Why Premier League Clubs Are Eyeing EFL Academy Players
August 15, 2026 ·
Premier League clubs continue to recruit young players from EFL and Scottish academies, with a significant increase in the number of 18-year-olds recruited this summer.
Why Premier League Clubs Are Eyeing EFL Academy Players
Why this is important
The recruitment of young players such as Jeremy Monga shows that Premier League clubs are increasingly focusing on developing talent from EFL and Scottish academies. This not only strengthens their squad, but also creates opportunities for young players to shine on a bigger stage. With the increasing number of 18-year-old players being drafted, the league is increasingly becoming an attractive place for young players to develop.
Background
Jeremy Monga, who was recently recruited by Manchester City from Leicester City, has made extraordinary achievements at youth level. As the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League for Leicester, he shows great potential which makes him a target for big clubs. With his background in the EFL academy, Monga is a clear example of the strategy of Premier League clubs in recruiting talented young players.
Main Points
- Why Premier League Clubs Are Targeting EFL Academy Players.
- Premier League clubs continue to recruit young players from EFL and Scottish academies, with a significant increase in the number of 18-year-olds recruited this summer.
- Premier League: Why clubs are targeting EFL academy players - BBC Sport.
For example, when Manchester City paid £12.5m to sign Jeremy Monga from Leicester City last month, they were not alone in their pursuit of this hugely talented young player. Arsenal also showed interest in the 17-year-old winger, but City won the battle to sign a player who has set numerous records at senior level. Monga became the second youngest Premier League player to appear for Leicester in April 2025, and has now surpassed Jude Bellingham as the youngest goalscorer in the Championship.
The recruitment of this young player was not just luck; there is a clear strategy behind it. The Premier League is now more often looking for players from EFL and Scottish academies, before they have really proven themselves at senior level. Antoine Semenyo, for example, was rejected by several academies before Bristol City discovered his talent in college football. After loan spells at Newport County and Sunderland, he proved his worth in the Championship before joining Bournemouth.
According to BBC Sport research, a total of 14 players have been recruited from EFL or Scottish academies for Premier League development squads this summer. This figure is comparable to the number of transfers that occurred throughout the 2025-26 season. In the previous season, there were eight transfers and 18 transfers in the 2023-24 season. Of the 14 players recruited, 11 of them are 18 years old, showing that clubs are increasingly focusing on bringing in young players.
Some of the young players who have moved include Blade Earley from Cambridge United to Aston Villa, Valentin Joseph from Blackburn Rovers to Brighton, and Harrison Bettoni from Wigan Athletic to Chelsea. Although Monga was not included in the sample of 14 players identified as having already broken into Leicester's first team, his transfer fee shows how quickly a young player's value can increase once they have proven themselves at senior level.
The costs incurred to recruit these young players are also relatively small compared to purchasing proven senior players. Nine of the 14 moves identified this summer were free transfers, and the other five were for undisclosed fees. This approach is attractive to clubs accustomed to spending tens of millions on players with experience, as they can spread relatively small funds across several talented young players.
However, there are also challenges that must be faced. The Premier League has approached the EFL to discuss the possibility of limiting the compensation paid when young players move between academies. This is important so that clubs who lose young players can receive training compensation and payments linked to future performances. Brexit also affects the way clubs recruit young players, where before the new policy came into effect, English clubs could easily search for talent throughout Europe without many obstacles. Now, after the restrictions, clubs have to be more careful in recruiting players.
When it comes to player development, there is no uniform approach among Premier League clubs. While there are variations in how individual clubs manage and develop young players, it is clear that clubs are now increasingly interested in identifying talented young players from EFL and Scottish academies to bring into their own development structures. That way, they can build better development pathways and ensure that young players are ready to compete at the highest level.
What happened next
With Monga now part of Manchester City, it is hoped that he will get the opportunity to develop in the U21 team or even the first team in the near future. Meanwhile, other clubs such as Arsenal and Leicester City will probably continue to look for talented young players to strengthen their squad. This trend shows that competition for talented young players will become increasingly fierce in the Premier League.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Premier League clubs targeting players from EFL academies?
Premier League clubs are eyeing players from EFL academies to strengthen their U21 squads and B teams, as well as to find young talent who can develop into quality senior players.
Who is Jeremy Monga?
Jeremy Monga is a young player who has just been recruited by Manchester City from Leicester City and is the second youngest player in the Premier League to appear for Leicester.
What makes Antoine Semenyo attractive to Premier League clubs?
Antoine Semenyo attracted the attention of Premier League clubs because of his proven ability after being loaned to several clubs and successfully showing good performance in the Championship.
How many players were recruited from EFL academies by Premier League clubs this summer?
A total of 14 players have been recruited from EFL or Scottish academies for the Premier League development squad this summer.
What are the latest trends in the recruitment of young players by Premier League clubs?
Recent trends show a significant increase in the recruitment of young players from EFL and Scottish academies, with clubs such as Manchester City and Arsenal actively looking for young talent.
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