A big part of playing Football Manager is developing young players or even wonderkids and turning them into genuinely top players.
Some clubs are better than others at producing top young players, though. Who are the clubs with the highest-rated youth development set-ups in FM24?
(All ratings are based out of 100)
Manchester City (Youth development rating 87)
It will not be a major surprise to see the big-spending reigning English champions at the top of our list. Since the current owners came into the club, not only have they spent big on first-team players but heavily invested in the youth facilities at the club.
Two of the biggest stars to come out of the City youth set-up in recent years are England duo Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. Foden has excelled with the Citizens, while Palmer was one of the Premier League’s top performers with Chelsea last season.
Defender Rico Lewis has also emerged from City’s youth set-up. Meanwhile, this season, another of the club’s youth products, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, also made his first-team debut for the men from Manchester.
Arsenal (Youth development 86)
The Gunners have had a reputation for producing quality young players in recent years. Many of their best teams in recent decades have been powered by young players that the club has developed, even if they haven’t come through the youth ranks.
However, winger Bukayo Saka, a relatively recent graduate of the Arsenal academy, has made a significant impact on the game, both with the Gunners and England.
He has been influential in Arsenal’s recent title challenges and helped the Three Lions advance deep into international tournaments.
Other players from Arsenal’s academy, such as Joe Willock, Alex Iwobi, and Eddie Nketiah, currently play in the English top flight.
Real Madrid (Youth development rating 86)
Over the years, the club have produced some fine players from their academy. Current squad members Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez came through the youth ranks.
However, the club have also played a part in developing many of Spain’s finest players, such as legendary striker Raul and goalkeeping stalwart Iker Casillas.
Although the men from Madrid have spent a lot on foreign talent recently, the club will continue to produce homegrown talent, who will likely become quality players if not with Los Blancos elsewhere.
Barcelona (Youth development rating 85)
Once again, the Catalan giants having one of the best youth ratings in FM is not a massive surprise. The Blaugrana seems to have a constant stream of high-quality young players in La Masia who are just ready to burst into the first team.
Barcelona is, of course, famous for the quality of young players it produces. In the past, of course, the most famous graduate of La Masia was Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.
However, the current first-team squad includes players who came through the Catalan club’s youth ranks. Pau Cubarsi, Alex Balde, Gavi, Marc Casado, and the highly rated teenage Lamine Yamal have all come from within the club’s youth ranks.
There are very few clubs that have been as prolific at producing top-quality players as the Catalan giants. They are often helpful as a resource to pick up loan players to improve your squad as the youngsters look to gain experience.
Liverpool (Youth development rating 85)
Liverpool’s youth academy has produced some top players over the years. Club legends such as Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler came from their youth system, as did former England and Real Madrid star Michael Owen, who is held on slightly more unfavourable terms by the club faithful.
Liverpool’s current first-team is proof of the strength of the academy, as one of the Reds star players is England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Another young full-back from the club’s youth set-up, Connor Bradley, has merged as a bright talent in the last few seasons.
Meanwhile, midfielder Curtis Jones has also become a regular first-team player this season. His performances with the Reds have seen Jones win two England caps and score his first international goal.
If you are playing as a lower league club, Liverpool is always a good place to look to pick up some players on loan.
Bayern Munich (Youth development rating 85)
The Bavarian giants continue to be one of the most productive clubs in the world, producing quality players. One famous Bayern youth product, veteran former Germany international Thomas Muller, still plays for the first team.
However, more recently, the likes of Jamaal Musiala, Josip Stanisic and Aleksandar Pavlovic have all made their mark at first-team level.
FM wonderkid Paul Wanner is also currently on loan from Bayern to Heidenheim. The versatile youngster is expected to have a big future in the game.
Excellent resources at the clubs on our list
If you choose to manage any of the clubs on our list, then you are likely going to have a decent crop of young players coming through the ranks, which could well save you money when it comes to squad recruitment.
However, if you are lower down the footballing pyramid, these clubs can be helpful for not just signing loan players but for signing their players who are not quite good enough to get into their first team but have lots of potential to develop into top-class players in the future.
Have you managed any of the clubs on our list? If so, do they produce high-quality regens?
