0.012%! This is the percentage of players who will play in the Premier League, out of the 1.5 million young players who have purchased a football license in England. Indeed, only 180 manage to sign a professional contract in the Premier League, according to a study by The Athletic, which reveals another interesting statistic: only 0.5% of players who join a youth academy go on to have a professional career. While the end of the season often means the end of the dream for young players not selected for academies, former Irish international Johnny Gorman, now a psychologist, warns of the psychological shock this exclusion represents. In his study, "Young Players' Reflections on 'Being Released,'" he highlights the identity crisis experienced by young people faced with the need to reinvent themselves after being defined solely as footballers. This rejection can lead to depression, anxiety, and even tragic consequences, such as the suicide of Jeremy Wisten, a former Manchester City prospect. While some clubs are starting to offer support, most of the young people surveyed believe that these measures remain insufficient and many clubs do not adequately prepare players for a life outside of professional football.
Brief
England: 0.5% of youth academy players sign professional contracts (here England's U16) / ©Icon Sport