Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says the club’s academy will rival the Premier League's big six once it is completed.
Palace began work in June on a £20million redevelopment of their academy, which was then awarded Category One status in July.
That grade brings the Eagles up to speed with Premier League clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Renovation work on the building interiors is under way, which will create new classrooms for 220 young players and office space, and Parish has high hopes for the finished product, which is expected by the end of next summer.
"It's fantastic for everybody inside the club to see that progress," he told Palace TV. "I hope it's fantastic for the supporters. This is something that will stand the club in good stead for the next 100 years.
"I don't think there will be a better academy, facilities-wise, in the country. There will be some that are probably as good, but there won’t be a better one and there certainly won’t be one in such an inner-city area surrounded by so many kids that we can help.
"From a footballing sense, it's already helping recruitment and retention."
Once the refurbishment on the Beckenham site is completed Palace will be able to strengthen the connections between the academy and Roy Hodgson's first team.
The Eagles have promoted 36 players from the academy to the first-team in the last 15 years and Parish thinks that trend will continue.
"Ten academy players have been training with the first-team this week while everyone’s been on international duty,” he added.
“I’ve had an hour-long conversation with Roy about the kids in our academy.
"The future looks good but everybody needs to do the work to get that last step and get more players in the first-team."
