The CIES report examines the participation of under-18 footballers in the major European leagues over a 15-year period, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2023. It highlights differences between leagues, temporal trends, and the characteristics of these young players. A total of 402 minors played in the big-5 leagues during this period, with the French Ligue 1 leading in the number of underage players fielded, reflecting its role as a talent incubator and the strength of its training systems.
Evolution
For the first decade of the study, the use of minors by big-5 league clubs remained stable, with annual figures around 30. However, a rise was noted from 2019 to 2021, with an average of 36.7 minors per year, increasing to 61 in 2022 and 49 in 2023. The pandemic significantly impacted this trend, leading clubs to rely more on young players. The ability to make up to five substitutions per match also contributed to this increase. Notably, the French Ligue 1 saw a continuous rise in the number of minors used, driven by financial dependencies on transfer market incomes.
Player Characteristics
Among the 402 minors used from 2009 to 2023, midfielders and forwards were overrepresented compared to older players, while goalkeepers and defenders were underrepresented, likely due to the greater experience required for these positions. Most minors (83.3%) were from the country of their employment club, and while transferring minors is common, it is rare for them to play for the first team of their recruiting club before 18. Additionally, only 52.3% of these young players who moved on to other teams achieved higher career success, indicating early exposure to major leagues does not guarantee long-term success.
Conclusion
The report reveals a recent uptick in the use of under-18 players in the big-5 European leagues, peaking in 2022 due to post-pandemic factors and rule changes allowing more substitutions. The French Ligue 1 stands out for its increasing reliance on young talent, driven by economic factors and a strong training system. However, early debut in top leagues does not necessarily predict future success, as seen by the limited long-term career advancements among these young players.