Barcelona’s La Masia ranked as third-most valuable football academy in the world

Barcelona are widely regarded as one of the biggest clubs in world football. Although the club have been experiencing an economic downturn in recent years, they have continued to register high net worth and remain one of the most attractive destinations for any footballer.

However, as their motto goes, Barcelona are more than just a club. The Catalan entity is also known for their world-class La Masia academy which has produced some of the most talented players football has ever seen, including Lionel Messi.

The list also includes the likes of Xavi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, along with new-gen superstars such as Gavi and Ansu Fati. Hence, it is no wonder that La Masia is one of the most sought-after locations for any young player.

According to CIES football observatory, the Barcelona academy, in fact, is the third most valuable academy in world football, behind SL Benfica and Chelsea.

As per the estimated transfer values of their academy graduate, the Barça academy is worth around €581 million. SL Benfica stand first with a whopping valuation of €670 million while Chelsea are not behind either, with a valuation of €630 million.

Other academies in the top five include AFC Ajax (€555 million) and Manchester City (€510 million). The list does not come as any surprise as these five clubs have indeed produced a series of top players in recent years.

One would expect Barcelona would be at the top given the number of players that have come through the ranks and become a success in the first-team. This has been quite evident if we look at the growth of players such as Gavi and Alejandro Balde, while Ansu Fati, remains a part of the setup, despite ongoing speculations over his long-term future at the club.