We knew that the French were popular abroad. For example, there are 40 of them in the Premier League alone, which logically makes them the largest foreign contingent. And at each transfer window, several French nuggets cross borders for tens of millions of euros.
Taken together, all these movements relate to training and French football. The CIES Football Observatory, International Center for Sports Studies, proves this with a report published this Wednesday. By compiling all the transfer fees for ten years, the organization has proven that the French are popular – and bring in a lot.
Brazil and the Iberian Peninsula far behind
Since 2016, transfers of players trained in France have generated almost 4 billion euros. A huge figure, well beyond the 2.6 billion for Brazilian cracks. Behind, follow Spain (2.2 billion), Portugal (1.9) and the Netherlands (1.6).
In detail, it is the young players who have contributed the most to the French team. More than a quarter of this amount comes from players transferred under the age of 20. And 39% of those between 21 and 23 years old. Profiles with high potential, which buyers hope to resell for even more money afterwards.
The last summer transfer window proved it again, with the departure of Hugo Ekitike (23 years old) to Liverpool for 95 million euros, or that of Rayan Cherki (23 years old), for 45 million to Manchester City. Mathys Tel, Mamadou Sarr and even Nathan Zézé have all packed their bags for at least 15 million euros even though they have not exceeded their twenties.
