The Premier League has released a report marking 10 years of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), highlighting the significant progress that has been made in developing young homegrown players across the football pyramid.
The EPPP was launched by the Premier League in the 2012/13 season, in consultation with the English Football League (EFL), FA and clubs.
The goal was to develop a world-leading academy system that produces more and better homegrown players.
The report reflects the goals of the EPPP and how it has been successfully implemented over the past decade, as well as how the Premier League and EFL academies continue to create unrivaled development environments.
Download the EPPP report (PDF; 4.5 MB)
It highlights the achievements of professional football clubs under the EPPP since 2012.
Since the launch of the EPPP, there has been significant success across all age brackets at youth level for the England national teams, with four major titles since 2017. The senior team have reached the half- 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and UEFA Euro final. 2020, with several members of this EPPP product squad.
See: Key facts about the impact of the EPPP
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “Since its introduction a decade ago, the EPPP has transformed the development of homegrown talent in English football academies.
“We have seen a noticeable increase in the number and quality of young homegrown players who are now playing at the highest level of the game, here in the Premier League. Thanks to unprecedented levels of club investment in the Academy system , we have tripled the number of coaches working in youth development, while many clubs have renovated or built new training facilities.
“Huge progress has already been made in player welfare and education as we continue to focus on providing rewarding experiences for all young people in the academies”
“The report celebrates these successes and looks at what we can build on in the years to come. Tremendous progress has already been made in player welfare and education as we continue to focus on providing rewarding experiences for all young academies. Our goal is that every young person who enters the Academy system emerges better and more complete.
Investment in youth development is backed by a commitment to holistic player development. The report shows that the education, care and support that players receive at academies and beyond have improved significantly.
Improve education
The GCSE English and maths level of Premier League Academy players is above the national average, while a growing number are achieving A levels. The report also shows there are more 150 player education and care specialists working in the Academy system.
The intention of the EPPP report is to build on the progress made and highlight areas to meet the current and future needs of our game. A number of goals were set and opportunities outlined for the future of the EPPP, which are underpinned by new youth development rules which have been agreed by Premier League clubs ahead of the 2022/23 season.
These include improved player care provisions, including requiring clubs to put in place a transition strategy with increased three-year follow-up requirements for older players leaving the system.
EPPP will continue to expand the talent pool to ensure all young people have equal access and opportunity. This will build on work already undertaken to create pathways for underrepresented groups through programs such as the South Asia Action Plan.
Also in this series
Part 2: Key facts about the impact of the EPPP
