AFC Wimbledon Academy

AFC Wimbledon Academy runs a category 3 academy based in London. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

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

In productivity rankings released earlier this year, AFC Wimbledon was ranked the fifth most productive Category Three academy, and 38th out of 86 academies overall.

A club record was also set for Academy-generated transfer income, with three players moving to Premier League academies: Justin Clarke (Everton), Charlie Wilson-Papps (Brighton) and one Under-12 player joining Fulham.

AFC Wimbledon continued to demonstrate its commitment to developing homegrown talent during the 2024/25 season.

Academy graduates made up 9.34% of first-team appearances and played 7% of total first-team minutes, both above the League Two and Category Three averages.

The Academy’s influence was also evident defensively, with 91% of the club’s clean sheets featuring two or more Academy players, compared to the league average of 43%.

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.
• 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.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• London Senior Cup – a regional knockout competition involving senior and academy sides from clubs across London.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Michael Hamilton, with Simon Clarke as Under-18s Head Coach.

It has already been a landmark campaign, with the Under-18s completing a historic trophy quadruple: the Youth Alliance League National Cup, the EFL Youth Alliance League (South East), the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, and the Premier League PDL Cup.

Scholars 2025/26

Charlie Fletcher (Goalkeeper), Josh Brian (Defender), Finlay Fraser-Smith (Midfielder), Dwayne Campbell (Midfielder), Alfie Quinn (Forward), Finlay Woods (Forward), Preston Kedwell (Forward), Robyn Ashamu (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Leo Young (Defender) – Havant & Waterlooville; Welling United; Carshalton Athletic
• Kai Jennings (Midfielder) – Farnborough FC; Sutton United
• Osmon Foyo (Forward) – Sutton United
• Riley Horan (Defender) – Walton & Hersham
• Harry Sidwell (Midfielder) – Dagenham & Redbridge; Dorking Wanderers
• Junior Nkeng (Forward) – Chelmsford City; Chatham Town
• Ed Leach (Forward) – Whitehawk
• Ethan Sutcliffe (Defender) – Tonbridge
• Eterne Djedje (Goalkeeper) – Cray Valley PM

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Harry Hedges (Midfielder, #34), Riley Horan (Defender, #22), Aron Sasu (Forward, #29), Junior Nkeng (Forward, #30), Isaac Ogundere (Defender, #33), Kai Jennings (Midfielder, #32).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, AFC Wimbledon’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Portsmouth, Stevenage and QPR.

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Under-18 sides from Charlton Athletic, Gillingham and Millwall, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

Season Timeline

October 2025

• Defender Isaac Ogundere extended his stay at AFC Wimbledon until 2027, with the new deal including an option for a further year; he first joined the Dons’ Academy at 16 and made his first-team debut three years later.
• The Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign, which began with a home draw against Colchester United, came to an end in the first round.

November 2025

• Jon Nurse joined the Academy coaching team as an Individual Coach, providing tailored support to players across both the Youth and Professional Development Phases.

January 2026

• Harrison Hollis joined the club as Head of Academy Operations, overseeing academy operations, logistics and compliance, arriving from Queens Park Rangers’ Community Programme.

February 2026

• AFC Wimbledon’s Under-18s reached the EFL Youth Alliance National Final, setting up a tie against the winner of Blackpool v Carlisle United.

April 2026

• The Under-18s secured a historic double, winning the EFL Youth Alliance Cup Final against Blackpool.

May 2026

• The Under-18s completed a trophy quadruple with victory in the Youth Alliance League National Cup final against Shrewsbury Town at the New Meadow, adding to their EFL Youth Alliance League (South East), EFL Youth Alliance Cup and Premier League PDL Cup triumphs.

2024/25 Season

The 2024/25 campaign saw the Under-18s finish third in their league, with a club-record 18 league wins and 57 points in a season.

The Under-15s also lifted the Amber Cup.

Eterne Djedje (Goalkeeper), Kiayon Moore (Defender), Sam Goma (Defender), Oro Shaun Soukou (Defender), Tom Carvalho-Norris (Midfielder), Joe Kirby (Midfielder), Harry Hedges (Forward).

Scholars 2024/25

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Paris Lock (Forward) – Braintree Town
• Reuben Amissah (Midfielder) – Marlow
• Kai Jennings (Midfielder) – Whitehawk; Walton & Hersham
• Leo Young (Defender) – Hastings United
• Harry Sidwell (Midfielder) – Havant & Waterlooville; Enfield Town
• Morgan Williams (Midfielder) – Dorking Wanderers
• Ethan Sutcliffe (Defender) – Tonbridge
• Jake Lawrence (Midfielder) – Kingstonian
• Riley Horan (Defender) – Walton & Hersham FC
• Kai McKenzie (Forward) – Binfield

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Paris Lock (Forward, #20), Harry Sidwell (Midfielder, #24), Ethan Sutcliffe (Defender, #25), Morgan Williams (Midfielder, #27), Isaac Ogundere (Defender, #33), Harry Hedges (Midfielder, #34), Ed Leach (Forward, #37).

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

AFC Wimbledon’s Under-17s competed in the U17 Professional Development League Plate, facing Sheffield United and Gillingham en route through the competition.

U18 Youth Alliance Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group H alongside Sutton United, Gillingham, Leyton Orient and Bromley.

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Under-18 sides from Coventry City, Brentford and Watford.

Season Timeline

September 2024

• Everton signed 16-year-old midfielder Justin Clarke from the Academy.

October 2024

• AFC Wimbledon’s Under-18s were drawn away to Sutton United in the FA Youth Cup first round, before progressing to the second round, where they were drawn away to Eastleigh.

November 2024

• The Under-18s were set to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup third round, contingent on the result of their second-round tie against Eastleigh, and duly progressed to face Wolves in the next round.

December 2024

• Under-15 goalkeeper Charlie Wilson-Papps transferred to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a significant six-figure fee.
• The Academy has a strong track record of developing goalkeepers, including Spike Brits (Manchester City), Matthew Cox (Brentford), Joe Whitworth (Crystal Palace), Josef Bursik (Club Brugge) and Will Mannion (Charlton Athletic).

January 2025

• The Academy’s 2024 highlights included four players signing their first professional contracts, two players moving to Premier League academies, and one player transferring to an EFL Championship club.
• Academy Manager Michael Hamilton reflected on a successful 2024 for the Academy, highlighted by victory in the 2024 EFL Under-17 Youth Cup against Blackpool at Plough Lane.

May 2025

• Riley Horan, Ed Leach and Junior Nkeng were all offered first-year professional contracts.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

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.

Released: Morgan Williams (joined King’s Lynn Town), Paris Lock, Huseyin Biler, Reuben Amissah.

Not offered a professional contract: Bailey Cotton, Ethan McGrath, Jake Lawrence, Conor Harris (joined Farnborough FC), Kai McKenzie.