With the closing of the European transfer window, and with a little time on my hands due to the yawn-inducing International Break, I decided to compile some info on some of the top European leagues.
Squad age, squad value, percentage of foreign players in each squad are just some of the bits of information I gathered for each league and each team.
I'd explain some of these findings in detail, but really there is little need to do so. Play around with the tables, sort the columns and wonder at the low average age of players in the Eredivisie and how few UK-based players play in the Premier league.
Money talks, I guess.
Squad age, squad value, percentage of foreign players in each squad are just some of the bits of information I gathered for each league and each team.
I'd explain some of these findings in detail, but really there is little need to do so. Play around with the tables, sort the columns and wonder at the low average age of players in the Eredivisie and how few UK-based players play in the Premier league.
Money talks, I guess.
Data
All data is pulled from Transfer Markt. Without doubt there will be issues with player valuations (under valuation for young players etc.) and erroneous squad lists (lack of youth players included in certain squad lists).
This data is fairly good, but it is not perfect. Bear this in mind.
Graphic
Table
| Competition/League | Average Number Of Players | % Foreign Players | Average Age | Average Squad Value | Average Player Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 26.5 | 69.1% | 27.0 | 204.3 | 8.0 |
| La Liga | 24.4 | 41.7% | 26.6 | 154.7 | 6.5 |
| Seria A | 28.0 | 55.8% | 26.7 | 122.3 | 4.4 |
| Bundesliga | 28.3 | 48.8% | 25.3 | 123.9 | 4.4 |
| Ligue 1 | 26.9 | 47.5% | 25.8 | 72.0 | 2.7 |
| Turkish Super Lig | 27.1 | 42.3% | 27.0 | 57.5 | 2.1 |
| Russian Premier Liga | 23.3 | 41.1% | 27.2 | 58.5 | 2.7 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | 29.1 | 53.9% | 25.3 | 45.2 | 1.6 |
| Eredivisie | 25.9 | 34.9% | 23.9 | 27.1 | 1.0 |
| Juliper Pro League | 28.5 | 53.9% | 24.5 | 28.3 | 1.0 |
Full Team breakdown
| Competition/League | Full Team Name | # of Players | Average Age | # of Foreign Players | % Foreigners | Squad Value | Average Player Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | Real Madrid | 22 | 26.3 | 14 | 63.6 | 715.5 | 32.52 |
| La Liga | FC Barcelona | 25 | 26.9 | 14 | 56 | 657.5 | 26.3 |
| Bundesliga | Bayern Munich | 28 | 26 | 15 | 53.6 | 559.1 | 19.97 |
| Premier League | Chelsea FC | 24 | 26.0 | 20 | 83.3 | 531.75 | 22.16 |
| Premier League | Manchester City | 25 | 28.1 | 20 | 80 | 480.85 | 19.23 |
| Ligue 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 24 | 26.5 | 17 | 70.8 | 403.65 | 16.82 |
| Premier League | Arsenal FC | 24 | 27.3 | 18 | 75 | 402 | 16.75 |
| Seria A | Juventus | 25 | 27.8 | 16 | 64 | 388.1 | 15.52 |
| Premier League | Manchester United | 25 | 25.7 | 16 | 64 | 377.25 | 15.09 |
| La Liga | Atlético Madrid | 22 | 26 | 14 | 63.6 | 340.5 | 15.48 |
| Premier League | Liverpool FC | 26 | 25 | 16 | 61.5 | 330.25 | 12.7 |
| Bundesliga | Borussia Dortmund | 27 | 25.6 | 11 | 40.7 | 292.45 | 10.83 |
| Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 24.8 | 15 | 60 | 288 | 11.52 |
| Seria A | SSC Napoli | 28 | 26.5 | 21 | 75 | 262.75 | 9.38 |
| La Liga | Valencia CF | 24 | 24.7 | 15 | 62.5 | 262.5 | 10.94 |
| Seria A | AS Roma | 29 | 27.1 | 24 | 82.8 | 258.85 | 8.93 |
| Seria A | Inter Milan | 28 | 26.3 | 23 | 82.1 | 238.98 | 8.53 |
| Bundesliga | VfL Wolfsburg | 29 | 25.4 | 17 | 58.6 | 205.65 | 7.09 |
| Seria A | AC Milan | 28 | 26.9 | 13 | 46.4 | 203.75 | 7.28 |
| Premier League | Everton FC | 28 | 27.2 | 16 | 57.1 | 194.3 | 6.94 |
| Bundesliga | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 28 | 24.3 | 16 | 57.1 | 189.15 | 6.76 |
| Premier League | Southampton FC | 27 | 26 | 19 | 70.4 | 185.75 | 6.88 |
| Seria A | SS Lazio | 31 | 26 | 23 | 74.2 | 181.15 | 5.84 |
| Bundesliga | FC Schalke 04 | 29 | 24.9 | 13 | 44.8 | 177.1 | 6.11 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Sporting CP | 29 | 25.5 | 17 | 58.6 | 172.15 | 5.94 |
| La Liga | Sevilla FC | 25 | 27.5 | 17 | 68 | 172 | 6.88 |
| Ligue 1 | Olympique Lyon | 31 | 25 | 8 | 25.8 | 170.6 | 5.5 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Fenerbahce SK | 28 | 27.1 | 12 | 42.9 | 166.45 | 5.94 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | FC Porto | 26 | 26 | 20 | 76.9 | 165.6 | 6.37 |
| Premier League | West Ham United | 27 | 26.1 | 20 | 74.1 | 165 | 6.11 |
| Premier League | Newcastle United | 28 | 25.8 | 21 | 75 | 157.5 | 5.63 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | SL Benfica | 29 | 25.7 | 20 | 69 | 153.3 | 5.29 |
| Bundesliga | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 26 | 25.5 | 15 | 57.7 | 144.4 | 5.55 |
| Seria A | AC Fiorentina | 28 | 26.1 | 22 | 78.6 | 132.7 | 4.74 |
| Ligue 1 | AS Monaco | 30 | 23.6 | 20 | 66.7 | 129.8 | 4.33 |
| Premier League | Swansea City | 25 | 27.5 | 22 | 88 | 129.25 | 5.17 |
| La Liga | Athletic Bilbao | 24 | 27.4 | 1 | 4.2 | 125.6 | 5.23 |
| La Liga | Real Sociedad | 26 | 26.4 | 6 | 23.1 | 123.45 | 4.75 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Besiktas JK | 27 | 27 | 12 | 44.4 | 121.55 | 4.5 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Galatasaray SK | 25 | 27.3 | 8 | 32 | 118.25 | 4.73 |
| La Liga | Villarreal CF | 24 | 25.9 | 10 | 41.7 | 117.8 | 4.91 |
| Premier League | Crystal Palace | 29 | 27.5 | 17 | 58.6 | 116.75 | 4.03 |
| Premier League | Stoke City | 29 | 27.9 | 23 | 79.3 | 116.25 | 4.01 |
| Ligue 1 | Olympique Marseille | 28 | 24.3 | 16 | 57.1 | 115 | 4.11 |
| Premier League | Sunderland AFC | 29 | 27.1 | 20 | 69 | 113.25 | 3.91 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Trabzonspor | 31 | 26.6 | 12 | 38.7 | 112.35 | 3.62 |
| Premier League | Aston Villa | 29 | 26.5 | 19 | 65.5 | 106.05 | 3.66 |
| Seria A | UC Sampdoria | 30 | 26 | 15 | 50 | 100.93 | 3.36 |
| Bundesliga | TSG 1899 Hoffenheim | 29 | 24.6 | 14 | 48.3 | 97.65 | 3.37 |
| Eredivisie | PSV Eindhoven | 30 | 23.2 | 9 | 30 | 96.3 | 3.21 |
| Premier League | West Bromwich Albion | 24 | 28.3 | 17 | 70.8 | 93.5 | 3.9 |
| Premier League | Leicester City | 23 | 28.7 | 16 | 69.6 | 89.8 | 3.9 |
| Seria A | Genoa CFC | 28 | 26.5 | 19 | 67.9 | 89.28 | 3.19 |
| Juliper Pro League | RSC Anderlecht | 29 | 23.9 | 14 | 48.3 | 87.2 | 3.01 |
| Premier League | Watford FC | 29 | 28 | 26 | 89.7 | 84 | 2.9 |
| Eredivisie | Ajax Amsterdam | 25 | 23.2 | 11 | 44 | 83.1 | 3.32 |
| Ligue 1 | AS Saint-Étienne | 26 | 26.4 | 5 | 19.2 | 77 | 2.96 |
| Seria A | Udinese Calcio | 27 | 26.5 | 23 | 85.2 | 76.65 | 2.84 |
| Seria A | US Sassuolo | 26 | 27.3 | 3 | 11.5 | 75.9 | 2.92 |
| Premier League | Norwich City | 26 | 27.2 | 13 | 50 | 72.65 | 2.79 |
| Seria A | Torino FC | 26 | 27.8 | 13 | 50 | 70.35 | 2.71 |
| Juliper Pro League | Club Brugge KV | 32 | 24.2 | 14 | 43.8 | 69.05 | 2.16 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Bursaspor | 26 | 26.3 | 14 | 53.8 | 67.7 | 2.6 |
| Bundesliga | Eintracht Frankfurt | 28 | 24.7 | 15 | 53.6 | 66.8 | 2.39 |
| Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC | 25 | 25.7 | 15 | 60 | 66.18 | 2.65 |
| Bundesliga | VfB Stuttgart | 28 | 24.7 | 14 | 50 | 65.25 | 2.33 |
| Seria A | Bologna FC | 34 | 25.7 | 13 | 38.2 | 64.95 | 1.91 |
| La Liga | Celta de Vigo | 20 | 25.1 | 10 | 50 | 63.9 | 3.2 |
| Bundesliga | Hertha BSC | 28 | 25.8 | 15 | 53.6 | 61.88 | 2.21 |
| Ligue 1 | FC Girondins Bordeaux | 29 | 24.4 | 15 | 51.7 | 60.9 | 2.1 |
| La Liga | Málaga CF | 24 | 27.9 | 19 | 79.2 | 60.8 | 2.53 |
| Bundesliga | Hannover 96 | 32 | 24.3 | 16 | 50 | 59.95 | 1.87 |
| Eredivisie | Feyenoord Rotterdam | 26 | 24.1 | 6 | 23.1 | 59.95 | 2.31 |
| La Liga | Granada CF | 25 | 25.6 | 14 | 56 | 58.6 | 2.34 |
| La Liga | RCD Espanyol | 25 | 25.4 | 6 | 24 | 58.3 | 2.33 |
| Seria A | Atalanta BC | 31 | 27.3 | 12 | 38.7 | 58.05 | 1.87 |
| Bundesliga | 1.FSV Mainz 05 | 29 | 25.4 | 15 | 51.7 | 56.43 | 1.95 |
| Seria A | US Palermo | 28 | 25.5 | 15 | 53.6 | 53.78 | 1.92 |
| Bundesliga | 1. FC Köln | 23 | 24.9 | 11 | 47.8 | 53.25 | 2.32 |
| Bundesliga | Hamburger SV | 28 | 26.2 | 16 | 57.1 | 52.9 | 1.89 |
| Premier League | AFC Bournemouth | 28 | 27.5 | 12 | 42.9 | 52.75 | 1.88 |
| La Liga | Getafe CF | 24 | 25.6 | 9 | 37.5 | 52.7 | 2.2 |
| Bundesliga | FC Augsburg | 34 | 26.1 | 16 | 47.1 | 52.55 | 1.55 |
| La Liga | Deportivo de La Coruña | 25 | 28.7 | 9 | 36 | 52.2 | 2.09 |
| La Liga | Real Betis | 28 | 27.8 | 12 | 42.9 | 52.2 | 1.86 |
| Ligue 1 | LOSC Lille | 29 | 25.1 | 13 | 44.8 | 49.6 | 1.71 |
| Bundesliga | SV Werder Bremen | 29 | 24 | 11 | 37.9 | 49.35 | 1.7 |
| Juliper Pro League | KAA Gent | 29 | 25 | 19 | 65.5 | 47.9 | 1.65 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | SC Braga | 28 | 25 | 20 | 71.4 | 46.95 | 1.68 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Medipol Basaksehir | 25 | 27.7 | 8 | 32 | 46.1 | 1.84 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Kasimpasa | 27 | 26.8 | 11 | 40.7 | 45.95 | 1.7 |
| Ligue 1 | FC Toulouse | 27 | 25.2 | 19 | 70.4 | 45.2 | 1.67 |
| Seria A | FC Empoli | 28 | 25.2 | 13 | 46.4 | 43.9 | 1.57 |
| Ligue 1 | FC Lorient | 27 | 24.9 | 15 | 55.6 | 43.55 | 1.61 |
| Ligue 1 | OGC Nice | 27 | 24.1 | 9 | 33.3 | 43.35 | 1.61 |
| La Liga | Rayo Vallecano | 25 | 28.9 | 10 | 40 | 42.7 | 1.71 |
| Ligue 1 | HSC Montpellier | 28 | 26 | 9 | 32.1 | 42.55 | 1.52 |
| Seria A | Hellas Verona | 26 | 27.8 | 13 | 50 | 41.8 | 1.61 |
| Seria A | Carpi FC 1909 | 27 | 25.7 | 14 | 51.9 | 41.53 | 1.54 |
| Juliper Pro League | Standard Liège | 32 | 23.1 | 18 | 56.3 | 39.55 | 1.24 |
| La Liga | Levante UD | 23 | 27.6 | 6 | 26.1 | 38.75 | 1.68 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Eskisehirspor | 30 | 25.5 | 13 | 43.3 | 38.63 | 1.29 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Osmanlispor FK | 28 | 28.7 | 15 | 53.6 | 37.3 | 1.33 |
| Ligue 1 | Stade Reims | 24 | 27.2 | 13 | 54.2 | 35.95 | 1.5 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Genclerbirligi Ankara | 27 | 25.8 | 12 | 44.4 | 35.7 | 1.32 |
| La Liga | SD Eibar | 25 | 26 | 7 | 28 | 35.5 | 1.42 |
| Juliper Pro League | KRC Genk | 26 | 23.5 | 13 | 50 | 34.8 | 1.34 |
| Seria A | Chievo Verona | 26 | 29.9 | 10 | 38.5 | 34.4 | 1.32 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Antalyaspor | 30 | 27.4 | 12 | 40 | 33.6 | 1.12 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Kayserispor | 26 | 25.9 | 9 | 34.6 | 33.4 | 1.28 |
| La Liga | Sporting Gijón | 25 | 24.7 | 4 | 16 | 33.1 | 1.32 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Medicana Sivasspor | 24 | 28.6 | 9 | 37.5 | 32.55 | 1.36 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Vitória Guimarães SC | 27 | 24.2 | 11 | 40.7 | 32.55 | 1.21 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Torku Konyaspor | 28 | 27.3 | 13 | 46.4 | 32.15 | 1.15 |
| Ligue 1 | FC Nantes | 21 | 25.9 | 11 | 52.4 | 31.95 | 1.52 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Caykur Rizespor | 25 | 26 | 13 | 52 | 31 | 1.24 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Gaziantepspor | 25 | 25.6 | 12 | 48 | 30.3 | 1.21 |
| La Liga | UD Las Palmas | 26 | 28.5 | 6 | 23.1 | 29.8 | 1.15 |
| Seria A | Frosinone | 25 | 26.5 | 7 | 28 | 28.1 | 1.12 |
| Eredivisie | FC Twente Enschede | 24 | 22.4 | 12 | 50 | 28.08 | 1.17 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Akhisar Belediye | 25 | 28.9 | 9 | 36 | 27.85 | 1.11 |
| Bundesliga | FC Ingolstadt 04 | 27 | 25 | 13 | 48.1 | 27.65 | 1.02 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Rio Ave FC | 31 | 24.7 | 14 | 45.2 | 27.65 | 0.892 |
| Ligue 1 | EA Guingamp | 27 | 26.9 | 10 | 37 | 27.15 | 1.01 |
| Eredivisie | Vitesse Arnhem | 24 | 23.4 | 16 | 66.7 | 26.1 | 1.09 |
| Eredivisie | AZ Alkmaar | 24 | 23.3 | 8 | 33.3 | 25.75 | 1.07 |
| Ligue 1 | ES Troyes AC | 34 | 26.2 | 17 | 50 | 25 | 0.735 |
| Turkish Super Lig | Mersin Idmanyurdu | 30 | 27.2 | 12 | 40 | 24.95 | 0.832 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | CF Belenenses Lissabon | 28 | 26 | 2 | 7.1 | 24.35 | 0.87 |
| Eredivisie | FC Groningen | 24 | 24.5 | 7 | 29.2 | 23.03 | 0.959 |
| Juliper Pro League | KV Mechelen | 31 | 23.9 | 10 | 32.3 | 22.43 | 0.723 |
| Ligue 1 | SM Caen | 24 | 25.9 | 8 | 33.3 | 22.35 | 0.931 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | CS Marítimo | 29 | 25.3 | 18 | 62.1 | 22.25 | 0.767 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | GD Estoril-Praia | 28 | 24.4 | 20 | 71.4 | 21.75 | 0.777 |
| Eredivisie | SC Heerenveen | 32 | 21.7 | 9 | 28.1 | 21.75 | 0.68 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | CD Nacional | 26 | 23.8 | 14 | 53.8 | 21.65 | 0.833 |
| Juliper Pro League | SV Zulte Waregem | 28 | 25.4 | 13 | 46.4 | 20.45 | 0.73 |
| Ligue 1 | SC Bastia | 24 | 27.2 | 9 | 37.5 | 20.05 | 0.835 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | FC Arouca | 28 | 25.7 | 16 | 57.1 | 19.45 | 0.695 |
| Bundesliga | SV Darmstadt 98 | 28 | 27.2 | 6 | 21.4 | 19.1 | 0.682 |
| Juliper Pro League | KV Oostende | 29 | 26.6 | 19 | 65.5 | 19.1 | 0.659 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Académica Coimbra | 29 | 25.7 | 14 | 48.3 | 19.05 | 0.657 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | FC Pacos De Ferriera | 28 | 25 | 9 | 32.1 | 18.75 | 0.67 |
| Juliper Pro League | KSC Lokeren | 28 | 24.2 | 16 | 57.1 | 18.55 | 0.663 |
| Eredivisie | FC Utrecht | 27 | 23.1 | 10 | 37 | 18.15 | 0.672 |
| Ligue 1 | SCO Angers | 31 | 27.8 | 17 | 54.8 | 17.05 | 0.55 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Boavista Porto FC | 34 | 25.3 | 21 | 61.8 | 16.95 | 0.499 |
| Juliper Pro League | RSC Charleroi | 25 | 25.8 | 17 | 68 | 16.95 | 0.678 |
| Juliper Pro League | KV Kortrijk | 26 | 25.5 | 16 | 61.5 | 16.8 | 0.646 |
| Juliper Pro League | Mouscron-Péruwelz | 33 | 23 | 20 | 60.6 | 16.7 | 0.506 |
| Eredivisie | ADO Den Haag | 27 | 24.8 | 8 | 29.6 | 16.65 | 0.617 |
| Eredivisie | Willem II Tilburg | 24 | 25.7 | 10 | 41.7 | 16.53 | 0.689 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Moreirense FC | 31 | 26 | 16 | 51.6 | 15.25 | 0.492 |
| Eredivisie | PEC Zwolle | 26 | 23.2 | 8 | 30.8 | 14.5 | 0.558 |
| Juliper Pro League | KVC Westerlo | 25 | 25.3 | 11 | 44 | 14 | 0.56 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | Vitória Setúbal FC | 33 | 25.2 | 15 | 45.5 | 13.95 | 0.423 |
| Ligue 1 | GFC Ajaccio | 21 | 28.2 | 9 | 42.9 | 13 | 0.619 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | CD Tondela | 26 | 26.1 | 14 | 53.8 | 11.8 | 0.454 |
| Juliper Pro League | Sint-Truidense VV | 28 | 23.1 | 19 | 67.9 | 11.35 | 0.405 |
| Eredivisie | Heracles Almelo | 27 | 24.7 | 8 | 29.6 | 11.08 | 0.41 |
| Portugese Liga NOS | CF União Madeira | 33 | 25.9 | 21 | 63.6 | 10.85 | 0.329 |
| Eredivisie | NEC Nijmegen | 24 | 24.2 | 14 | 58.3 | 10.83 | 0.451 |
| Eredivisie | Roda JC Kerkrade | 25 | 25.4 | 10 | 40 | 10.48 | 0.419 |
| Juliper Pro League | Oud-Heverlee Leuven | 28 | 25.5 | 13 | 46.4 | 10.38 | 0.371 |
| Eredivisie | SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden | 25 | 25 | 7 | 28 | 10.25 | 0.41 |
| Eredivisie | Excelsior Rotterdam | 25 | 25.1 | 4 | 16 | 9.65 | 0.386 |
| Juliper Pro League | Waasland-Beveren | 27 | 23.3 | 14 | 51.9 | 7.88 | 0.292 |
| Eredivisie | De Graafschap Doetinchem | 28 | 22.6 | 6 | 21.4 | 6.5 | 0.232 |
