EFL youth academy graduates are constantly coming through the revolving doors of football, but where do they all come from, and who is the best at producing and nurturing youth stars?
1. Charlton Athletic
Our first pick comes from 9 miles east of the Capital City, London! Charlton Athletic have always been renowned as one of the top academies in England and the EFL.
Over 12 years, Athletic remained ranked 1st among all 72 EFL clubs within productivity rankings, meaning it produced more academy graduates making more senior appearances in the league than any other side at that time.
According to their website, they have had over 50 academy graduates between the ages of 16 and 20, with first-team appearances since the 2013/14 season.
This includes current stars such as Nick Pope, Ademola Lookman, and Ezri Konza, with Joe Gomez also originating in the capital.
This demonstrates that the academy genuinely cares for its boys and truly wants the best for them, both in terms of academic achievement and maintaining a good reputation.
2. Crewe Alexandra
The second pick comes from a lower league side, a city in Cheshire, Crewe Alexandra!
Despite the low position, Crewe’s youth academy has a standout reputation, where in 2021-22 it ranked the 9th highest among 82 academies in England & Wales. This led the club to be the only non-Premier League club inside the top 10, ranking above the likes of Liverpool, Villa, and Leicester.
Crewe have produced some big names such as former Liverpool and England midfielder, Danny Murphy, and Villa and Burnley midfielder, Ashley Westwood.
Even though Crewe are lower down in the leagues, they still have top-class facilities and the ability to push players to their full potential, and to aim to reach for the very highest level they can.
3. Leeds United
Unsurprisingly, our next pick comes from up north, with Leeds United! Despite being outside of the EFL, a lot of their players have shone via the Championship. Leeds has another high reputation, just like the others in this list, with the club being awarded a category one academy status in 2020.
This reflects its investment, resources, and high productivity. Leeds, too, has had some very well-known names who have come through their academy, such as Kalvin Phillips, who was bought by Manchester City in 2022 for £45,000,000, before heading out on loan to Ipswich Town in 2024.
Leeds have also produced Pascal Struijk, who rose through the academy and has become a regular starter for Leeds on their return to the Premier League
4. Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn’s academy also holds a Category One status, the highest tier for youth development in England, and has produced numerous players who have reached high levels of the game.
This further proves that teams do not have to be heavily backed by Saudi Arabia funding to produce some world-class players.
The secret to a successful academy is slowly being revealed as a community effort with coaches who truly care for their lads and understand their needs to get them to their highest playing point.
Famously, Blackburn has produced players such as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Manchester United legend Phil Jones.
These lower sides bring up these players and nurture them to their next steps, showing that Lower Tier sides aren’t as irrelevant as the big six sides may believe.
5. Preston North End
While not always in the headlines like the others, Preston’s youth set-up shows strong metrics for academy productivity and is often noted in academic studies of academy development.
While Preston has a category 3 academy, meaning they can only provide development up to the Under-18s level, this is still a huge step into the wider world of academies, where players may be able to receive more focused training at some better facilities and become future players for big sides across Europe.
PNE have created significant defensive players, such as Ben Davies, who has had an extensive career at places such as Liverpool and Rangers.
Let us know your thoughts on your top 5 in the comments!
