Abstract (eng)
This paper evaluates the talent acquisition in European Football leagues via transfers of young players. Therefore the research question is pointed at the effects of those transfers on the market value development of young players and compares it to players who did not experience a transfer. A propensity score matching is conducted, including 388 players from the three major European Football leagues from Germany, England and Spain in the season 2015/2016. It shows that the mean treatment effect of a transfer accounts for an increase of 46% in market value, comparing the group of transferred players with the players who stayed in their respective club. Additionally, several other insights were gained. It was found that the transfer of 16 and 17 year old players is not beneficial from a market value development perspective. Also, attackers were the most targeted group for transfers. Furthermore, the transfer strategies of the leagues were compared, revealing that English clubs favour loans as a strategy of talent recruitment and development, whereas German and Spanish clubs lean towards either a transfer or the professionalization in the respective 2nd team.