I normally buy my youth players from Germany with some from Italy. If a player is over 16 then I usually won't buy them - unless they just turned 17. I need to meet those Champions League rules somehow.
I have the entire back four, the MR and the ST from the Italy Under 21s team in my first team and reserves (with most out on loan to get experience). My German youth players (GK, DR, DC, ML) have made it into my first team and have all broken through into the main Germany team - with the GK seemingly playing for both Germany and Turkey whenever it suits him.
My most expensive youth player cost me £12 million from Middlesbrough when he was 16. But I figure he'll be the best MC in England by the time he's 21.
I really want to be able to develop my own youth team from the ground up, but it's impossible. I've asked the board to improve all of the youth facilities and recruitment, and in fairness they've agreed to everything. But the best potential stars I get are one or two "leading stars in the Championship" every five years. Most of them have barely good enough potential for League 2. I've never had my Head of Youth Recruitment recommend any of the players that come into my youth team, but I need to keep a few of them around to meet Champions League rules.