5 clubs that have made the most money from academy player sales since July 2015
Developing world-class players is every football club’s ultimate pipe dream. Every established club send scouts across countries and even continents to sign young players and try their best to unlock their potential.
In reality, very few clubs regularly strike gold. Even fewer manage to hold on to their academy stars or manage to give them the attention they deserve.
From buyout clauses to fractured relationships with players due to lack of game time, the reasons behind immature player sales are aplenty.
Today, we will take a look at five football clubs that successfully developed high-profile players, but did not or could not keep them.
Here are five football clubs that have earned the most by selling their academy stars since July 2015:
Special note: Only players who have been at the club’s academy for more than three years have been considered for this list.
Stats via: CIES Football Observatory
#5 Olympique Lyon (France) – €270 million
Ligue 1 outfit Lyon have established themselves as one of the most respected football clubs in the world. Not only do they play a brand of football that pretty much everyone can get behind, but they also tend to develop top-drawer players on cue.
Since their inception, Lyon have always prioritized giving youth a chance. This policy does not exactly guarantee success in the top competitions, but it surely makes the club a lucrative place to be at for youngsters.
The French club have given us some exceptional players over the last seven years, including Alexandre Lacazette, Samuel Umtiti, Nabil Fekir, and Anthony Martial. While every player on that list is beaming with quality, it is the Arsenal no. 9 who stands out, thanks to his handsome transfer fee.
Mikel Arteta on Lacazette: “When I see our striker in the 85th minute chasing a full-back in the corner flag, winning the ball back, fighting, missing one chance, missing two chances, going again - I can only praise him. At the end he got the reward. For me, it’s Laca’s goal.” https://t.co/mboi6kSka3
Lacazette, who was signed by Arsenal for a €53 million fee in 2017, rose through Lyon’s academy system to make his first-team debut in 2010. Between 2010 and 2017, Lacazette played 275 games for Les Gones, scoring 129 goals.
#4 AFC Ajax (Netherlands) – €283 million
Once led by the great Johan Cruyff himself, Ajax arguably possess the most recognizable youth system in the world. Every player in the academy goes through rigorous training, understanding the nitty-gritty of the game we all love.
As a result, the academy graduates are not only excellent footballers, but they are also a tad sharper with their footballing brains.
The transfer of Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona has earned them the most money (€86 million) in history. And while he did play for Ajax’s U21 team, he cannot be considered their youth graduate since he spent his formative years at Willem II.
#Juve
Matthijs de Ligt tells Rondo: "What Mino Raiola said [leave in July] happened three months ago, so many things can change. At the moment I'm focused on this season". 🇳🇱 #Juve
"I am really enjoying myself here at Juventus. I'm learning more every week and I really like that". https://t.co/CkWLnI1DsK
Matthijs de Ligt, who remains the club’s youngest captain in history, is their most valuable departure. Having made 117 appearances for Ajax, the centre-back left for Juventus for an €85.5 million fee in 2019.
The likes of Donny van de Beek and Justin Kluivert also rose through Ajax's famed academy before moving elsewhere.