Fulham Academy

Fulham FC runs a category 1 academy based in London. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

All players, from the youngest in the Foundation Phase to the Under-21s, live and train according to the Academy’s core values, known as the 3 Hs: Honesty, Humility, and Hard Work.

Fulham takes pride in its long history of developing young talent for the First Team, with 40 Academy players making senior debuts since 2011/12.

The club recognises that its diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and the Academy has launched a Fulham For All World Map of Heritage as part of its commitment to celebrating inclusion and identity.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category One clubs:

• U18 Premier League – split into North and South divisions; Fulham’s Under-18s play in the South League.
• U17 & U18 Premier League Cup – introduced by the Premier League in 2017; seven group winners plus the best runner-up (by points, goal difference, then head-to-head) progress to the quarter-finals.
• Premier League 2 – since 2023, all Category One academies play in a single Swiss-style league, with entry and removal governed by Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
• Premier League International Cup – teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 sides and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads, with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stage.
• National League Cup – a 32-team midweek competition comprising 16 Under-21 sides from Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
• Vertu Trophy (EFL Trophy) – a midweek knockout competition for EFL League One and League Two clubs, plus 16 invited Premier League and Championship clubs with Category One academies, regionalised from the group stage through to the quarter-finals.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under a refreshed leadership structure. Steve Wigley was appointed Academy Director, succeeding Sean Cullen, who departed in May 2025 after ten years to join Brighton & Hove Albion Women.

Andrew Watt took over as Academy Manager, Andrew Joslin stepped into the Under-18s Head Coach role, and Dan Thomas was named Assistant Head Coach for the Under-21s alongside Hayden Mullins as Under-21 Head Coach. Ali Melloul was promoted to First Team Coach.

Scholars 2025/26

Aidan Evans (Forward), Matt Bagot (Goalkeeper), Damian Čech (Goalkeeper), William Sutton-Bangura (Forward), Nazim Benchaita (Defender), Bashil Lubega (Forward)

Markuss Gomins (Defender), Kymarley Morrison (Defender), Tarrell Cavell (Forward), Anand Batra (Forward), Dylan De-Gale (Midfielder).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Matt Dibley-Dias (Midfielder) – Chesterfield; Braintree Town
• Devan Tanton (Defender) – Chesterfield
• Lloyd Harris (Defender) – Oxford United
• Luc De Fougerolles (Defender) – FCV Dender EH
• Olly Sanderson (Forward) – Woking
• Luke Harris (Defender) – Oxford United; Wycombe Wanderers
• Harvey Araujo (Defender) – Colchester United
• Terrell Works (Forward) – Braintree Town; Yeovil Town
• Damian Čech (Goalkeeper) – Epsom & Ewell
• Eddy Nsasi (Defender) – Wealdstone
• Chibuzo Nwoko (Midfielder) – Forest Green Rovers
• Marco Underwood (Goalkeeper) – Uxbridge
• Aaron Loupalo-Bi (Forward) – Walsall
• Dino Kaiser (Goalkeeper) – Margate

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Josh King (Midfielder, #24), Sam Amissah (Defender, #35), Alfie McNally (Goalkeeper, #40), Seth Ridgeon (Midfielder, #99).

International Players 2025/26

• Chase Kapotwe (DF) – England U16
• Aidan Evans (MF) – Canada U17; U20
• Seth Ridgeon (MF) – England U17; U18
• Samuel Amissah (DF) – England U19
• Joshua King (MF) – England U19
• Dino Kaiser (GK) – Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Luke Harris (MF) – Wales U21
• Josh King (MF) – England U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Fulham’s Under-17s were drawn in Group A against Under-17 sides from Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Watford.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United.

For the Premier League International Cup, Fulham’s Under-21s were grouped with Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Nordsjælland, Juventus and Valencia, alongside fellow English sides Crystal Palace, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion.

In the National League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group C against Aldershot Town, Sutton United, Truro City and Woking, with all fixtures played away from home.

In the Vertu Trophy, the Under-21s were drawn in Southern Group G against Colchester United, Gillingham and Wycombe Wanderers.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Under-21 striker Callum Osmand joined Celtic, opting to sign with the Scottish club despite being offered a new contract by Fulham.

July 2025

• Damian Čech, son of Petr Čech, signed his first professional contract with Fulham.
• 22-year-old midfielder Adrion Pajaziti completed a permanent transfer to Croatian side Hajduk Split.
• 19-year-old Luc De Fougerolles signed a new contract, committing his future to Craven Cottage until 2029.
• Josh King signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Craven Cottage until 30 June 2029.
• Winger Farhaan Ali Wahid and forward Tom Wingate signed their first professional contracts with Fulham.
• Seth Ridgeon pledged his long-term future to Fulham, following a breakthrough season in which he stepped up to Under-21s football at just 16 and went on to captain England’s Under-17s at that summer’s European Championship.
• Under-21s defender Charlie Robinson and winger Terrell Works both signed new contracts with Fulham.

August 2025

• Winger Lemar Gordon departed Fulham’s academy to join Leyton Orient on a two-year deal.
• Academy centre-back Logan Cooke signed his first professional deal with the club.

September 2025

• 16-year-old Lewis Kondau-Wall joined the Fulham Academy from grassroots side Impact FC, linking up with the Under-18s squad after a pre-season trial.
• Aaron Loupalo-Bi signed a new contract keeping him at the club until the summer of 2028, with the option to extend for an additional year.

October 2025

• Midfielder Seth Ridgeon was called up to the England Under-17 squad for the 2025 World Cup in Qatar.
• Defender Chase Kapotwe earned a call-up to the England Under-16 squad for three matches in Türkiye.

November 2025

• Goalkeeper Alfie McNally signed a new contract running until the summer of 2028, with the club holding the option to extend for a further year.
• Fulham’s Under-18s were drawn away to Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup third round.
• 17-year-old Nazim Benchaita signed his first professional contract at Craven Cottage, only months after committing to a scholarship.

December 2025

• Fulham’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round.
• Eddy Nsasi returned to Fulham following the end of his loan spell at Wealdstone.
• Farhaan Ali-Wahid won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for November.

April 2026

• Alfie White, at the club since Under-14 level, signed his first professional contract with Fulham after an impressive spell as a scholar.

May 2026

• Alfie White was awarded Fulham FC’s Scholar of the Year honour for the 2025/26 season.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for Fulham Academy saw the Under-18s reach the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, while the Under-21s reached the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2 play-offs and the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup.

Fulham’s development side had also been crowned U21 Premier League Cup champions the previous season (2023/24).

Hayden Mullins served as Under-21 Head Coach throughout the campaign, with Ali Melloul as Under-18s Head Coach.

Scholars 2024/25

Macauley Zepa (Forward), Alex Faux (Defender), Callum Cliff (Defender), Logan Cooke (Defender), Quinn Schutter (Defender), Marcel Hall (Defender), Alfie White (Midfielder), Harley Platel (Forward), Ruban Khan (Midfielder), Oliver Mayer (Goalkeeper).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Devan Tanton (Defender) – Chesterfield
• Olly Sanderson (Forward) – Bradford City; Harrogate Town
• Luke Harris (Midfielder) – Birmingham City
• Matt Dibley-Dias (Midfielder) – Northampton Town
• Harvey Araujo (Defender) – Chesterfield
• Callum McFarlane (Forward) – Wealdstone
• Tom Olyott (Forward) – Walton & Hersham FC
• Terry Ablade (Forward) – Partick Thistle
• Connor McAvoy (Defender) – Wealdstone
• Aaron Loupalo-Bi (Forward) – Dagenham & Redbridge

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Martial Godo (Forward, #47), Samuel Amissah (Defender, #35), Joshua King (Midfielder, #24).

International Players 2024/25

• Kayden Sessegnon – England U15
• Chase Kapotwe – England U15
• Kyle Grant (MF) – England U16
• Aidan Evans (MF) – Canada U17
• Samuel Amissah (DF) – England U18
• Joshua King (MF) – England U18; U19
• Seth Ridgeon (MF) – England U17
• Luke Harris (MF) – Wales U21
• Luc De Fougerolles (DF) – Canada First Team

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Fulham’s Under-17s were drawn in Group A against Under-17 sides from Chelsea, Arsenal and Charlton Athletic.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Wolves.

In the National League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group A against Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United, Wealdstone and Woking, with all fixtures played away from home.

Finally in the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Hertha BSC, FC Nordsjælland, PSV and AC Sparta Praha, alongside fellow English sides Liverpool, Manchester United and Norwich City.

Season Timeline

September 2024

• Kristian Sekularac was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August 2024.

October 2024

• Striker Callum Osmand earned a nomination for September’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.

November 2024

• Fulham were drawn away to Notts County in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Fulham progressed to the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.
• Eddy Nsasi signed his first professional contract with Fulham.

December 2024

• Fulham’s Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, away at Notts County.
• Goalkeeper Marco Underwood signed his first professional contract with the club.
• Callum Osmand won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for November.
• Fulham were set to play away in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup against the winner of Stevenage v Exeter City.

January 2025

• The Under-18s travelled to Exeter City for the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias rejoined Fulham after his loan spell at Northampton Town.
• Fulham’s Under-18s took part in the REWE Junior Cup five-a-side tournament in Göttingen.
• Olly Sanderson’s loan at Bradford City was terminated.
• Fulham’s Under-18s advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, setting up a tie against Arsenal at Motspur Park.
• Fulham’s FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in the fifth round, following their tie against Arsenal.

February 2025

• 17-year-old midfielder Seth Chingwaro moved to Fulham’s academy from Manchester City.
• Aaron Loupalo-Bi was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for January 2025.
• 16-year-old forward Brodie Dair joined Fulham’s Under-18s from St Johnstone.
• Fulham’s Under-21s prepared to host Sporting CP in the Premier League International Cup quarter-finals at Motspur Park.

March 2025

• Lemar Gordon was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for February.
• Fulham’s Under-21s were set to face Olympique Lyonnais in the Premier League International Cup semi-finals at Craven Cottage, aiming for a spot in the final against either Nottingham Forest or Athletic Club.

April 2025

• Fulham’s Under-21s were drawn against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League 2 Round of 16.
• Fulham’s Under-21s advanced to the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup knockout stage.
• Fulham’s Under-21s were set to play away against Southampton’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 Play-offs quarter-finals.

May 2025

• Fulham’s Under-21s’ Premier League 2 Play-offs campaign came to an end at the quarter-final stage.
• The Premier League nominated Fulham’s Callum Osmand for the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
• Fulham named Jayden Quashie their 2024/25 Scholar of the Year during a ceremony at Wembley Stadium.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Terry Ablade, Luca Ashby-Hammond (joined Plymouth Argyle), Chris Donnell, Imani Lanquedoc (joined Eastbourne), Connor McAvoy (joined Wealdstone), Delano McCoy-Splatt (joined MK Dons), Callum McFarlane (joined Solihull Moors)

Damon Park (joined Radcliffe), Stefan Parkes (joined Walton & Hersham), Luca Picotto (joined Brentford), Oscar Varney (joined Coventry City).