The England Under-21s head coach oversees all of the development teams and has seen several players add to their experience overseas.
Most recently, U18s defender Mandela Egbo left Crystal Palace’s academy to join German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach and U20s midfielder Lewis Baker has just joined Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Gareth Southgate's U21s will start their new Euro campaign in September
And with Egbo’s international team-mate Taylor Moore playing for RC Lens in France and U17s defender Danny Collinge also out in Germany with VfB Stuttgart, Southgate is pleased to see a new trend emerging.
"We’ve two or three players in the younger age groups who are doing that and I don’t think it does players any harm," said Southgate, who also has former Sporting Lisbon youngster Eric Dier in his plans for the new U21 campaign.
"That’s part of maturing and giving them responsibility, so it will help them in life and not just football."
Given the size of England, many young players never leave home before they are thrust into the world of professional football.
And the former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender believes that for certain individuals, a switch to pastures new can only enhance their development.
New chapter. Can't wait to see what the future holds!! @borussia @borussia_en pic.twitter.com/YRY6DKHXtd
— Mandela Egbo (@mandela_e) June 23, 2015
"I think moving away from home does help and we’ve seen it with some of our youngsters who have moved within England," he added.
"We’re quite an insular country and I know from my time in club football, the idea of moving away from home is a big ordeal.
"But the more rounded and well-travelled they are, the better for us as a country."
The U21s’ new Euro campaign kicks-off again in September, when they travel to Norway on 6 September.
