Palmeiras ranked fourth globally for academy sales in five years, only Brazilian in 10-year top 10 | OneFootball

Palmeiras rank fourth worldwide for revenue from academy player sales over the past five years.

According to Globo.com, an April CIES Football Observatory study puts Palmeiras on 289 million euros (R$ 1.7 billion), behind Chelsea 366 million, Manchester City 318 million and Aston Villa 293 million.

The study includes bonuses whether paid or not and future-sale income, and defines training clubs as those with at least three seasons between ages 15 and 21. Ajax led with 43 sales, Palmeiras were 13th on 32.

Across 10 years, Palmeiras place ninth on 356 million euros (R$ 2 billion), the only Brazilian in the top 10.

The club believes some smaller transactions were not counted, including a percentage from Gustavo Mancha’s move involving Fortaleza and others up to 2 million euros.

The surge followed 2013-2015 reforms under Paulo Nobre, with João Paulo Sampaio leading the academy. Coaching numbers tripled from four to 12 and scouting widened across four regions.

Gabriel Jesus’s 2016 switch to Manchester City for 32.75 million euros (R$ 121 million then) was the first landmark sale, business accelerated from 2017 with senior backing, notably under Abel Ferreira.

Record deals for Endrick and Estêvão followed, and Vitor Reis joined Manchester City for 37 million euros, surpassing São Paulo’s Beraldo as Brazil’s most expensive defender. Sampaio says the staff remain hungry to stay in the world’s top five.

For 2026, Palmeiras target R$ 399 million in player sales.

Source: Globo.com