SC Heerenveen

SC Heerenveen boasts a rich legacy as the Frisian talent factory, having produced stars like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. In 2025-26, their under-21 squad contributed 12 league starts—double the Eredivisie average for non-elite teams. However, their current budget of €25 million is 34% smaller than Vitesse's, making their reliance on youth sales critical; the club earned €3.7 million from transfers this season, 23% less than the typical comparable academy-driven side.