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Many clubs across Europe have historically made it a point to field players that have come through the ranks of their esteemed academies. Youth teams have always been of immense importance to clubs in many ways, whether it is to promote players to improve their teams or to sell to other clubs as a dependable source of revenue.
AFC Ajax, for instance, have a habit of instilling their unique culture of the sport into aspiring footballers from a very young age. More often than not, these starlets go on to have a taste of first-team action in their careers before either becoming regulars at the highest level or moving elsewhere for regular football.
The Amsterdam giants have upheld this tradition for many decades, dating back to the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Clarence Seedorf, Marco van Basten, and late Dutch football icon Johan Cruyff.
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Not much has changed in modern-day football, as Ajax's youth products have played a staggering 37% of the available league minutes. Much of the same can be said for Athletic Club of LaLiga Santander, who boast the highest percentage across the top five leagues with 50.9.
The Premier League also has a few clubs that place a great deal of emphasis and trust in their own youth products. Here, we take a look at the top five clubs in the English top-flight whose academy players have played the highest percentage of league minutes.
Note: The primary criteria for players included are that they must have spent at least three years with the club between the ages of 15 and 21, as per the CIES Football Observatory.
#5 Liverpool | 16.3%
Liverpool have a long line of players who made a name for themselves after coming through their academy, including the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, and former captain Steven Gerrard. While they may not have had as illustrious a group of players to come through in the recent past, they have most certainly given chances to a host of promising players this season.
Whether it was by choice or due to necessity, the former champions have fielded several of their youth products this season, with star man Trent Alexander-Arnold (2943 minutes) leading the way.
Jurgen Klopp was forced to rely on the likes of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams due to several defensive injuries. Others such as star midfielder Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher also featured for the senior side.
#4 Arsenal | 20.1%
Arsenal are another club with a long history of producing some superb talents, with many such as Cesc Fabregas and Ashley Cole going right to the pinnacle of the game. Curiously, they have also let go of several noteworthy names over the last few years as well, including Serge Gnabry, Ismael Bennacer, and others who have gone on to do well all across Europe.
It's hardly surprising to see the Gunners feature on this list as a fair few of Mikel Arteta's players have risen through the ranks at London Colney.
Bukayo Saka is widely regarded as one of the club's most exciting prospects since Fabregas and has played a staggering 2546 league minutes. Hector Bellerin, Emile Smith Rowe, and other notable names have turned up regularly for the first team as well.
Also read: 5 Transfers that dramatically changed the fortunes of a club
#3 Chelsea | 24.5%
Chelsea didn't particularly have a reputation for being overly insistent on promoting their youth players into the senior side. Barring the great John Terry and, perhaps, Jody Morris, there aren't too many memorable names among their recent alumni.
That was, however, until Frank Lampard was appointed as head coach of his former club last season. To deal with a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, Lampard turned to the academy and gave regular minutes to a group of highly talented players.
This group, including Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Reece James, among others, played a huge role in Chelsea's 2020-21 season. Mason Mount, the recently-crowned Blues Player of the Season, leads the way with 2802 league minutes.
#2 Manchester United | 27.2%
Manchester United, in stark contrast to the Blues, have historically believed in blooding their youth. Some of the greatest players in their history have come through their academy, including George Best, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Sir Bobby Charlton, and many others.
Current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also placed his trust in many of his academy players since taking over. This season, Manchester United's youth products have accounted for a stunning 27.2% of their league minutes.
Players such as Dean Henderson, Scott McTominay, and Mason Greenwood have taken up key positions in the starting XI under Solskjaer. The Red Devils' number ten, Marcus Rashford, has accumulated 2928 league minutes, more than any of his fellow Carrington graduates.
#1 Brighton & Hove Albion | 30.1%
Over the last few years, Brighton & Hove Albion have quietly yet effectively established one of the most impressive youth set-ups in the Premier League. The Seagulls have a conveyor belt of talent they can choose to call upon and have done so this season under an excellent manager in Graham Potter. The coach has not blooded his youth for the sake of it, but has built his side around them.
Potter has instilled the likes of Robert Sanchez, Aaron Connolly, and hometown hero Lewis Dunk at the heart of his impressive Seagulls side.
Star defender Ben White is currently one of English football's hottest properties and has started 35 top-flight games this season, amassing a staggering 3015 minutes of Premier League football.
Also read: 5 Best Premier League players outside the traditional top 6 clubs
