Millions EPL clubs spend to develop one academy player and what Kenyan clubs can learn

Behind every English Premier League academy graduate are years of coaching, state-of-the-art facilities and millions in investment, with our recent trip to London revealing that West Ham United, who suffered relegation to the EFL Championship last season, spent nearly Ksh177 million to develop a single player.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsDuring our tour of London, Mozzart Sport was taken behind the scenes to witness first-hand what it takes to develop a player from a tender age all the way to breaking into the first team.Blow for Gor Mahia as midfielder suffers injury ahead of key Champions League assignmentOur first stop was the London Stadium, home to relegated Premier League side West Ham.According to The Hammers' stadium guide, Michael Tilling, the club admits 80 players into its Academy every year.##NAJAVA_MECA_9916686##But while at the Academy, the competition is so stiff that only two players make it to the first team squad after five years.“We pick them when they are 15 years old and spend £200,000 (Ksh35,400,000) per year to train one player to be good enough to make it to the main team. At the end of five years, we spend £1million (Kshs 177,000,000),” he explained.STARS ABROAD: Aldrine Kibet records assist in Spain as Abuya features in Yanga routBut the investment is worth it according to Tilling, who says that the club is able to recoup the money from the sale of players.A total of 150 players have graduated to the first team from the Academy since being established in the 1950s.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915626##The Academy, referred to as the “Academy of Football”, has built a reputation for producing some top English talents.Some of the famous English players who have graduated from the academy include Bobby Moore, who captained England to the 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph, Frank Lampard Jr, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, and Declan Rice, among many other stars.Joe Waithira’s South Sudanese side rewards loyal fans with iPhone 17sWest Ham United have earned more than Ksh25 billion from selling Academy players over the last decade, significantly recouping the amount of money spent in training the players.Arsenal linchpin Declan Rice remains their most expensive sale so far, as the Gunners paid Ksh18 billion in July 2023 to buy the midfield dynamo.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915642##From the tour, it is evident that Kenyan clubs need to see youth development as an investment, not an expense. Better coaching, facilities, nutrition and player welfare can produce talent capable of strengthening the first team and attracting valuable transfers.Clubs also need to create a clear pathway from the academy to the first team, with Kenya relying heavily on high school games to tap talent. Young players need patience, structured development and genuine opportunities to compete at senior level rather than being discarded too early.PAMOJA hosts make 2027 AFCON promise to CAF after high level meetingMost importantly, academies can become a major revenue stream. Developing, protecting and selling homegrown talent can help Kenyan clubs reduce reliance on expensive signings while creating sustainable income.