European Top 5: 100% domestic players fielded by Athletic Club Bilbao in 2023-24 (CIES)

Athletic Club Bilbao (LALIGA EA Sports) is the club from the European Top 5 that fielded the most domestic players between April 2023 and April 2024, with 100% Spanish players lined up over the period, according to the CIES Football Observatory's Weekly Post dedicated to the clubs territorial anchorage, published on 01/05/2024.

The Basque club is ahead of FC Heidenheim (Bundesliga, 96% German players lined up) and Club Atletico Osasuna (88%). Le Havre AC, 4^th, is the first Ligue 1 Uber Eats club in the ranking with 82% of French players fielded. Luton Town FC (8^th, Premier League) is the top English club (74%), while AC Monza (64 %), 17^th, is the best-ranked Serie A TIM team.

By contrast, 19 clubs in the European Top 5 give less than a third of their total playing time to domestic players, including nine from Italy and seven from the Premier League.

Of the 100% of Spanish players fielded by Athletic Club Bilbao over the period, 62% were from the club's academy. The five European Top 5 clubs that fielded the most domestic players from their academy were Spanish. Conversely, between…