LaLiga’s decade-long investment in youth development has delivered significant sporting and financial returns for Spanish football. Since launching its youth development initiative in 2016, Spanish clubs have generated more than €466 million in transfer income from players developed through their academies.
LaLiga launched the Youth Academy Meetings in 2016, bringing together youth academy directors and coordinators from its 42 affiliated clubs. From 2022, the initiative was further formalized through a broader plan focused on optimizing and improving youth development.
The programme covers areas including coaching and management structures, training facilities and equipment, talent identification, performance analysis, player education, psychological support and the transition from academy football to the professional game.
Spain leads Europe with 23 titles
According to a study by LaLiga’s Football Projects Department comparing the international success of European men’s and women’s national teams over the past decade, Spain leads the continent with 23 titles.
Germany ranks second with nine titles, followed by England with seven, France and Portugal with six each, the Netherlands with five and Italy with four.
Juan Florit, head of LaLiga’s Football Projects Department, said long-term investment in youth development can generate both sporting and financial returns, adding that LaLiga works with clubs to strengthen their development processes and share knowledge while respecting each club’s identity and philosophy.
The impact is also evident in Spain’s 2026 World Cup-winning squad. Twenty-five of the 26 players selected for the tournament had passed through a youth development system before reaching the elite level, with players from 11 LaLiga clubs represented among the academy systems that developed members of the squad.
Academy players generate €466 million in transfer income
According to the report, clubs that developed members of Spain’s 2026 World Cup-winning squad and subsequently transferred those players to other teams generated more than €466 million in transfer fees over the players’ careers.
The figure does not include additional income from training compensation, solidarity payments or other indirect mechanisms.
Meanwhile, the nine World Cup winners who remain at the clubs that developed them are estimated to provide approximately €545 million in sporting and asset value to those teams. By retaining academy-developed players, clubs can avoid significant transfer costs while maintaining valuable sporting assets.
LaLiga leads Europe in minutes given to academy players
The investment in youth development is also reflected in playing time.
During the 2025/26 season, LaLiga ranked first among Europe’s five major leagues for the percentage of minutes played by academy-developed players, at 20.1%.
| League | Share of minutes played by academy players |
|---|---|
| LaLiga | 20.1% |
| Ligue 1 | 16.1% |
| Bundesliga | 11.9% |
| Premier League | 8.3% |
| Serie A | 7.6% |
At club level, Athletic Bilbao led with 69.5%, followed by Real Sociedad at 55.2% and 2025/26 champions Barcelona at 47.5% in terms of the proportion of playing time given to academy-developed players.
Málaga had the highest number of academy players in its professional squad during the 2025/26 season, with 11, followed by Racing Santander with nine and Deportivo La Coruña with six. All three clubs secured promotion to Spain’s top flight following the season.
LaLiga’s decade-long approach demonstrates how sustained investment in youth development can become more than a sporting strategy. For Spanish clubs, academy systems are increasingly functioning as a source of transfer revenue, player value and competitive advantage, while also strengthening Spain’s national teams.