A star-studded XI have been honoured at the 2018 EFL Awards as the League recognises some of the best players to have been developed at EFL clubs.
The EFL has a long-standing tradition of developing some of the most talented English and Welsh players in the country, including Manchester City trio Kyle Walker, John Stones and Raheem Sterling.
Also included in the XI are Tottenham’s Dele Alli, who spent all of his younger years at Milton Keynes Dons and Leicester City’s Harry Maguire who learned his trade at Sheffield United.
The EFL Club Developed XI was nominated for by EFL Academy Managers and then voted for by a judging panel.
THE EFL CLUB DEVELOPED XI
| Player | Current Club | EFL Club |
| Joe Hart | Manchester City | Shrewsbury Town |
| Ryan Sessegnon | Fulham | Fulham |
| Harry Maguire | Leicester City | Sheffield United |
| John Stones | Manchester City | Barnsley |
| Kyle Walker | Manchester City | Sheffield United |
| Jonjo Shelvey | Newcastle United | Charlton Athletic |
| Aaron Ramsey | Arsenal | Cardiff City |
| Lewis Cook | AFC Bournemouth | Leeds United |
| Dele Alli | Tottenham Hotspur | Milton Keynes Dons |
| Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | Queens Park Rangers |
| Callum Wilson | AFC Bournemouth | Coventry City |
From next season all 72 EFL clubs will have to name at least one Club Developed player on their teamsheet. A Club Developed Player is defined as a player who has been registered with a club for a minimum of 12 months prior to the end of his U19 season.
Time for another Special Recognition Award; a Club Developed XI featuring players who have risen to the top through the ranks of an #EFL club.
— EFL (@EFL) April 15, 2018
Here's the selection... >> https://t.co/xFvRAI37z9 #EFLAwards pic.twitter.com/ISdsjkrWUZ
Harry Maguire – Leicester City
“To be selected in the EFL’s XI is a great privilege and honour. I built my trade at Sheffield United and I feel like I wouldn’t have the career that I have now without having the experience of playing week in week out when I was young boy, building up throughout the leagues.”
Lewis Cook – AFC Bournemouth
“I’m honoured to receive this award, it means a lot to me. I played in the Championship with Leeds United, I was at the club from six years old and spent two years in the first team. I played a lot of games, they came thick and fast so I learned a lot there and really learned my trade.”
Joe Hart – Manchester City
“I really appreciate the EFL for recognising me for my time at Shrewsbury Town and various other clubs when I was on loan. I really enjoyed being part of the EFL, it was really important to my development and offered me a great chance to start in the game. I even got the joy of going back and playing at Shrewsbury Town last season in the FA Cup which was fantastic.”
Callum Wilson – AFC Bournemouth
“It’s a great honour, I was developed by Coventry City and that’s what gave me the platform to perform and play at the level I am today so I owe a lot to them. Growing up as a youngster I supported them as a fan so it was nice to play for my home town team.”