In the ever-changing landscape of football, developing young talent is essential for sustained success. SportsLens takes a look at which Premier League clubs have provided significant opportunities for their under-21 stars to showcase their abilities this season.
Throughout the 2023–24 season, numerous teams throughout the Premier League demonstrated their dedication to nurturing young talent by offering substantial playing opportunities to their under-21 players.
From Manchester United to Bournemouth, we’ve witnessed several emerging stars make significant breakthroughs this season, establishing themselves on the grand stage of professional football.
In this article, we’ll examine the top 10 Premier League teams that prioritised giving playing time to under-21 players based on the percentage of minutes they played during the season.
Top 10 Teams Minutes Given To Under-21 Players
=9. Tottenham Hotspur – 3.2%
Spurs claim the joint 9th spot on this list, thanks to the significant contributions of two players who featured prominently before turning 21 this season.
Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr played crucial roles, with Udogie accumulating 878 minutes and Sarr playing 218 minutes before reaching the age of 21.
=9. Brentford – 3.2%
Brentford, along with Spurs, has distributed 3.2% of total minutes played to under-21 players this season so far. Notably, players like Yegor Yarmolyuk, who made 21 appearances in the Premier League at just 20 years old, exemplify why Brentford earned a spot on this list.
8. Liverpool – 4.7%
Liverpool’s inclusion on this list comes as little surprise, given Jurgen Klopp’s consistent dedication to providing playing time to young players. This season has been no exception, with 20-year-old Conor Bradley making nine league appearances.
Additionally, defender Jarrell Quansah, born in 2003, played 263 minutes before his 21st birthday in January, further highlighting Liverpool’s ethos of nurturing young talent.
7. Newcastle United – 5.4%
Newcastle United edges just ahead of Liverpool, allocating 5.4% of total minutes to under-21 players in the league this season. Eddie Howe’s fondness for nurturing young talent, evident since his days at Bournemouth, continues at Newcastle.
A prime example is Lewis Miley, merely 17 years old, yet already making 17 appearances in the Premier League this season. This highlights the trust that manager Eddie Howe places in youth prospects.
6. Bournmeouth – 7.2%
Bournemouth’s commitment to nurturing young players continues this season, evident through their acquisitions of Milos Kerkez from PSV and Alex Scott from Bristol City.
Both aged 20, Kerkez has logged 1,625 minutes of Premier League action, while Scott has contributed 736 minutes, showcasing their substantial roles in the team’s success.
5. Sheffield United – 7.7%
While their league position leaves a lot to be desired, Sheffield United deserves praise for providing opportunities to young players in the Premier League. They’ve allocated 7.7% of their total minutes to Under-21 players this season, securing a spot in the top 5 on the list.
Among those given opportunities are William Osula, Andre Brooks, and notably James Mcatee, who turned 21 in October but made significant contributions before reaching that milestone.
4. Burnley – 9%
Since Vincent Kompany took the helm at Burnley, his fondness for giving young players a chance to prove themselves has been evident. This season, as Burnley rejoined the Premier League, they brought in five players under the age of 21.
Notably, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsey, Wilson Odobert, and Luca Koleosho have each featured in over 15 games, demonstrating Kompany’s loyalty to youth development and providing them with valuable playing time in the top flight.
3. Chelsea – 11.1%
Chelsea has long boasted one of the finest youth systems in football, adept at either nurturing talent for their first team or facilitating successful sales to other clubs. Moreover, their squad boasts the youngest average age in the league, at just 23.6.
Defensive duo Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto have played integral roles in this, with Gusto logging 1,532 minutes in the Premier League and Colwill accumulating 1,729 minutes before reaching the age of 21.
2. Manchester United – 11.8%
Manchester United narrowly surpasses Chelsea, dedicating 11.8% of total minutes to under-21 players this season. The Red Devils have seen a plethora of young talents emerge, including Rasmus Højlund, signed from Atalanta, Kobbie Mainoo from the youth system, Alejandro Garnacho, and Willy Kambwala.
Collectively, these players have amassed an impressive total of 4,976 minutes in the Premier League this season, underscoring Erik ten Hag’s commitment to providing opportunities for young players.
1. Brighton & Hove Albion – 16.5%
Brighton claims the top spot for providing the most minutes to Under-21 players this season, an impressive 16.5% of total minutes played. This comes as no surprise, considering their strong emphasis on youth development, a trend that continued from the previous season, when they ranked just behind Southampton.
Under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi, six players under the age of 21 have received significant playing time. Notable mentions include Evan Ferguson, Julio Enciso, Carlos Belaba, Ansu Fati, Facundo Buonanotte, and even 18-year-old Jack Hinshelwood. Brighton has distributed a total of 5,059 minutes to Under-21 players in the Premier League this season.
Hinshelwood opens the scoring!
Brighton’s early pressure is rewarded with an early goal ⚽️#PLonPrime #BHATOT pic.twitter.com/CCPdrMkGex
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 28, 2023
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