English youth development now better than Bundesliga, admits Dortmund director

The standards of youth development in England have surpassed those in Germany, Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc has said.

Zorc, who has benefited first-hand from English talent in the shape of Jadon Sancho, says the fact that England’s age-group sides have enjoyed international success is a sign that youth levels have risen fast.

“It seems to me that they overtook us,” said Zorc, who has been in his post since 1998. “You can recognise it also in results. You know the English teams are reaching Under-17, Under-19 [finals] compared to the German ones.

“The education and development of youth players in the English academies is quite good to be honest. The teams don’t only spend much money on transfers or salaries but also on infrastructure.

“When you see these youth academies – for example Manchester City – you can’t compare it with the German standard. It’s much higher, much higher.

“And also it seems to me it’s something like a business model for them because even if they don’t succeed in their own teams they sell them for higher prices. I just read a figure of Manchester City – I think they’ve sold young players for more than £150million within the last three or five years!”

‘I’m not surprised by Sancho’

Sancho has enjoyed huge success since signing for Dortmund for £8m 2017.

“I haven’t been surprised by his performances, but with how fast he managed to get to this senior level, because before that he only played on youth teams,” Zorc said. “Also the stability of his performances, he played nearly every game for us last autumn, always at a high level, but he could still play in our Under-19 team – that is unbelievable for me.”

Sancho believes he has encouraged other young British players to make the same move. Welsh prodigy Rabbi Matondo moved to Schalke for £11.3m from Manchester City last week.

“I feel like young players are looking to go away now, because they are seeing my success,” said Sancho. “I couldn’t speak for other young players, but they are probably giving it a thought now. I felt at the time I needed something different.

“Borussia Dortmund were the club I chose, I thought this will be my new home and I’ll work very hard to prove myself.”