CIES: only 19.2% of home-grown players in European clubs, new record low

Home-grown players represent 19.2% of the playing squads of the 466 clubs operating in 31 European first divisions, according to the monthly CIES Football Observatory report published on 07/11/2016. "The study shows that the presence of players trained at the club continues to decrease. It was 23% in 2009, and it goes to 19.2% in 2016. This is the lowest figure ever recorded," stated the CIES.

A home-grown or "club-trained" player is considered someone who spent at least three seasons at the club between the ages of 15 and 21 years old. The CIES report considered players in the clubs as of 01/10/2016, and who have played at least one game with their club in 2014-15, 2015-16, or 2016-17.

Among the countries studied, Slovakia is the European country where home-grown players represent the largest share (31.5%) of playing squads, while Turkey has the lowest figure (6.9%). LaLiga Santander is the Top 5 league where home-grown players are most represented (24.1%), just ahead of Ligue 1 (23.7%); the Premier League, the Serie A TIM, and the Bundesliga are all located between 10% and 13%.