsea, who currently have seven former academy players in their first-team squad worth a combined €186m.
Liverpool take fourth position with a combined market value of €140.2m from the eight academy graduates in their squad. The Reds would have been higher on the list had they not sold Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jarell Quansah this summer. Manchester United take fifth, with their former academy players worth a combined €113.2m. Newly-promoted Sunderland (€41.5m), Brighton (€40.1m), Crystal Palace (€39m), Aston Villa (€38m), and Newcastle (€28.3m) also make the top 10.
Most valuable former academy XI
When we combined the most valuable XI from former academy players currently playing for the Premier League side they came through at, it makes for some team. In goal is keeper James Trafford (€22m), who returned to his boyhood club Man City this summer. Fellow Sky Blue, Lewis (€40m), is at right-back, with Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly at left-back. The Chelsea duo of Levi Colwill (€55m), and Trevoh Chalobah (€25m) take up the centre-back positions. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo (€50m), and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones (€45m) are in central-midfield.
In the no.10 position is Arsenal’s Nwaneri (€55m), who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Gunners last term. On the right-wing is his teammate Saka (€150m), who is the most valuable academy graduate in the entire Premier League. On the left is Foden (€100m). Leading the line is actually Manchester United’s Chido Obi, who is worth only €5m. The Red Devils signed him on a free transfer for Arsenal to their own academy 12 months ago. Due to Armando Broja’s (€12m) imminent move to Burnley, Obi gets the nod, but Premier League club’s inability to produce top level strikers through their own academy is highlighted by this XI.
