As the calendar year comes to a close, it has been a year to remember for English football and through its continued commitment to Youth Development, the EFL remains at the heart of developing some of England and Wales’ most talented players.
The EFL has a long-standing tradition of developing some of the most talented English and Welsh players in the country.
Ahead of the 2018/19 season, the EFL introduced the ‘Club Developed’* regulation, meaning it is now a requirement for all EFL clubs to name at least one Club Developed player on each team sheet for any EFL game.
To recognise the EFL’s success in Youth Development, a Special Recognition Award showcasing a star-studded Club Developed XI was presented at the 2018 EFL Awards ceremony.
The Club Developed XI showcased players ‘born and raised’ in the EFL, as well as the excellent work of EFL Clubs in developing some of the most talented footballers in the country.
Players were nominated by EFL Academy Managers and then voted for by the EFL Awards judging panel.
EFL Club Developed XI
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)
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
* 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.
World Cup 2018
In June 2018, England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1990 and just the third time in their history.
All but three of England’s World Cup heroes (Eric Dier, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marcus Rashford) featured in the EFL or the EFL Cup at an early age, making their professional debuts in the competition before going on to become stars on the international stage.
Below are those that represented England in Russia, alongside the club where the player was either developed or made their professional debut.
Name: Jack Butland
Club Academy: Birmingham City
Professional debut: 10/09/11 – League Two: CHELTENHAM TOWN 2-0 Macclesfield Town
EFL appearances: 105
England caps: 9
Name: Jordan Pickford
Club Academy: Sunderland
Professional debut: 03/08/13 – League Two: Cheltenham Town 2-2 BURTON ALBION
EFL appearances: 87
England caps: 15
Name: Nick Pope
Club Academy: Charlton Athletic
Professional debut: 04/05/13 – Championship: CHARLTON ATHLETIC 4-1 Bristol City
EFL appearances: 79
England caps: 1
Name: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Club Academy: Liverpool
Professional debut: 25/10/16 – EFL Cup: LIVERPOOL 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
EFL Cup appearances: 3
England caps: 5
Name: Gary Cahill
Club Academy: Aston Villa
Professional debut: 09/11/04 – EFL Cup: BURNLEY 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
EFL appearances: 43
England caps: 61
Name: Phil Jones
Club Academy: Blackburn Rovers
Professional debut: 22/10/09 – EFL Cup: Nottingham Forest 0-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS
EFL Cup appearances: 13
England caps: 26
Name: Harry Maguire
Club Academy: Sheffield United
Professional debut: 12/04/11 – Championship: SHEFFIELD UNITED 0-2 Cardiff City
EFL appearances: 174
England caps: 10
Name: Danny Rose
Club Academy: Leeds United
Professional debut: 04/04/09 – Championship: Doncaster Rovers 1-2 WATFORD
EFL appearances: 30
England caps: 21
Name: John Stones
Club Academy: Barnsley
Professional debut: 17/03/12 – Championship: BARNSLEY 0-4 Reading
EFL appearances: 24
England caps: 37
Name: Kieran Trippier
Club Academy: Manchester City
Professional debut: 09/02/10 – Championship: Middlesbrough 1-2 BARNSLEY
EFL appearances: 153
England caps: 11
Name: Kyle Walker
Club Academy: Sheffield United
Professional debut: 15/11/08 – League One: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0-1 Oldham Athletic
EFL appearances: 60
England caps: 43
Name: Ashley Young
Club Academy: Watford
Professional debut: 13/09/03 – Championship: WATFORD 3-1 Millwall
EFL appearances: 81
England caps: 38
Name: Dele Alli
Club Academy: Milton Keynes Dons
Professional debut: 02/11/12 – FA Cup: Cambridge City 0-0 MILTON KEYNES DONS
EFL appearances: 74
England caps: 33
Name: Fabian Delph
Club Academy: Leeds United
Professional debut: 06/05/07 – Championship: Derby County 2-0 LEEDS UNITED
EFL appearances: 49
England caps: 18
Name: Jordan Henderson
Club Academy: Sunderland
Professional debut: 01/11/08 – Premier League: Chelsea 5-0 SUNDERLAND
EFL appearances: 10
England caps: 48
Name: Jesse Lingard
Club Academy: Manchester United
Professional debut: 06/11/12 – Championship: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 LEICESTER CITY
EFL appearances: 47
England caps: 22
Name: Raheem Sterling
Club Academy: Queens Park Rangers
Professional debut: 24/03/12 – Premier League: LIVERPOOL 1-2 Wigan Athletic
EFL Cup appearances: 15
England caps: 47
Name: Harry Kane
Club Academy: Tottenham Hotspur
Professional debut: 15/01/11 – League One: Rochdale 1-1 LEYTON ORIENT
EFL appearances: 56
England caps: 35
Name: Jamie Vardy
Club Academy: Sheffield Wednesday
Professional debut: 14/08/12 – EFL Cup: Torquay United 0-4 LEICESTER CITY
EFL appearances: 63
England caps: 25
Name: Danny Welbeck
Club Academy: Manchester United
Professional debut: 23/09/08 – EFL Cup: MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 Middlesbrough
EFL appearances: 8
England caps: 40
A group of players and staff that brought a nation together.
— EFL (@EFL) July 11, 2018
Your efforts united us, and we will forever be proud of what you achieved.
Thank you, @England. ❤️#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dKylGLclb0
Despite getting knocked out at the semi-final stage, England returned home to a united nation who had fallen back in love with their football team.