Oxford United Academy

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

Some of Oxford United’s Under-21s’ academy home matches take place at Thame United’s FC grounds.

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

Oxford United strengthened their academy structure ahead of the 2025/26 season by launching an official Under-21 side, serving as a reserve squad taking part in a programme of small matches and friendlies, while also competing in the U21 Central League.

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 Professional Development League Cup – established for the 2021/22 season, featuring 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, with group winners advancing to the knockout stages.
• 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.
• Oxfordshire Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Oxford United’s Academy alongside sides from across Oxfordshire.
• Central League Cup – a reserve-team competition in which entrants are divided into groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Head of Football Development Stevie Kinniburgh and Under-18 Head Coach Niall Keown.

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

Harry Jones (Goalkeeper), Will Jackson (Goalkeeper), Albie Collins (Defender), Woodley Osborne (Defender), Euan Griffith (Defender), Harley Gardner (Defender)

Callum Palmer-Flynn (Midfielder), Kevin Appiah (Midfielder), Riley Dourish (Forward) and Kesh Purcell (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• James Golding (Defender) – Crewe Alexandra
• Stephan Negru (Defender) – Bristol Rovers
• Aidan Elliott-Wheeler (Forward) – Gateshead

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Leo Snowden (Forward, #49), Mo Missanga (Forward, #47).

International Players 2025/26

• Jameson Blackmore (Defender) – Wales U18
• Louis Griffiths (Forward) – Wales U19

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Oxford United’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Brentford, MK Dons and Forest Green Rovers, before progressing through the round of 16 against Walsall to the quarter-finals.

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group D against Luton Town, Colchester United and Watford, with fixtures scheduled for 16 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

For the U18 Youth Alliance Cup group stage, the Under-18s were drawn against AFC Wimbledon and Watford.

In the FA Youth Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Wigan Athletic in the third round proper, at home against Colchester United in the fourth round proper, and at home against Manchester United in the fifth round proper.

Also in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final, Oxford United were drawn away against Oxford City.

In the Central League Cup, Oxford United’s Reserves were drawn in Group D against Reserve sides from Notts County, MK Dons and Wycombe Wanderers.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Oxford United offered professional contracts to Monty Marriott, Zaide Took-Oxley, Kasway Burton, and Aaron Lacey.

June 2025

• Academy graduate Leo Snowden signed his first professional contract with the Club; the talented forward, who had a prolific season for the Under-18s the previous year, committed his future by agreeing to a new long-term deal.

August 2025

• 18-year-old defender Aaron Lacey signed his first professional contract with Oxford United.

September 2025

• Kasway Burton signed his first professional contract with the Club, having been with Peterborough United since Under-15 level.
• The 18-year-old winger gained valuable first-team experience during the previous season on loan at Beaconsfield Town FC and Stratford Town FC.

October 2025

• Oxford United Reserves’ Central League campaign came to an end at the group stage, following their tie away to Wycombe Wanderers Reserves; the young U’s were unlucky to miss out on a knockout stage place.

November 2025

• Oxford United completed the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Kaya Halil, who joined their Under-21 squad.
• Oxford United’s Under-18s were set to host Wigan Athletic in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Wednesday 17 December at the Kassam Stadium, with kick-off at 6:00pm.

December 2025

• Oxford United progressed to the quarter-finals of the U17 PDL Cup, following their tie away to Walsall.
• Oxford United’s Under-18s booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Wigan Athletic, setting up a tie against Colchester United.
• Oxford United’s Under-18s were set to welcome Colchester United to the Kassam Stadium for their fourth-round tie on Thursday 22 January, with kick-off at 6pm.

February 2026

• Oxford United’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fifth round, following their tie at home to Manchester United’s Under-18s.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Oxford United Academy saw the club reach the round of 16 of the U17 Professional Development League, the semi-finals of the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, and finish second in the EFL Youth Alliance South.

The young U’s had a remarkable second half of the EFL Youth Alliance South campaign, winning an outstanding 15 consecutive league matches between November and April.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Jacob Knightbridge (Goalkeeper) – Braintree
• Gatlin O’Donkor (Forward) – Bristol Rovers
• James Golding (Defender) – Maidenhead United; Southend
• Stephan Negru (Defender) – Salford City
• Harrison Mole (Defender) – Didcot Town
• Harrison Bradney (Midfielder) – Bedford Town
• George Franklin (Midfielder) – AFC Totton

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Gatlin O’Donkor (Forward, #39), James Golding (Defender, #35), Jack Currie (Defender, #12), Tyler Goodrham (Forward, #19).

International Players 2024/25

• Louis Griffiths (Forward) – Wales U18

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup round of 16, Oxford United’s Under-17s were drawn at home against Swansea City.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Forest Green Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town and Walsall, before progressing through the quarter-final against Plymouth Argyle and to the semi-final against Bromley.

Season Timeline

June 2024

• New contracts were signed by several Youth Academy graduates at Oxford United for the upcoming campaign.

November 2024

• Oxford United’s Under-17s extended their remarkable run to 13 games without defeat in competitive matches.
• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Oxford United were drawn away to Watford.
• Oxford United Academy and Oxford United in the Community have announced a partnership with the Cameron Branagan Football Academy to help identify top young talent across Oxfordshire.
• The partnership will give talented players from both Oxford United in the Community’s Elite Development Centre and the midfielder’s academy the opportunity to be observed by Oxford United Academy coaches.

January 2025

• Oxford United agreed to loan defender Stephan Negru back to Salford City, just two weeks after bringing him back from his previous loan there.

March 2025

• Oxford United’s Under-18s were set to play Bromley’s Under-18s at home in the Youth Alliance Cup on Tuesday 1 April, with the match taking place at the Oxford United Training Ground.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Eddie Brearey, George Franklin.