In terms of buying young players with resale value, many clubs are now following suit and Chelsea have signed 23 players in the last three transfer windows, with an average age of a shade over 21, nine of whom were teenagers and none older than 26yo. Chelsea (23.2 yo average), Brentford (24.0) and Brighton (24.6) have the three youngest squads in the EPL coming into 24/25.

 

In this window, Aston Villa made eight signings, seven of whom were aged 20-23, Tottenham Hotspur ( with the third youngest squad in 23/24) signed five, four teenagers and old dude Dominic Solanke a much needed #9 at age 26, but swerved Ivan Toney, considered too old at 28 and it does seem that much of the apparent lack of interest in the former Brentford striker was down to his age. Arsenal did buck the trend somewhat, but already had a top four youngest squad in the EPL in each of the last three seasons. Chelsea have been the most open about their transfer strategy (is there one?) or policy if you prefer and the basic premise of only signing young and talented players on long contracts and hoping that they will develop, spend prime years with the club and then be sold at a profit is "sound" in principle. But how are you going to showcase and develop such a huge squad and who are you going to sell them to ?

 

If we are genuinely heading towards a time when every club wants to sign a 17-23 yo and anyone older who is not already elite and therefore ultra expensive, is "unwanted" unless at bargain rates, who are you going to sell all these 25+ yo players to? The potential buying market is already small and if everyone has the same policy, it surely cannot work long term and I can see a time soon when the value will be with these slightly older players. Maybe Brentford and Brighton, who are always ahead of the game, will be snapping up all these "low cost", proven EPL ability, "too old" 25-28 year olds in the future. As always, time will tell!

 

Good luck!