Iwobi, Iheanacho most expensive academy graduates sold by Arsenal, Manchester City

Published: February 28, 2022

Neuchâtel-based International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has published the top 50 clubs worldwide that generated the most incomes since July 2015 from the transfer of players who graduated from their youth academy.

The players under consideration must have been at the club for at least three years between the seasons of their 15th and 21st birthday.

Arsenal collected the highest transfer fee from the sale of Hale End Academy product Alex Iwobi who joined Everton in 2019 in exchange for 41.86 million euros (equivalent of N19.51 billion in Nigerian currency).

The fee represents approximately 25 percent of the money generated by the Gunners from the sale of players trained in the club since July 2015.

Kelechi Iheanacho is the most expensive academy product sold by Manchester City, joining Leicester City in August 2017 for a fee of 29.9 million euros.

The fees collected from the transfer of the 2013 U17 World Cup winner is 20 percent of the total generated by the Citizens from the transfer of their academy graduates.

Arsenal are the tenth most profitable academy, generating €171m since July 2015 and Manchester City are 18th with €140m generated.

Though they were born in Nigeria, Iheanacho and Iwobi are classed as homegrown players by the Premier League having been registered by Man City and Arsenal for three entire seasons before their 21st birthday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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