FM 27 Best Youth Academies: Top 20 Clubs
FM 27 best youth academies: the world top 20 clubs by youth facilities, youth recruitment and junior coaching, from FMInside data.
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Barcelona top the FM 27 best youth academies list. FMInside data shows they are the only club rated 100 for youth facilities, youth recruitment and junior coaching. Manchester City, Chelsea, Benfica and Sporting CP follow close behind.
Launch Preview data, 2 November 2026. All values come from the FMInside FM 27 (27.0.0) club database. FMInside shows each value on a 1-100 scale along with the in-game level name (Elite, Excellent, Good, Average, Basic). The full game is due on 10 November 2026, so some values may change.
How to judge a youth academy
Three values define a club's academy in FM:
- Youth facilities: the quality of the academy facilities.
- Youth recruitment: how well the club finds and attracts young talent.
- Junior coaching: the level of coaching in the academy.
In earlier FM versions these three values shaped the quality of each year's youth intake. SI has not announced a change to that link for FM 27. We ranked clubs by the total of the three values, with youth facilities as the tie-breaker.
FM 27 best youth academies: world top 20
We looked at the six clubs with the best youth facilities in each major European league, Belgium, Russia and MLS. Benfica and Sporting CP were added for Portugal.
| # | Club | League | Youth facilities | Youth recruitment | Junior coaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | LaLiga | 100 (Elite) | 100 (Elite) | 100 (Elite) |
| 2 | Manchester City | Premier League | 100 (Elite) | 100 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 3 | Chelsea | Premier League | 100 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 4 | Benfica | Liga Portugal | 100 (Elite) | 100 (Elite) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 5 | Sporting CP | Liga Portugal | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 6 | PSG | Ligue 1 | 100 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 7 | Real Madrid | LaLiga | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 8 | AZ | Eredivisie | 90 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 9 | Athletic Bilbao | LaLiga | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 10 | PSV | Eredivisie | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 11 | Standard Liège | Pro League | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 12 | Atlético Madrid | LaLiga | 90 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 13 | Anderlecht | Pro League | 85 (Excellent) | 90 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 14 | Liverpool | Premier League | 100 (Elite) | 80 (Excellent) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 15 | AC Milan | Serie A | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 75 (Good) |
| 16 | Inter | Serie A | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 75 (Good) |
| 17 | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 80 (Excellent) |
| 18 | Ajax | Eredivisie | 80 (Excellent) | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 19 | Tottenham | Premier League | 100 (Elite) | 80 (Excellent) | 80 (Excellent) |
| 20 | AS Roma | Serie A | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 75 (Good) |
Source: FMInside FM 27 club database, 2 November 2026.
Clubs that stand out
Barcelona: the only club on 100 for all three values, with training facilities on 95. The strongest start for a youth-focused save.
Manchester City: 100 for facilities and recruitment, 95 for junior coaching, and 100 for training facilities.
Benfica and Sporting CP: Portugal's giants sit near the top. Benfica have 100 for facilities and recruitment, while Sporting score 95 for all three. Both have training facilities on 100.
AZ Alkmaar: 95 for youth recruitment and junior coaching. A good pick if you want an academy save at a smaller club.
Anderlecht: 95 for junior coaching, the best in Belgium, with youth facilities on 85.
Strongest academies league by league
- Premier League: Manchester City (100/100/95) and Chelsea (100/90/95) lead. Liverpool and Tottenham have 100 for facilities.
- LaLiga: after Barcelona come Real Madrid (95/95/90), Athletic Bilbao (95/90/90) and Atlético Madrid (90/90/90).
- Serie A: AC Milan and Inter have 95 for facilities and recruitment, but 75 for junior coaching.
- Bundesliga: Bayern Munich lead on 95/90/80. Schalke 04 and Stuttgart have 90 for junior coaching.
- Ligue 1: PSG are on 100/95/85. Rennes have 90 for recruitment, and Lyon sit between 85 and 90 for all three.
- MLS: NYCFC have 95 for recruitment, the best in the league. New York Red Bulls have 100 for facilities.
Order in brackets: youth facilities / youth recruitment / junior coaching.
Elite facilities, weaker recruitment
Some clubs have elite facilities but lag behind elsewhere. New York Red Bulls are on 100 for facilities but 65 for junior coaching. Krasnodar have 100 for facilities but 50 for recruitment. Bournemouth are on 100 for facilities and 60 for junior coaching. At these clubs it makes sense to ask the board to invest in recruitment and coaching.
Best academies in the Netherlands and Belgium
The Eredivisie and the Belgian Pro League are known for selling young players, and the data backs that up.
| # | Club | League | Youth facilities | Youth recruitment | Junior coaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AZ | Eredivisie | 90 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 2 | PSV | Eredivisie | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 3 | Standard Liège | Pro League | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 4 | Anderlecht | Pro League | 85 (Excellent) | 90 (Elite) | 95 (Elite) |
| 5 | Ajax | Eredivisie | 80 (Excellent) | 95 (Elite) | 90 (Elite) |
| 6 | Club Brugge | Pro League | 90 (Elite) | 85 (Excellent) | 80 (Excellent) |
| 7 | Feyenoord | Eredivisie | 85 (Excellent) | 85 (Excellent) | 85 (Excellent) |
| 8 | KRC Genk | Pro League | 85 (Excellent) | 85 (Excellent) | 80 (Excellent) |
Source: FMInside FM 27, Eredivisie and Pro League, 2 November 2026.
PSV have 95 for facilities and 90 for both recruitment and coaching. Ajax score 95 for recruitment and 90 for coaching, but their facilities are 80. Standard Liège have 95 for facilities, the best in Belgium.
Choosing a club for a youth save
- Look at all three values: facilities alone are not enough. With low recruitment, good young players may not arrive.
- Check training facilities: young players keep developing in first-team facilities after the academy.
- Give them minutes: SI says young players care more about game time in FM 27.
- Plan investment: at a club with low values, ask the board for facility and recruitment upgrades.
To compare with an older version, see our FM 23 best youth academy teams list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which club has the best youth academy in FM 27?
Barcelona, according to FMInside. They are the only club on 100 for youth facilities, youth recruitment and junior coaching.
Which smaller clubs have strong academies?
AZ Alkmaar and Anderlecht stand out, with 95 for junior coaching. Standard Liège have 95 for youth facilities.
Why do some clubs have elite facilities but weak academies?
Facilities are only one of three values. New York Red Bulls and Krasnodar have 100 for facilities but lower recruitment or coaching.
Are these values final?
No. They come from Launch Preview data and may change in the full game. Check the club facilities screen in your save.
Frequently asked questions
Questions answered in this article
Sources
External links cited in this article
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