Report: Football Academies - Manchester United, Chelsea And Everton Provide The Most Players To English Football Pyramid

In our second part of our extensive ‘Academies’ investigation in English Football, BettingOdds.com has taken a further look into the Premier League and Football League to see which clubs academies have ultimately provided the most players into the current football system in England.
Thirteen-time Premier League champions Manchester United have produced 71 footballers that are participating in the 2021/22 season in the top tier, Championship, League One and League Two combined, topping the list. The top five is completed with Chelsea (52), Tottenham Hotspur and Everton (46), and Manchester City and Arsenal (45). Interestingly, Championship relegation battlers Reading find themselves in a lofty position, having provided 42 players from their academy across all four divisions, marginally beating the likes of Liverpool, West Ham United and Aston Villa, who also all feature in the top ten for club contribution to English Football based on academies that have provided players.
While Manchester United also place number one for academy players (22) in the Championship (having not been in the second division since 1975), it is Everton that League One and League Two teams can thank, with the Toffees providing the most players to each tier, alongside Tottenham Hotspur (16) and Exeter City (13), respectively.
The results make for some riveting reading that highlights the underlying power forces in English football and have been compiled into the following categories:
Part II:
- Countries’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided players (outside of England);
- Clubs’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided players;
- Clubs’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided players in each Division of the Football League.
Please note, due to its ongoing activity, January transfers have not been considered.

Countries’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided players (outside of England)
country | number of academy players |
---|---|
1. France | 77 |
2. Scotland | 60 |
3. Wales | 55 |
4. Ireland | 47 |
5. Spain | 42 |
6. Holland | 34 |
7. Brazil | 30 |
8. Germany | 28 |
9. Portugal | 28 |
10. Denmark | 21 |
Clubs’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided players
academy | number of players |
---|---|
1. Manchester United | 71 |
2. Chelsea | 52 |
3. = Tottenham Hotspur | 46 |
3. = Everton | 46 |
5. = Manchester City | 45 |
5. = Arsenal | 45 |
7. Reading | 42 |
8. West Ham United | 39 |
9. Liverpool | 36 |
10. = Blackburn Rovers | 34 |
10. = Aston Villa | 34 |
Clubs’ Contribution to English Football based on Academies that have provided the most players in each Division of the Football League
Championship
academy | number of players |
---|---|
1. Manchester United | 22 |
2. Manchester City | 21 |
3. Reading | 18 |
4. Chelsea | 16 |
5. Arsenal | 15 |
6. = Birmingham City | 14 |
6. = Blackburn Rovers | 14 |
6. = Derby County | 14 |
9. = Sheffield United | 13 |
9. = West Ham United | 13 |
League One
academy | number of players |
---|---|
1. = Everton | 16 |
1. = Tottenham Hotspur | 16 |
3. = Crewe Alexandra | 15 |
3. = Manchester United | 15 |
5. = Manchester City | 13 |
5. = Reading | 13 |
5. = Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 |
8. = Arsenal | 12 |
8. = Plymouth Argyle | 12 |
10. AFC Wimbledon | 11 |
League Two
academy | number of players |
---|---|
1. = Everton | 13 |
1. = Exeter City | 13 |
3. = Manchester United | 12 |
3. = Scunthorpe United | 12 |
3. = Tottenham Hotspur | 12 |
6. = Birmingham City | 11 |
6. = Leyton Orient | 11 |
8. = Blackburn Rovers | 10 |
8. = Middlesbrough | 10 |
10. Aston Villa | 9 |


