The financial rewards of Southampton ’ s continued academy excellence were blindingly obvious last summer , but Lille run the south coast club close in terms of money generated from their youth products . A study carried out by the CIES Football Observatory shows Lille have benefited hugely from the Premier League ’ s wealth over the last three years - with the country producing players worth more than any other on the continent . Only Southampton have been paid higher transfer fees for players brought through their youth system than the Ligue 1 side in that time throughout the whole of Europe . Southampton have taken more money for their youth stars than any other side in Europe since 2012 . Eden Hazard 's move from Lille to Chelsea helped the French side rake in profits from their academy . Divock Origi ( right ) joined Liverpool in the summer but was immediately loaned back to France . MONEY EARNED FROM SELLING HOMEGROWN PLAYERS SINCE 2012 . Mathieu Debuchy left Lille for Newcastle United before later sealing a switch to Arsenal . Calum Chambers , Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw made 90.2million euros ( £64.4m ) for Saints as they moved to Arsenal , Liverpool and Manchester United respectively at the end of last season . But interestingly it is Lille – midtable in France ’ s top division - who were the most profitable of the rest . And that ’ s thanks in no small part to the Premier League . Eden Hazard ( Chelsea ) , Mathieu Debuchy ( Newcastle ) and Divock Origi ( Liverpool ) have all sealed permanent switches to England since 2012 and count for the majority of Lille ’ s 76million euros recouped . While they have been able to lean on Origi this year – the Belgian striker was immediately sent back on loan – they are renowned for taking the money for their sellable assets . They sold five academy stars in that period in contrast to Real Sociedad ’ s two – Antoine Griezmann and Asier Illarramendi . Atletico Madrid snapped up the former for around 30m euros last summer , with city rivals Real taking Illarramendi a year previous . It is Ligue 1 who garner the most profit on their academy stars , with the Premier League third . Adam Lallana ( left ) and Luke Shaw both left St Mary 's for bigger things last summer . Unsurprisingly Real Madrid and Barcelona both figure in the top 10 after selling off a raft of players who were unlikely to impact on their first team for modest profits . Mario Gotze ’ s move to Bayer Munich mean Dortmund figure ahead of the Spanish giants , with Sevilla nestled beneath Sociedad after earning just over 50m euros . The research puts into perspective a lack of homegrown talent emerging from top-flight clubs outside of Southampton ’ s buzzing academy . Swansea , Manchester United and Everton are the only other domestic sides included in Europe ’ s top 20 ; each of United ’ s five players sold – Michael Keane , Danny Welbeck , Robbie Brady , Matt James and Josh King – were deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford , with four of them having to drop down a division in the search of regular football . A large proportion of Everton ’ s profits was down to Jack Rodwell ’ s move to Manchester City , and it is unquestionably Saints who continue to lead the way in nurturing talent .
Luke Shaw , Adam Lallana and Calum Chambers all left Southampton last summer for big money . But five Lille take 76million euros from homegrown sales since 2012 . Real Sociedad , Sevilla and Dortmund complete the top Ligue 1 in Europe .