Highlights from the Sheffield Wednesday Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in South Yorkshire, Sheffield Wednesday FC runs a category 2 academy.
- Academy Manager: Jonathan Pepper
Sheffield Wednesday Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Sheffield Wednesday academy players who have been retained or released.
Sheffield Wednesday Scholars 2025/26
- Perry Ridge
- Yisa Alao
- James Kay
- Harry Chadbourne
- Thomas Streets
- Reuben Selby
- Kleven De Oliveira
- Will Grainger
- Noah Dixon
- Jack Barraclough
- Charlie Robinson
Sheffield Wednesday Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Killian Barrett (Goalkeeper) Boston United
- Junior Kamwa (Forward) Brighouse Town
- Denny Oliver (Midfielder) Brighouse Town; Bridlington Town AFC
Sheffield Wednesday Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26
- Yisa Alao (Defender) #33
- Ernie Weaver (Defender) #30
- Joe Emery (Defender) #32
- Jarvis Thornton (Midfielder) #37
- Favour Onukwuli (Forward) #41
Sheffield Wednesday Academy International Players 2025/26
Young players on international duty.
- Bailey Cadamarteri (Forward) Jamaica First Team
Sheffield Wednesday Academy Competitions
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Cup Group Stage
Sheffield Wednesday U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Shrewsbury Town, Wrexham and Huddersfield Town.
- Sheffield Wednesday U17 lost at home against Wrexham U17 (0 – 2)
- Sheffield Wednesday U17 lost away against Shrewsbury Town (4 – 0)
- Sheffield Wednesday U17 lost away against Huddersfield Town U17 (6 – 3)
U18 Professional Development League
The Under-18 Professional Development League is a leading English youth competition for Category Two academies, comprising 20 teams split into North and South regional divisions.
It delivers a high-level development pathway for promising players, combining league competition with a national play-off system.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Sheffield Wednesday U18 have been drawn away against Bromley U18
- Sheffield Wednesday U18 lost away against Bromley U18 (1 – 1) (4 – 2 after Pens)
- Joel Akpobi
Professional Development League
Professional Development League 2—is England’s main youth competition for Category Two academies. It sits just below Premier League 2, providing Under-21 players with a key pathway toward first-team football.
The league is split into regional North and South divisions, with play-offs determining the national champion, and it offers a highly competitive platform for developing top young talent.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
Sheffield Wednesday Academy News
17th May 2025
Sheffield Wednesday have extended first-time professional contracts to four of their promising young talents: Joe Emery, Sutura Kakay, Logan Stretch, and Ernie Weaver.
This marks a significant milestone in each player’s career as they transition from academy prospects to fully fledged professionals within the club.
2nd July 2025
Six young Owls have signed their first professional contracts at Hillsborough.
Joe Emery, Ernie Weaver, and Logan Stretch have earned their maiden deals after completing two-year scholarships with the club.
Meanwhile, Cole McGhee, Harry Evers, and Denny Oliver have joined Sheffield Wednesday following academy spells at Preston, Liverpool, and Lincoln respectively.
10th July 2025
18-year-old midfielder Sutura Kakay has left Sheffield Wednesday to sign his first professional contract with Southampton.
21st July 2025
19-year-old George Brown extended his contract with Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month.
23rd July 2025
Owls academy graduate Caelan Cadamarteri has completed a move to Premier League champions Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.
25th November 2025
Sheffield Wednesday U18s will travel to face Bromley U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Friday, December 12th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
13th December 2025
Sheffield Wednesday U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a defeat to Bromley U18s.
26th December 2025
Academy graduate Favour Onukwuli made his EFL Championship debut for Sheffield Wednesday, coming off the bench in the 78th minute against Hull City on Boxing Day.