Highlights from the Wrexham Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Wales, Wrexham A.F.C runs a category 3 academy.
- Head of Academy: Gus Williams
- PDP Lead Coach: Craig Knight
- YDP Lead: Gareth Richards
Nickname: Red Dragons
Wrexham AFC Academy Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Wrexham players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Wrexham AFC Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
- Max Purvis (Defender) Flint Town United
- Alex Moore (Midfielder) Colwyn Bay
- Rio Owen (Forward) Caernarfon Town
- Tom Kelly (Defender) Bootle FC
- Harry Ashfield (Midfielder) Cheltenham Town
Wrexham AFC Academy International Players 2025/26
- Jayden Smyth (Midfielder) Wales U16
- Jac Jones (Midfielder) Wales U17
- Connor Thorley (Defender) Wales U18
- Harry Ashfield (Midfielder) Wales U21
Wrexham 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
Wrexham U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Shrewsbury Town, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
- Wrexham U17 won away against Sheffield Wednesday U17 (0 – 2)
- Wrexham U17 drew at home against Huddersfield Town U17 (2 – 2)
- Wrexham U17 lost away against Shrewsbury Town U17 (4 – 1)
Round of 16
- Wrexham U17 won away against Blackpool U17 (0 – 2)
Quarter Finals
- Wrexham U17 won away against Cardiff City U17 (2 – 4)
U18 Youth Alliance League
The Football League Youth Alliance is an English youth football competition made up of two regional divisions, serving as the League Two tier within the U18 Professional Development League system.
U18 Youth Alliance League North Winter Table 2025-26
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
- Wrexham U18 lost at home against Mansfield Town U18 (1 – 2)
- Sammy Chesworth
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
Wrexham AFC U18 are drawn in Group B against under-18 teams: Cardiff City, Swansea City and Swindon Town.
Fixtures Schedule (Group B)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Wrexham v Cardiff City
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Swansea City v Wrexham
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Wrexham v Swindon Town
- Wrexham U18 drew at home against Cardiff City U18 (1 – 1)
- Wrexham U18 lost away against Swansea City U18 (2- 0)
- Wrexham U18 won at home against Swindon Town U18 (6 – 0)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Wrexham U18 have been drawn at home against Port Vale U18
- Wrexham U18 won at home against Port Vale U18 (5 – 1)
- Sammy Chesworth (2)
- Jac Jones
- Wes Graham
- Kian Nolan
Fourth Round Proper
Wrexham U18 have been drawn away against Southend United or Swindon Town U18
- Wrexham U18 won away against Southend United U18 (1 – 3)
- Jac Jones
- Carrick Murphy
- Sammy Chesworth
Fifth Round Proper
- Wrexham U18 lost away against Aston Villa U18 (1 – 0)
Wrexham AFC Academy News
Young Players Offered 1st Professional Contract
- Tom Kelly
- Alex Moore
- Rio Owen
- Max Purvis
27th November 2025
Wrexham U18s will host Port Vale U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Wednesday, December 3rd at the STōK Cae Ras, with kick-off at 7.00 pm.
3rd December 2025
Wrexham U18s advanced to the fourth round of the Youth Alliance Cup with a 5 – 1 win victory at home against Port Vale U18s.
30th January 2026
The Under-17s booked their place in the PDL Cup Shield semi-final with a 4–2 win over Cardiff City, as Julian Widecki-Estima and Carrick Murphy both scored twice.
24th February 2026
Wrexham U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fifth round with a 1-0 defeat away to Aston Villa U18s.
9th April 2026
First-year scholar Jac Jones has been called up to the Cymru Under-17 squad.
He will travel to San Marino for the European Championship Round Two mini tournament, facing Andorra, Georgia, and the hosts.
10th April 2026
In their first Under-15 Floodlit Cup campaign, Wrexham Academy reached the North Final after topping their group against Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic, Stockport County, and Crewe Alexandra, then beating Carlisle United 3–0 and Huddersfield Town 2–0.
The young Red Dragons were narrowly beaten 3–2 by Preston North End in the final.