The 18-23 Transition

0.012%

of boys in English

football sign a

Premier League contract

98%

of scholarship players

are out of top-tier

football by age 22

2%

of players given a contract

at 18 are still in the

Premier League by 22

Elite football invests heavily in youth development, yet the 18–23 transition remains the greatest point of performance failure across the player pathway

First-team readiness is rare, rarely planned — we can do better

This is not a talent shortage — it’s a system and transition gap

Clubs lose competitive advantage, player value, loan effectiveness, and strategic alignment

at the precise moment when players should be turning into first team assets

Elite football's greatest point of failure

People and Performance Coaching:

empowering leaders, coaches, and players.

Focusing on the toughest challenges in high-performance sport

When people thrive, performance follows.

Athlete Welfare & Career Transition:

ensuring players thrive on and off the pitch.

Leadership & Organisational Alignment:

building culture, coherency, and clarity of purpose.

Talent Management & Pathway Optimisation:

turning academy investment into first-team readiness.

"Working with Dave throughout my professional doctorate has been an important part of my development as a leader in elite football over the past 6 years. His guidance has brought a level of structure, clarity, and strategic thinking that has challenged me to reassess how we approach player pathways, player loans, staff co-ordination, and strategic planning.

What stands out is his ability to translate complex academic concepts into practical tools that support decision-making in a high-performance environment. Our work together has helped me refine how I evaluate systems, manage transitions, and create alignment across key departments.

The perspective I have gained through our conversations continues to inform my approach to leadership and the way I look at developing both players and people. Dave brings genuine expertise and a commitment to helping others grow. His influence has had a lasting impact on my professional practice".

Julian Ward - Technical Director at Liverpool Football Club

(Formerly Talent Pathway Manager, Assistant Sporting Director, and Sporting Director at LFC)

Testimonials

"Dave has been a great mentor, PhD supervisor and (critical) friend to me for well over a decade. His calming support, vast experience of elite sport environments, organisational culture, career transition and applied insight has proved invaluable for me, and ultimately to the players I work with, on many occasions throughout my career. Beyond all of this, he is a thoroughly genuine guy in whom I place a great deal of trust."

Dr Darren Devaney – Lead Performance Psychologist, Ulster Rugby

(Former Head of Psychology at Arsenal FC’s Academy)

Testimonials

"Having worked for many years with Dave, first as my PhD supervisor (where he shared his vast knowledge of talent development environments and transition demands) and most recently as a mentor and friend, I can confidently say that his ability to support whilst developing and challenging is unparalleled. He has a natural ability to reinforce professional and critical standards whilst also recognising the importance of understanding athlete well-being, identity and culture when working in professional sporting environments. Dave has not only guided me through the early years of my professional career, but has also supported me fundamentally in my own personal development as I worked to better understand my own philosophies and values. His understanding of what it takes to be successful in high-performance, high-pressure environments, alongside reinforcing the need to reflect, review and work in ways synonymous with your own values has been a significant contributing factor to me succeeding in my own career. I could not recommend his support more highly".

Dr Alice Stratford – Senior Psychologist at British Cycling

(Former Lead Performance Psychologist at Everton Football Club Women, 1st team and U20s)

Testimonials

Set the Culture

To get the right character into a team, a leader must set out clear expectations from the outset. Everyone should know how things are going to work, what will be expected of them and how they should behave with others.

Dave [Richardson] works with high performance athletes and part of his role involves the provision of support to talent pathway professionals, who are responsible for the 18-23 loan system operated by Premier League clubs. He says: “Cultural alignment is key. You can see the strategic intent in the way players are being placed by Premier League clubs. They look to find the right environment where the player, the coach and the style of play all match up.”

Taken from: 'Sidestep project failure by building all-star delivery teams: How to inspire talented people to work together to achieve success'. Stellarmann (Feb, 2024)