How academy graduates are allowing top clubs to spend big
Stars of the future are in demand as a much safer investment in a slow post-covid market to raise valuable funds
For a brief moment, even the most cynical soul in the cynical world of football would have been moved by the sight of Trevoh Chalobah, a Chelsea academy graduate who joined the club at the age of eight, sinking to his knees after scoring on his Premier League debut last weekend.
Dreams really can come true in football, and the 22-year-old began to cry as he celebrated his goal. Up in the stands, Chelsea’s directors would have no doubt enjoyed the moment as fiercely as any of the supporters sitting around them.
But while there were tears in the eyes of Chalobah, there might well have been pound signs in the eyes of Chelsea’s key decision-makers.
Chalobah might make it as a firstteam regular, of course, becoming a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s team alongside another academy graduate, Mason Mount.
But he might not, and if it is decided he is not a long-term option, it is inevitable that one day he will be sold.
On the evidence of the past few years, and this summer in particular, he will surely fetch a decent price for the club who trained him.
This is simply the way of the footballing world at the moment. In a slow-moving market, ground to a near halt by the financial impact of the pandemic, it is the academy kids who are bringing in the cash for England’s biggest clubs.
Chelsea have spent £97.5million on Romelu Lukaku, yes, but they have raised almost £80million through the sales of Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan (£24million), Marc Guehi to Crystal Palace (£20 million) and Tammy Abraham to Roma (£34 million, to be confirmed). All three of those players joined the club before they were 10.
Slightly further down the chain, Chelsea have also sold Tino Livramento to Southampton for £5million, Lewis Bate to Leeds for
£1.5 million and Myles Peart-harris to Brentford for £1.35 million.
It is a similar story elsewhere. At Manchester City, Pep Guardiola made the point that Jack Grealish really only cost £40 million, rather than £100million, because the club have generated £60million in sales this summer. The departures of Angelino, Lukas Nmecha and Ivan Ilic, all former youth-teamers, have helped City to reach this total.
They also received £11.2million from Jadon Sancho’s move to Manchester United, as the England winger was part of their academy.
At Arsenal, they have tried desperately to sell their unwanted fringe options, but there have been few takers. The only player they have sold for a considerable fee is academy graduate Joe Willock, who joined Newcastle United for £22 million.
It was the same story last season, when former academy player Emiliano Martinez was sold for £20million, and the year before when Alex Iwobi joined Everton in a deal that could rise to £34million.
Liverpool, too, have made huge profits on players who came through their youth ranks. In the past 12 months alone, they have generated a combined £50 million through the sales of Harry Wilson to Fulham, Rhian Brewster to Sheffield United and Ki-jana Hoever to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It all makes for quite the contrast with non-youth team products. The academy kids are flying off the shelves this year, but buying clubs do not want to go near those who are more established.
The salary issue is a key reason. These youngsters are generally earning less money than senior players, which means that the buying club can lure them without breaking the bank.
Willock, for example, will be earning far more as an expensive new signing at Newcastle than he was as a young prospect at Arsenal.
The likes of Guehi and Abraham will have resale value, too. Even if Palace are relegated this season, Guehi will surely be of interest to other clubs going forward. Palace might not get all their money back, but they would expect to at least get a decent chunk of it.
For the products of the Premier League’s most selective and impressive academies, there is also an element of quality assurance. To buy a player who has been developed by Chelsea – the champions of Europe – is to buy a player who comes with a footballing kitemark.
From his CV alone, clubs will know that he is comfortable on the ball, tactically astute and physically capable.
The final, and potentially crucial factor, is one of motivation. It is not the case for every young player, but as a loose rule it is certainly fair to assume that up-and-comers are more eager to prove themselves than the big earners who are no longer wanted by their clubs.
The academy kids are cheaper, hungrier and safer as investments. In a slow market, they are the ones keeping the financial ball rolling.