Research ranks Reading Academy inside UK top 10- ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City

Reading Academy has been ranked among the top 10 in the country, according to OLBG’s best academy index.

The jewel in the club's crown for over 25 years, almost 100 graduates have appeared in the first-team, including regulars this season such as Jeriel Dorsett, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Sam Smith.

Category One and reaching the semi-final of PL2, it will be no surprise to see the Royals ranked so highly seeing as they are regularly more than holding their own against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

In last week's defeat to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, Ruben Selles fielded a starting side with an average age of under 20.

To assess the top academies in English football, OLBG data analysts ranked clubs on five key metrics: number of academy graduates in the squad, league appearances, matches per player, total player value, and the percentage of squad value from academy players.

Clubs received a weighted score out of 100 based on these metrics, allowing for a fair comparison of academy influence across 92 clubs in the top four leagues.

As per OLGB's findings, Swansea City were ranked top with a score of 93.3 out of 100.

Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Wigan Athletic and Reading made up the top 10.

According to the research, Reading had 13 registered Academy graduates in the squad, contributing to 246 league appearances.

Transfermarket have the squad value at £2,070,675 and the club's total value at £6,956,295- making the Academy 29.8 per cent of the value.