The annual study published by CIES Football Observatory has revealed that Manchester United has the best academy in England and the third best in Europe, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Their statistics are based on the ‘training clubs’ of players employed for at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 in the top five European leagues. Current first-team squad members, as of 1 October 2016, are taken into account.

Real Madrid trained 41, with seven at the club, while Barcelona trained 37, also with seven at the club. United have trained 34 with six still at the club. On loan Adnan Januzaj and Andreas Pereira aren’t included in the figures.

Arsenal come ninth with 22 trained, nine still at the club. Tottenham Hotspur are 23rd with 17 trained and five still at the club. Southampton are 37th with 13 trained, five still at the club, as are Chelsea, with only three still there. Manchester City are 45th with 12 trained and just one still at the club.