This Monthly Report analyses the evolution of the demographics of the European football players’ labour market since 2009. The study covers the thematics of training (club-trained players), internationalisation (expatriate footballers) and stability (players recruited during the year). The statistical indicators that have been reviewed allow to compare policies pursued by clubs in composing their squads on both a temporal and spatial level.

The analysis of pitch performances at both individual and collective level is one of the three principle fields of research of the CIES Football Observatory. The 28th edition of our Monthly Report compares 35 national competitions across Europe using the database made available by the InStat company. The sample comprises 19,544 matches played between the 1st September 2015 and the 31st August 2017.

The study of the transfer market constitutes one of the key areas of research of the CIES Football Observatory. This report analyses the paying fee transfers having taken place since 2010 which involved teams of the five major European championships: the English Premier League, the Spanish Liga, the German Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A and the French Ligue 1.

Women’s football is currently undergoing a welcome development. At the elite level, the process of professionalisation is well underway in several countries worldwide. Following in the footsteps of the CIES Football Observatory studies, this report analyses the composition of squads in five of the world’s most developed leagues (Frauen Bundesliga, Damallsvenskan, Division 1 féminine, Women’s Super League and National Women’s Soccer League). The study investigates the criteria of age, origin and international status of players.

The 25th edition of the CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report analyses the presence of expatriate footballers in 137 leagues of 93 national associations worldwide. In total, 174 national associations have at least one representative active abroad in a club included in the sample. Brazil is the most represented country in absolute terms (1,202 expatriates), followed by France (781) and Argentina (753).

The 24th edition of the CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report studies the demographic evolution of the big-5 European leagues since the 2009/10 season. The analysis focuses on the percentages of domestic league minutes played by four categories of players: club-trained, under 21s, expatriates and recent arrivals.