Back when I was coaching a local U-17 team, we used to show clips from Ligue 1 to inspire the kids – especially players like Camavinga or Upamecano. But then it hit me: those players don’t stay long in France. They shine and are sold abroad pretty fast. I get that it’s good for the clubs financially, but what about development? Are these constant transfers helping or hurting young talents in the long run?
That’s a really interesting point. A lot of people don’t consider how the business side impacts development. There’s some good insight into this in the article: https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/ligue-1-and-frances-export-machine/ — it touches on how France's system is built to train and export talent. I think the benefit is that players get exposed to top-level competition early, but the downside is that not all of them are mentally or physically ready for the leap. I knew a guy who moved from Ligue 2 to a top Spanish club’s bench and kind of disappeared from the scene because he couldn’t break into the starting lineup.
I’m not super familiar with the youth development pathways, but I do think France seems to be one of the best at producing technically gifted players. Maybe the issue isn’t the system but how other leagues use the players once they arrive.
