Manchester United’s academy has been ranked among the most profitable in the world – although they find themselves lagging behind Manchester City.
Both United and City have been named among the top 50 most profitable youth academies worldwide, as put together by the CIES Football Observatory.
The list takes into account the incomes generated since July 2015 from the transfer of players graduated from clubs’ youth academies, with perhaps a slight surprise topping the list.
Monaco lead the way having made €246million from nine transfers over the years, with Kylian Mbappe’s move to Paris Saint-Germain accounting for a whopping 73 per cent of that income.
Real Madrid sit just behind them, having made €236m from 11 transfers, while another French side sits third, with Lyon having generated €228m from 14 transfers.
Ajax (€211m from 10 transfers) and Benfica (€202m from seven transfers) make up the rest of the top five, while the highest ranked English side are Liverpool, who have made €131m from eight transfers, with Raheem Sterling’s move to City accounting for 54 per cent of their income.
City themselves are the second most profitable English side, although still find themselves a fair way behind Liverpool, having made €78m from 10 transfers over the years, while Chelsea and Arsenal have both generated €75m from seven transfers each.
United, meanwhile, sit further back, having made €42m from four transfers since 2015, with Sam Johnstone’s move to West Brom their biggest earner having made up 27 per cent of their income.
United’s figure also places them behind Leicester (€71m), Crystal Palace (€56m), Fulham (€53m), Sheffield United (€50m), and Tottenham (€48m).
Most profitable youth academies worldwide since 2015
Monaco - €246m
Real Madrid - €236m
Lyon - €228m
Ajax - €211m
Benfica - €202m
Atalanta - €182m
Bayer Leverkusen - €177m
PSV Eindhoven - €142m
Liverpool - €131m
Schalke - €126m
Selected others: Manchester City (€78m), Chelsea (€75m), Arsenal (€75m), Leicester (€71m), Crystal Palace (€56m), Fulham (€53m), Sheffield United (€50m), Tottenham (€48m), Manchester United (€42m).
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
