Circumstance has dictated that the Swiss side has been forced to produce its own players, but it has reaped rich rewards selling the talent on while remaining successful.
FC Basel’s conveyor belt of talent shows no signs of slowing down.
Switzerland’s most successful and prestigious academy continues to produce glistening gems who have gone on to play in the Premier League and La Liga. In fact, over 40 players have progressed to the Basel first team since 2000, including Xherdan Shaqiri, Ivan Rakitic and Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka.
While Basel may not be one of the more intimidating names in the Champions League, there can be no doubting that the Urs Fischer's outfit is a well-oiled machine when it comes to producing quality youngsters.