Premier League: New study shows players under 21 ‘suffer more injuries’

Premier League players under 21 are being sidelined longer than ever due to injury and knee problems are on the rise, a study shows.

New data from global insurance group Howden’s Men’s European Football Injury Index has revealed similar trends across Europe’s top men’s leagues.

The revelations come at a time when club and international calendars are under increasing scrutiny, with many players arguing that crowded fixture lists are putting their well-being at risk.

James Burrows, Howden’s head of sport, cited the “ever-increasing physical demands” on players as the reason for the rise in injuries.

“As the utilization of match schedules increases due to the expansion of competitions at home and abroad, we are having to sideline more and more players for longer periods of time,” he said.

The players’ union Fifpro has made the same argument, external. The 2024 Player Workload Monitoring Report states that 78% of coaches surveyed and 72% of players surveyed support the introduction of guaranteed rest time in the calendar.

The same report detailed that England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham made 251 appearances before turning 21 in June, while former England captain David Beckham played 54 in comparison.

The Professional Football Association said some players “feel like they are being pushed to their physical limits and beyond”.

“We can also see players tackling this workload at a younger age than ever before and playing more and more minutes,” a PFA spokesman said.

“We have always said that football’s approach to its calendar must be player-led and based on a proper understanding of how players can physically cope with these demands. This is especially true for young players, who we want to have long, successful careers.”