Premier League clubs looking to EFL for next Semenyo & Eze

Premier League clubs are increasingly turning to English Football League (EFL) and Scottish academies to scout and recruit young talent, as evidenced by the recent transfer of Jeremy Monga from Leicester City. Monga, who joined Leicester aged eight, is the latest example of a highly rated teenager sought by multiple clubs, following the £12.5m move by Manchester City for the same 17-year-old winger, Antoine Semenyo.

Arsenal also showed interest in Semenyo, but City secured the deal. BBC Sport's research reveals 14 players recruited from EFL or Scottish Premiership academies for Premier League development squads this summer, a significant increase compared to previous years. The profile of these recruits has also changed, with 11 of the 14 identified players being 18 years old, compared to just five last season.

League One has become a fertile ground for these recruits, providing seven of this summer's 14 recruits, up from just two last season. Factors contributing to this trend include Brexit restrictions limiting access to the European market, as well as the financial feasibility of investing in promising young players through relatively small fees or free transfers.