The English Football League today announced the beginning of a scheme designed to maintain homegrown players in the English game.
The plan, called EFL Futures, was launched earlier today with participants experiencing a brief in London where they were told £2.25m was on offer for sides who introduce young English players to their starting team.
A grand figure of £750,000 will be made available to sides who develop young players from England – or Wales for Cardiff City and Newport County – into starting players.
Currently statistics show that only 8% of all appearances this season have been made by English players under the age of 21, however it is beginning to look positive as 14 of the players in the England squad for last summer’s Euro 2016 tournament were previously registered at EFL academies.
“The EFL has a very strong and proud tradition of supporting the development of young English talent. However, we want to ensure that the EFL continues to have a positive impact on a future generation of English players and I strongly believe that EFL Futures can deliver much-needed long-term change.” Said Shaun Harvey, Chief Executive of the EFL.
“We believe the successful introduction of young English players will not only benefit the EFL as a competition and its 72 clubs, but also the wider game as a whole and we are determined to do what we can to help the nation fulfil its footballing potential. A high performing England national team is good for the game in this country and we are therefore committed to doing everything we can to help the national team develop.
“The EFL is once again leading the way in shaping this collective ambition in football, but this is just the beginning. We will now work tirelessly to secure further commercial support and work closely with clubs to maximise the options available.”
