Juventus youth system leads Serie A in producing top-flight players
Juventus's youth academy and 'Next Gen' team have produced more current Serie A players than any other club in Italy, according to an analysis of the league's squads. A total of 27 players who spent formative years at the club's Vinovo base are now active in Italy's top division, giving Juventus a clear lead over its rivals in developing professional talent. The estimated total market value of these academy graduates stands at approximately 286 million euros, as reported by data from Transfermarkt.
Atalanta's famed youth system ranks second, having developed 20 current Serie A players, while Inter Milan follows with 19. Genoa and Torino have each produced 16, and AC Milan has developed 15, a figure that includes early products from their recently formed 'Milan Futuro' project. The data underscores the significant impact of Juventus's decision to establish a formal 'B' team, known as Juventus Next Gen, which competes in Serie C and provides a crucial bridge between the academy and senior football.
Among the notable names developed at Vinovo who now feature elsewhere in the league are Roma's Matias Soulé, Verona's Pol Lirola, and Fiorentina's trio of Daniele Rugani, Rolando Mandragora, and Nicolò Fagioli. The club also considers the sale of Soulé in particular a significant regret, according to sources close to the Juventus hierarchy. The system has also been a boon for clubs like Sassuolo, which has frequently acted as a destination for Juventus's emerging talent, with players like Nedim Bajrami and Grégoire Defrel having passed through there.
The model is designed to cater to both early bloomers and late developers. For instance, winger Kenan Yildiz progressed rapidly to the Juventus first team this season, while midfielder Fabio Miretti followed a longer path, accumulating over 100 Serie A appearances after extensive time with the youth sides. The success story of Nicolò Savona, who was sold to Nottingham Forest for a significant fee less than a year after his first-team breakthrough, exemplifies the financial benefit of the pathway.
The presence of so many Juventus-developed players across the league highlights the club's dominant role in the Italian talent ecosystem. While not all graduates are destined for the Juventus first team, the system ensures a steady flow of players into Serie A, strengthening the league's overall quality and providing the Turin club with both sporting and economic rewards. This sustained output from the academy and Next Gen setup provides a foundational advantage as Juventus builds for the future.
