Derby County Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in East Midlands, Derby County FC runs a category 1 academy.
- Academy Manager: Matt Hale
- Head of Academy Coaching: Keith Gilroy
- Senior Professional Development Phase Coach: Danny Maye
- B Team Lead Coach: Keith Briggs
- Under-21 Lead Coach: Danny Maye
- Under-18 Lead Coach: Bradley Johnson
Derby County Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Derby County players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Derby County Scholars 2025/26
- Cristiano Dzialuk (Goalkeeper)
- Tom Marriott (Defender)
- Darnelle Thomas (Defender)
- George Stokes (Midfielder)
- Charlie Smith (Midfielder)
- Zayne Blake (Forward)
- Kieran Clarke (Forward)
- Luca Crolla (Forward)
- Kacey Gill (Forward)
- Euan Griffiths (Forward)
Derby County Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Daniel Cox (Defender) Walsall; Wealdstone
- Harry Evans (Goalkeeper) Coleraine
- Jack Thompson (Goalkeeper) Worcester City; Braintree Town
- Dajune Brown (Forward) Port Vale
- Darren Robinson (Midfielder) St. Patrick’s Athletic
- Harley Price (Goalkeeper) Worcester City; Peterborough Sports
- Harry Hawkins (Midfielder) Bedford Town; Barwell FC
- Alfie Friars (Defender) Stockport County (Work Experience)
- Lennon Wheeldon (Forward) South Shields
- Israel Green (Forward) Belper Town
- Tristan Gill (Defender) Buxton FC
- Sam Kane (Goalkeeper) Worcester City
- Freddie Turley (Defender) Dunfermline
- Marsel Tola (Midfielder) Stafford Rangers
- Rio Canoville (Defender) Matlock Town
- Billy Gough (Defender) Barwell FC
- Jack Perry (Defender) Barwell FC
- Adisa Osayande (Defender) Stafford Rangers
Derby County Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26
- Owen Eames (Midfielder) #37
- Cruz Allen (Midfielder) #54
Derby County Academy International Players 2025/26
- Cruz Allen (Midfielder) Wales U19
- Alfie Friars (Defender) Northern Ireland U19
- Sean Corry (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U19
- Kacey Myers (Midfielder) Gibraltar
- Jack Thompson (Goalkeeper) England U20
- Freddie Turley (Defender) Ireland U21
- Dan Cox (Defender) Wales U21
- Darren Robinson (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U21
Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Derby County Under-18 play in the North League
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U17 and U18 Premier League Cup
In 2017, the Premier League introduced the U18 Premier League Cup and the U16 Premier League Cup, renaming the latter to the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020 for their respective age groups.
The seven group winners, along with the best runner-up determined by total points, goal difference, and then head-to-head record, will progress to the quarterfinals.
U17 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Derby County U17 are drawn in Group B against under 17 teams from Birmingham City, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.
- Derby County U17 lost at home against Leicester U17 (2 – 3)
- Derby County U17 won away against Nottingham Forest U17 (2 – 3)
- Derby County U17 won at home against Birmingham City U17 (3 – 2)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Derby County U18 are drawn in Group H against under 18 teams from Burnley, Reading and Tottenham.
- Derby County U18 won at home against Burnley U18 (2 – 1)
- Braidy Connell-Webstern
- Isreal Green
- Derby County U18 drew away against Reading U18 (2 – 2)
- James Ward
- Marley Mintus
- Derby County U18 lost away against Tottenham U18 (2 – 1)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Derby County U18 have been drawn away against Cambridge United U18
- Derby County U18 won away against Cambridge United U18 (0 – 3)
- Israel Green (2)
- James Ward
Fourth Round Proper
Derby County U18 have been drawn away against Manchester United U18
- Derby County U18 lost away against Manchester United U18 (2 – 1) (0 – 0 after normal time)
- Max Nessling
Premier League 2
Starting from the 2023 season, all Category 1 teams compete in a single league using the Swiss-style format.
There are a total of 29 clubs competing in the 2025/26 season.
Entry into or removal from this league depends on meeting the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U21 Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to enhance competition during the Professional Development Phase.
It added a knockout tournament alongside the regular league schedule. For the 2025/26 season, the format features nine groups.
The top team from each group automatically qualifies for the knockout stage, along with the seven best second-placed teams.
U21 Premier League Group Stage
Derby County U21 are drawn in Group B against under 21 teams from Bristol City, Sheffield United and Stoke City.
- Sheffield United (A) – Fri 12 Sept, 7pm
- Bristol City (H) – Mon 20 Oct, 7pm
- Stoke City (H) – Fri 21 Nov, 7pm
- Sheffield United (H) – Fri 28 Nov, 7pm
- Derby County U21 lost away against Sheffield United U21 (2 – 1)
- Niall McAndrew
- Derby County U21 won at home against Bristol City U21 (8 – 2)
- Owen Eames
- Cruz Allen (2)
- Cameron Wilson (2)
- Johnson Osong
- Justin Oguntolu (2)
- Derby County U21 drew at home against Stoke City U21 (2 – 2)
- Johnson Osong
- Justin Oguntolu
- Derby County U21 lost away against Bristol City U21 (3 – 2)
- Owen Eames
- Justin Oguntolu
- Derby County U21 drew away against Stoke City U21 (1 – 1)
- Justin Oguntolu
- Derby County U21 lost at home against Sheffield United U21 (1 – 2)
- Cameron Wilson
Central League Cup
2025/26 Central League Cup Fixtures announced.
15 teams have entered the competition, divided into four groups:
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.
Central League Group Stage 2025/26
Derby County B are drawn in Group B against Reserve teams from Chesterfield, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town.
- Derby County B won at home against Chesterfield Reserves (4 – 0)
- Jamie Wähling
- Sean Corry
- Cameron Wilson (2)
- Derby County B won away against Grimsby Town Reserves (2 – 3)
- Lennon Wheeldon (2)
- Justin Oguntolu
- Derby County B won at home against Mansfield Town B (3 – 1)
- Jamie Wähling
- Jerome Richards
- Justin Oguntolu
National League Cup
The National League Cup is a 32-team midweek competition, comprising of 16 Under-21s teams participating in Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
The addition of Derby County followed the withdrawal of Reading from the tournament.
National League Cup Group Stage
Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup
Third Round
Derby County B will play away against Buxton on 2nd December
- Derby County U21 won away against Buxton (0 – 4)
- Cruz Allen (2)
- Jerome Richards
- Owen Eames
Quarter Final
Derby County B have been drawn away to Mickleover FC
- Derby County U21 lost away against Mickleover FC (2 – 1)
- Luke Banks
Derby County Academy News
16th May 2025
Derby County Under-18 players completing the second year of their scholarships—Demiane Agustien, Luke Banks, Owen Eames, Isaac Gordon, Justin Oguntolu, Adisa Osayande, Johnson Osong, Harley Price, and Marsel Tola—have been offered professional contracts.
9th June 2025
Freddie Turley has been awarded Ireland Football’s Under-19 International Player of the Year. He led the national U19 team as captain in seven matches last season.
8th July 2025
Eight Academy players from Derby County have signed their first professional contracts with the club ahead of the 2025/26 season.
- Harley Price (Goalkeeper)
- Luke Banks (Defender)
- Adisa Osayande (Defender)
- Isaac Gordon (Defender)
- Owen Eames (Midfielder)
- Marsel Tola (Midfielder)
- Justin Oguntolu (Forward)
- Johnson Osong (Forward)
31st July 2025
Attacker Cameron Wilson has joined Derby on a permanent deal from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, following an impressive trial with Danny Maye’s squad.
The 18-year-old is a versatile forward, capable of playing across the front line, primarily on the wings but also in central attacking positions.
14th August 2025
19-year-old German midfielder Jamie Wähling is set to join the Rams’ Under-21s squad as a free agent, following his departure from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim’s youth system at the end of last season.
Derby County have signed 19-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Sam Kane, who joins the Rams from Scottish Championship side Queen’s Park.
24th October 2025
Derby County Academy goalkeeper Charlie Hardy has joined Manchester United, with the 16-year-old moving to Old Trafford to link up with Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 squad.
29th October 2025
Derby County Academy defender Luca Crolla, 17, has signed his first professional contract with the club until 2028.
11th November 2025
Derby County B will face Buxton in an away match in the Third Round of the Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup.
The fixture is set for Tuesday, 2nd December, with a 7:45 PM kick-off.
10th December 2025
Derby County U18s booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 3–0 win over Cambridge United. They will face Manchester United next.
15th December 2025
Derby County’s B Team are set to face Mickleover FC in the quarter-final of the 2025/26 Derbyshire Senior Cup, with the tie taking place at the Don Amott Arena on Tuesday 20 January 2026, kicking off at 7.45pm.
17th December 2025
Defender Rio Canoville has signed his first professional contract with Derby County.
He joined the club’s Academy at Under-15 level after spells with Notts County and Nottingham Forest.
23rd December 2025
Derby County U18 are set to travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in their fourth-round tie on Friday 23 January, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.
2nd January 2026
Under-21s midfielder Darren Robinson has completed a permanent move to Sky Bet League One club Doncaster Rovers.
8th January 2026
17-year-old Midfielder Charlie Smith has signed his first professional deal with Derby County.
21st January 2026
Academy striker Charles Agbawodikeizu has signed his first professional contract, committing his long-term future to the Rams. The 18-year-old joined the club ahead of the 2024/25 season after a spell with West Ham United.
23rd January 2026
Derby County U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fourth round with a 2-1 defeat away to Manchester United U18s.
25th January 2026
Derby County Academy midfielder Owen Eames has committed his future to the club by signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal, keeping the homegrown 19-year-old at Pride Park Stadium until the summer of 2029.
3rd February 2026
Raymond Offor has joined Derby County Academy from Shelbourne. The 6ft 5” centre-back, who can also play in defensive midfield, made his first-team debut in the FAI Cup in July 2025.