Training: SL Benfica is the European club with the most active academy graduates

SL Benfica (Liga Portugal Betclic) is the European club with the most players from its academy active in football, with 93 players under contract in the 49 leagues studied, according to the CIES Football Observatory's "Weekly Post" published on 22/10/2025.

The Portuguese club is ahead of FC Barcelona (LALIGA EA Sports) and Sporting CP (Liga Portugal Betclic), with 76 players trained and active, and Paris Saint-Germain (62, Ligue 1 McDonald's).

In terms of playing time given to players from European clubs' academies, Real Sociedad (LALIGA EA Sports) top the table (27 players, 3,394 minutes played), ahead of Athletic Club Bilbao (LALIGA EA Sports, 28 players, 3,215 minutes) and Atalanta BC (Serie A Enilive, 25 players, 2,885 minutes).

Outside Europe, River Plate (Argentine Primera División) dominate the rankings with 97 players trained and active in the leagues studied, ahead of SL Benfica and Defensor SC (Uruguayan Primera División, 88 players trained and active).

• CIES defines "training clubs" as the "first teams in which footballers have played for at least three years between the…