Cambridge United Academy

Cambridge United runs a category 3 academy based in Cambridge. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy aims to foster an inspiring and supportive environment, prioritising challenge, personal growth, and the well-rounded development of every individual in its care.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @cufcacademy1.

Just ahead of the 2025/26 season, Under-16 player Dan Nneji joined Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a club-record academy transfer fee.

Reflecting on the Academy’s approach, Director of Football Mark Bonner said:

“The measurement of an academy is not solely about progression to the first team. This is an important aspect, but as a club we want our players to play at the highest level, whilst obtaining an excellent education and a series of holistic experiences to prepare them for the next chapters of their lives.”

Academy Competitions

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

• U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament for players aged 17 and under.
• U18 Youth Alliance Cup – an EFL-organised youth tournament for Under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs competing in the EFL Youth Alliance. It follows a format similar to the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Youth Alliance League (South) – the league competed in by Cambridge United’s Under-19 scholars across their two-year programme.
• Central League – a reserve-team competition in which the Academy’s most advanced players may also feature.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Dom Knighton, Head of Academy Coaching Liam Bloye, Head of Academy Operations & Safeguarding Haris Ali, and Under-18 Lead Coach Liam O’Neil.

George Thorne was named the Academy’s new Emerging Talent Coach for the Under-14s to Under-21s in September 2025, working across both the Youth Development and Professional Development phases.

In April 2026, Marc Forrest was appointed Emerging Talent Coach for the Under-14s to Under-19s, joining from Arsenal with 14 years of FA experience developing top prospects across the YDP and PDP.

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

Zak Massoud, Jamie Murefu, MacDonald Murefu, Jordan Yakubu, Lohgan McDougald, Freddie Jolland, Daniel Ndeda, Daniel Efobi, Adewale Komolafe, Daniel Herd.

The young U’s will spend two seasons with the Under-19s, competing in the Youth Alliance League (South), the Youth Alliance Cup, and the FA Youth Cup, with additional opportunities to feature in the Central League with the reserves.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• George Munday (Forward) – St Ives Town FC; Bedford Town; Hereford
• Harry Dawson (Defender) – Peterborough Sports
• George Hoddle (Midfielder) – Bedford Town FC
• Jasper Briggs (Goalkeeper) – Downham Town; Chichester City
• Jahrel McKoy (Midfielder) – St Ives Town
• Daniel Efobi (Forward) – Biggleswade; St Ives Town
• Blade Earley (Goalkeeper) – Biggleswade
• Ryan Gray (Forward) – Biggleswade
• Dempsey Crace (Defender) – Bishop’s Stortford
• Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake (Forward) – Newmarket Town
• Lennon King (Midfielder) – Newmarket Town
• Zak Sowden-Fletcher (Defender) – Newmarket Town
• Samuel Okoli (Forward) – St Neots Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Mamadou Jobe (Defender, #23), Jasper Briggs (Goalkeeper, #31), George Hoddle (Midfielder, #38), Lohan McDougald (Midfielder, #39), Glenn McConnell (Forward, #27), George Munday (Forward, #29), Jahrel McKoy (Midfielder, #40).

International Players 2025/26

• Jacob Newman (GK) – England Goalkeeper Camp U15
• Samuel Okolie (FW) – Seychelles First Team

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Cambridge United’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Gillingham, Northampton Town and Colchester United.

Season Timeline

October 2025

• Midfielder George Hoddle was recalled by Cambridge United from his loan spell at Bedford Town.
• Cambridge United’s Under-18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

December 2025

• Cambridge United’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round.
• Midfielder George Hoddle signed a new contract with Cambridge United.

March 2026

• At the annual Terry Baker Academy Awards Evening, the club celebrated its scholars’ achievements: Dan Herd won Most Improved, while Lohan McDougald picked up both Moment of the Season — for his first-team debut against Luton Town — and Scholar of the Year.

2024/25 Season

A 2024/25 season review for the Cambridge United Academy, published by Dom Knighton, highlighted that Academy graduates played 5,800 minutes in first-team fixtures across the campaign, with four first-team debuts handed out across all competitions.

The Under-17s also reached the quarter-finals of the U17 Professional Development League Cup.

Scholars 2024/25

Blade Earley (Goalkeeper), Dempsey Crace (Defender), Zak Sowden-Fletcher (Defender), Samuel Okolie (Forward), Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake (Forward), Lennon King (Midfielder), Jahrel McKoy (Midfielder)

Ryan Gray (Midfielder). The young U’s spent two seasons with the Under-19s, competing in the Youth Alliance League (South), the Youth Alliance Cup, and the FA Youth Cup, with additional opportunities to feature in the Central League with the reserves.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Amaru Kaunda (Forward) – St Ives Town; Enfield Town FC; Dulwich Hamlet
• Pete Holmes (Midfielder) – Biggleswade FC; Potters Bar Town FC
• Jasper Briggs (Goalkeeper) – Biggleswade FC
• Glen McConnell (Midfielder) – Chelmsford City
• George Hoddle (Midfielder) – St Albans City
• Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake (Forward) – Cambridge City FC

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Glenn McConnell (Midfielder, #30), Louis Chadwick (Goalkeeper, #31), George Hoddle (Midfielder, #38), Dan Barton (Forward, #36), Amaru Kaunda (Midfielder, #37)

Brandon Njoku (Forward, #34) Peter Holmes (Midfielder, #39), Randy Bulakio (Forward, #41), Jasper Briggs (Goalkeeper, #43).

International Players 2024/25

Samuel Okolie (Forward) – Seychelles First Team.

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Cambridge United’s Under-18s were drawn in Group G against Under-18 sides from Luton Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town and Stevenage.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Cambridge United were drawn away to Hertford Town in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Cambridge United’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the first round, following their tie against Hertford Town.

December 2024

• Academy graduate Amaru Kaunda made his league debut against Reading FC.

January 2025

• Cambridge United’s Under-15s qualified for the quarter-finals of the EFL Floodlit Cup.
• The Under-14s travelled to Latvia to compete in the Riga Cup.
• Cambridge United’s Under-17s advanced to the quarter-finals of the Under-17s Professional Development League Cup.

April 2025

• The Cambridge United Academy announced a new partnership with Ware FC, aiming to create fresh opportunities for players, volunteers and coaches.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Scholars: Ty Ewens Findlay (joined Charlton Athletic), Reece Hipwell, Peter Holmes, Randy Bulakio, Danny Tyler Cowlin.

Young Professionals: Dan Barton (later on trial with Coventry City), Brandon Njoku, Louis Chadwick (joined King’s Lynn Town), Amaru Kaunda.