Chelsea FC was once less known for discovering talent early and more for signing established stars. However, this has changed in recent years, as a data analysis by the CIES suggests.
This is how the FIFA-funded sports science center “Centre International d’Etude du Sport” (CIES), based in Neuchatel, headlines: “Age at signing: BlueCo follows in Red Bull’s footsteps.” BlueCo is the investor consortium that took over Chelsea FC from oligarch Roman Abramovich in 2022 after Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine for the equivalent of more than five billion euros – and initially acted rather rashly.
Two BlueCo clubs among the top 4 in the ranking
Meanwhile, the group also holds shares in Racing Strasbourg – which were significantly cheaper at 75 million euros. A clear transfer philosophy can be seen at both clubs. This is not only exemplified by the Londoners’ transfers already completed for next summer. Then the two current 17-year-olds Estevao (Palmeiras) and Kendry Paez (Indepediente del Valle) will join Stamford Bridge for the equivalent of around 50 million euros. No, the CIES data also speaks for itself.
If you look at the top five leagues alone, Racing leads the “talent ranking”. On average, their professionals are 21.8 years old when they sign their contracts – not counting their own academy players. Behind Strasbourg, FC Brentford (22.32 years), RB Leipzig (22.36) and Chelsea (22.54) come in the top five leagues. So two BlueCo clubs are among the leading quartet.
Transfer revenue could play a role for investor clubs in the future
Interestingly, the top five leagues are followed by Real Madrid (22.66), AS Monaco (22.93), VfB Stuttgart (22.95), Paris Saint-Germain (23.0), Eintracht Frankfurt (23.06) and Parma Calcio (23.17). Obviously, the management in Saxony, Swabia and Hessen also discovers outstanding professionals early on, which has become part of the DNA of these clubs. Bringing in talent, developing it and selling it on at a high profit – while competitors like Chelsea, Real or PSG actually tend to follow different business models. They refine talent not for resale, but for their own squad. However, the aspect of transfer profits is likely to play a more important role in the future for the investor-led PSG and Chelsea in view of the UEFA financial rules.
From a global perspective, Red Bull’s football division, where Jürgen Klopp is set to join as of January 1, 2025, remains the benchmark. Of the 30 European leagues evaluated, RB Salzburg (21.07) follows in third place, behind MSK Zilina (19.3/Slovakia) and Rukh Lviv (20.5/Ukraine). The 19 analyzed leagues outside Europe are led by Uzbekistan’s FC Olympic (21.18) and the two RB clubs New York with German coach Sandro Schwarz (22.91) and Bragantino (22.92/Brazil). The German double winners Bayer Leverkusen (23.95) are ranked 22nd in the top five leagues, with FC Bayern (24.28) in 27th place. Borussia Dortmund (24.86) is ranked 46th.