Southampton Academy

Southampton FC runs a category 1 academy based in the South East England. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy’s philosophy is to develop at least 50% of the first-team squad from within its own ranks, promoting an attractive, consistent style of play across all age groups while prioritising education and upholding the highest standards of integrity and honesty.

The Academy’s unofficial X (formerly Twitter) account is @SaintsFC_Youth.

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; Southampton’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.
• U21 Premier League Cup – introduced in the 2013/14 season to add a knockout tournament alongside the regular Professional Development Phase league schedule, featuring nine groups with the top team in each group plus the seven best runners-up 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.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Floodlit Cup – a regional youth cup competition contested by Southampton’s younger age groups.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Director of Group Talent Strategy Andy Goldie, Under-18 Head Coach Andrew Surman, and Under-21 Head Coach Tonda Eckert.

Full details of players retained, released, or returned from loan following the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Scholars 2025/26

Oscar Abbotson (Goalkeeper), Cale Richardson (Goalkeeper), Lewis Day (Defender), Broghan Sewell (Defender), Calum Anderson (Defender), Jake Vallance (Defender), Fabio Sainsbury (Midfielder)

Wyatt Comley (Midfielder), Walter Nutter (Midfielder), Klevi Bariami (Forward), Joaquin Borekull Urrutia (Forward), Junior Kuzanga (Forward), Luke Hawe (Forward), Davon Gbajumo (Defender), Harry Rodda (Midfielder).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Ollie Wright (Goalkeeper) – Accrington Stanley
• Sonnie Davis (Defender) – Eastleigh
• Daouda Traoré (Midfielder) – Betis Deportivo Balompié
• Will Armitage (Defender) – Brackley Town; Aldershot Town
• Josh Jeffries (Goalkeeper) – Worthing
• Romeo Akachukwu (Midfielder) – Colchester United
• Jayden Moore (Defender) – Eastleigh
• Will Merry (Forward) – Yeovil Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Jay Robinson (Midfielder, #46), Moses Sesay (Midfielder, #47), Cam Bragg (Midfielder, #48), Nicholas Oyekunle (Forward, #98), Barnaby Williams (Midfielder, #53), Sufianu Sillah Dibaga (Forward).

International Players 2025/26

• Bobby Martin (DF) – England U16
• George Robinson (DF) – Wales U17
• Calum Anderson (DF) – Northern Ireland U17
• Luke Hawe (FW) – Northern Ireland U17
• Dylan Moody (GK) – England U17; U18
• Baylee Dipepa (FW) – England U19
• Jay Robinson (FW) – England U19
• Jake Vallance (DF) – Scotland U19
• Romeo Akachukwu (MF) – Ireland U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

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

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Everton, Bristol City and Wolves.

In the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven and Monaco, alongside fellow English sides Everton, Manchester City and Wolves.

Also 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.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Highly rated teenager Harley Emsden-James departed Southampton to join Manchester United.
• Goalkeeper Adli Mohammed completed a permanent move to UAE Pro League side Al Nasr.
• Midfielder Aston Daley signed his first professional contract with Saints, committing to the club until 2027.

July 2025

• 16-year-old Calum Anderson joined Southampton’s Academy from Northern Irish side Linfield, agreeing to join the club’s scholarship programme for the 2025/26 season.
• 18-year-old midfielder Sutura Kakay joined the Academy on his first professional contract after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, linking up with the Under-21s on a deal running until 2027.
• 18-year-old midfielder Thierry Rohart-Brown signed his first professional contract with the club, committing his future until 2028.
• Attackers Will Merry and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, defender Sonnie Davis, and goalkeeper Khiani Shombe each signed one-year contract extensions until 2026, while Jayden Moore, Nick Oyekunle and Barnaby Williams each signed two-year contracts until 2027.
• 18-year-old defender Abdulhalim Okunola signed his first professional contract with Southampton, committing to the club until 2027.
• 18-year-old winger Sufianu Sillah Dibaga signed his first professional contract, committing to the club until 2026.

August 2025

• 16-year-old midfielder Walter Nutter joined Southampton’s Academy after leaving Chelsea, becoming part of that season’s First Year Scholar intake.
• 18-year-old defender Rory Whittaker joined Southampton’s Under-21s squad, arriving from Scottish Premiership side Hibernian on a three-year deal.
• 19-year-old Tyler Dibling finalised a permanent move to Everton for an undisclosed fee, marking the highest amount the club has ever received for an Academy graduate.

September 2025

• Prolific academy forward Dom Ballard departed Southampton to join Leyton Orient on a permanent transfer, centre-back Nico Lawrence left to pursue senior football opportunities, Cameron Frederick moved permanently to Oxford United, and winger Brook Myers also departed after five Under-21 appearances.
• Southampton academy midfielder Harry Gathercole signed his first professional contract with the club.

October 2025

• Goalkeeper Dylan Moody was called up to the England Under-17 squad for the 2025 World Cup in Qatar.
• Southampton Academy defender Bobby Martin earned a call-up to the England Under-16 squad for the Football Federations Cup in Antalya, Türkiye.
• Callum Anderson and Luke Hawe were selected for the Northern Ireland squad ahead of their Under-17 European Qualifiers against Armenia, Cyprus and Finland.

November 2025

• Midfielder Romeo Akachukwu was named in the Ireland Under-21 squad for their upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
• Southampton’s Under-18s were confirmed to travel to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Youth Cup third round, with the tie scheduled for Friday 12 December at Ewood Park.

December 2025

• Under-21s defender Zach Awe completed a permanent move to Salford City for an undisclosed fee, having joined Saints in August 2023 after coming through Arsenal’s academy.
• Southampton’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Blackburn Rovers.

February 2026

• Sufianu Sillah Dibaga signed a new contract with Southampton, extending his stay until 2028, after making his senior debut in an FA Cup fixture against Leicester City at St Mary’s.

March 2026

• 19-year-old Barnaby Williams signed a new long-term deal at Saints until 2029.

April 2026

• Under-21s defender Max Fry agreed to a new contract, extending his existing deal by one year and building on the professional terms he originally signed in 2024.

2024/25 Season

Southampton’s Academy enjoyed a successful 2024/25 season, with the Under-17s reaching the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup.

The Under-21s advanced to the Premier League 2 play-off final and the semi-finals of the U21 Premier League Cup.

And the club’s Under-16s also celebrated silverware after being crowned SuperCupNI champions.

With 19 academy players representing their countries during the season, Southampton ranked among the top five most-represented academies in England’s youth national teams.

The Academy also welcomed four notable signings from other academies during the year: forward Baylee Dipepa from Port Vale, midfielder Noel Buck from New England, right-back Sam Tabares from Fulham, and forward Rory MacLeod from Dundee.

Scholars 2024/25

Korban McMullan (Midfielder), Hansel Adjei-Afriyie (Defender), Dylan Moody (Goalkeeper), Harry Gathercole (Midfielder), Thierry Rohart-Brown (Midfielder), Cameron Frederick (Defender),

Leo Umeh (Forward), Nsemi Bassega (Forward), Oli Newman (Forward), Tino Goremusandu (Midfielder).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Ollie Wright (Goalkeeper) – Yeovil Town; Solihull Moors
• Nico Lawrence (Defender) – MK Dons
• Zach Awe (Defender) – Accrington Stanley
• Lewis Payne (Defender) – Cheltenham Town
• Cameron Bragg (Midfielder) – Crawley Town
• Dom Ballard (Forward) – Blackpool; Cambridge
• Shea Charles (Midfielder) – Sheffield Wednesday
• Sam Edozie (Forward) – RSC Anderlecht
• Ronnie Edwards (Defender) – QPR
• Will Armitage (Defender) – Aldershot Town FC
• Sam Amo-Ameyaw (Forward) – RC Strasbourg
• Adil Mohammed (Goalkeeper) – United FC

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Tyler Dibling (Midfielder, #33), Sam Amo-Ameyaw (Forward, #27).

International Players 2024/25

• George Moloney (GK) – Republic of Ireland U16
• Oscar Abbotson (GK) – Wales U16
• George Abbotson (DF) – Wales U16; U17
• Leo Rodella (MF) – Italy U17
• Oli Newman (FW) – Wales U17
• Baylee Dipepa (FW) – England U18
• Josh Pitts (FW) – Malta U18
• Jay Robinson (FW) – England U18
• Jayden Meghoma (DF) – England U19
• Tyler Dibling (MF) – England U19
• Sam Amo-Ameyaw (FW) – England U19
• Romeo Akachukwu (MF) – Republic of Ireland U19
• Rory MacLeod (FW) – Scotland U19
• Dominic Ballard (FW) – England U20
• Jonathan Moses Sesay (MF) – England U18; Sierra Leone U20
• Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (MF) – Republic of Ireland U21
• Ronnie Edwards (DF) – England U21
• Cameron Bragg (MF) – Scotland U21
• Adli Mohamed (GK) – United Arab Emirates First Team

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Southampton’s Under-17s were drawn in Group C against Under-17 sides from Brighton, Crystal Palace and Reading.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group D against Everton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group C against Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Fleetwood Town.

Also 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.

In the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with RB Leipzig, Anderlecht, Real Sociedad and Sporting CP, alongside fellow English sides Brighton, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Season Timeline

September 2024

• 19-year-old Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh accompanied the Saints to Goodison Park for their Carabao Cup fixture against Everton.

November 2024

• Dylan Moody was invited to an England goalkeepers’ development camp.
• Southampton were drawn away to Swansea in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

December 2024

• Southampton secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Swansea City.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, Southampton were drawn away to Fleetwood Town.

January 2025

• The Saints announced the signing of 18-year-old defender Joachim Kayi Sanda from Valenciennes.
• Southampton advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Fleetwood Town.
• Midfielder Moses Sesay signed his first professional contract with the Saints, committing to the club until 2028.
• Joshua Pitts departed Southampton after 12 years to sign his first professional contract with Ipswich Town.

February 2025

• Left winger Victor Udoh joined Southampton from Royal Antwerp.
• The Saints’ Under-18s advanced to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals, following their tie against Derby County.
• Dom Ballard, Cameron Bragg and Lewis Payne were all nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for January 2025.
• Striker Dom Ballard was named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for January.
• Southampton’s Under-18s were confirmed to travel to Watford for their FA Youth Cup quarter-final, scheduled for Tuesday 25 February.
• Southampton’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup run came to an end, following their tie against Watford.

March 2025

• Jay Robinson was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for February.
• Southampton’s Under-15s advanced to the Floodlit Cup semi-finals, following their tie against Millwall.
• Southampton’s Under-21s were confirmed to face Charlton in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals, with the match scheduled for Saturday 29 March at Staplewood Campus.
• Southampton’s Under-21s progressed past Charlton in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals.

April 2025

• Saints Under-15s reached the Floodlit Cup final, following their semi-final tie against Fulham.
• Southampton’s Under-21s were drawn against Leicester City’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 Round of 16.
• Southampton’s Under-21s advanced to the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2 knockout stage, following their tie against Leicester.
• Saints Under-21s were confirmed to host Fulham’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 knockout stage quarter-finals.

May 2025

• Southampton’s Under-21s were eliminated from the Premier League Cup at the semi-final stage, following their tie against Brentford.
• Saints Under-21s booked their place in the Premier League 2 Play-off semi-finals, following their tie against Fulham.
• Southampton Academy defender Will Armitage, on loan at Aldershot Town, contributed to the club’s 2024/25 Isuzu FA Trophy success.
• Southampton’s Under-21s advanced to the Premier League 2 play-off final, following their tie against Crystal Palace.
• Saints Under-21s finished as runners-up in the 2024/25 Premier League 2 play-off final, following their tie against Manchester City.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Derrick Abu, Josh Lett, Josh McNamara, Lewis Payne (joined Morecambe).