Ajax remain the most prolific producers of young talent as English clubs trail behind

• Football Observatory’s statistics show Dutch club leads the way

• Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City make the top 100

Ever since the days of Johan Cruyff’s all-conquering Ajax side of the 1970s, the Dutch club has always been known as one of the most successful producers of young talent in the world.

According to new statistics released this week by Switzerland-based Centre international d’étude du sport’s (CIES) Football Observatory, that reputation is well deserved. Ajax tops the list of clubs that have trained the most footballers playing in highest tier of Europe’s 31 best leagues with a staggering 77 – three ahead of their nearest rivals Partizan Belgrade of Serbia.

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from Football | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1wrt1IE