---
title: "Hornby claims it is “more and more difficult” for youth players to breakthrough – why it is hard to disagree"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/hornby-claims-it-is-more-and-more-difficult-for-youth-players-to-breakthrough-why-it-is-hard-to-disagree/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Cuff"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-10-05T07:00:29Z"
modified: "2019-10-05T07:00:29Z"
---

# Hornby claims it is “more and more difficult” for youth players to breakthrough – why it is hard to disagree

Fraser Hornby has pointed blame at the money in the Premier League for making it more difficult for UK based youth talent to breakthrough.

The Everton striker recently left Merseyside to sign for Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk on a season long loan, in order to earn minutes at a senior first-team level.

While players such as Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Beni Baningime have found their way into the first-team at Goodison Park in the last few years, not many players are able to breakthrough into the senior ranks.

![Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2019/10/1164073107.jpg)

This is part of the reason that a growing trend has emerged that has seen players move abroad for more regular football, with stars such as Ademola Lookman, Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson having all found game time easier to come by in the German Bundesliga.

The 20-year old forward has pointed to the money involved in football as one of the reasons behind young players being stifled, particularly in the Premier League, with clubs more focused on on survival due to the financial incentives.

Speaking to Knack Weekend ([via Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/everton-man-discusses-surprise-loan-move-says-teammate/)), Hornby had this to say on his decision to move abroad rather than down the English footballing pyramid:

> Last season there was interest in a loan, but Everton did not let me leave.
>
> This season, I got the green light from the club management. It was also the time to leave and gain experience in a first-team.
>
> You know, it has become more and more difficult for UK club youth products to breakthrough at the club they are trained in.
>
> Because the Premier League is still the most watched and covered competition in the world, so much money is spent on it, that clubs are attracting players from different places more and more. That is also why I wanted to look for other opportunities.

### Read Everton Verdict

It’s hard to disagree with Hornby, with football having undoubtedly having become more commercialised over the past ten years. Placing as high as possible in the league is crucial for every club from a financial standpoint, and for those clubs lower in the table, survival is paramount over everything else.

Still, the cream usually rises to the top, and the very best young players won’t be able to go unnoticed. If it means that less players break through, that is a shame, but a club’s survival has to be considered the most important aspect of a season.

You have to commend those players like Hornby who seek foreign markets to best help their development ahead of potentially starring in the future, either for their parent club or elsewhere. Hopefully the young forward does well in Belgium and comes back to Goodison Park a stronger and more rounded prospect.