The Club is proud to announce that Adelaide United has been recognised globally for its commitment to youth development.
According to the PFA A-League Men Report for 2023-24, Adelaide United has been ranked 43rd out of over 900 clubs worldwide when it comes to giving match minutes to players under the age of 21. This ranking makes the Club the top A-League team in this category, and it is second across all AFC clubs, which is an incredible achievement.
Between September 2021 and September 2024, 18% of the Club’s match minutes went to players under 21. This figure highlights Adelaide United’s dedication to providing young talent with a platform to shine. When looking at other A-League clubs, no one matches the Club’s numbers—Perth Glory, for example, came in 76th with 15.3%, Wellington Phoenix at 89th with 14.6%, and Central Coast Mariners ranked 118th with 13.1%.
Clearly, the Club’s youth focus is delivering results. Interestingly, no Japanese or South Korean clubs made it into the top 200, which further demonstrates how Adelaide United is leading the way in this area.
Being ranked alongside some of the world’s most renowned development clubs like RB Salzburg and AFC Ajax shows that the Club is on the right track. Adelaide United’s commitment to developing young talent not only provides opportunities for emerging players but also keeps the Club competitive with some of the biggest names in world football.
Image: How Adelaide United compares to the Top 10 worldwide clubs in % minutes
In addition to youth development, this focus has also led to transfer success. Last season, the Club led the league in player sales, demonstrating the clear link between giving young players game time and generating transfer value. This can be seen with Nestory Irankunda, who is now at Bayern Munich and part of the Socceroos squad, and Giuseppe Bovalina, who has joined FC Whitecaps.
Crucially, the Club also recognises the key role that Football South Australia and the local football community have played in nurturing these players from the grassroots level. Their contribution to the development of our young talent has been invaluable in shaping the careers of players who are now thriving on both national and international stages.
Head of Football, Marius Zanin, summed it up best:
“The Club is incredibly proud to continue placing faith in young players—it’s a big part of who we are.”
“Developing young talent is a strong part of our philosophy and it’s fantastic to see the Club’s efforts being recognised on a global scale,” Zanin said.
Adelaide United has always believed that nurturing young players isn’t just important for the team’s future but also crucial for the long-term sustainability of the Club.The Club’s success in developing talent and generating transfer revenue shows that this approach is working, and there is excitement about what the future holds.
