Barnsley FC runs a category 2 academy based in South Yorkshire. They have a youth development program that nurtures young talent.
The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @AcademyBFC.
Academy Competitions
Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category Two clubs:
- U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament for players aged 17 and under.
- U18 Professional Development League – a leading English youth competition for Category Two academies, comprising 20 teams split into North and South regional divisions, combining league competition with a national play-off system.
- 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.
- Professional Development League 2 – England’s main Under-21 youth competition for Category Two academies, sitting just below Premier League 2. It is split into regional North and South divisions, with play-offs determining the national champion.
- Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Barnsley’s Under-21s alongside sides from across the region.
2026/27 Season
The Academy enters the 2026/27 season under Academy Manager Bobby Hassell and Senior Professional Development Coach Nicky Eaden.
Scholars 2026/27
Academy Players on Loan 2026/27
- Toure Bell (Defender) Frickley Athletic FC
- Leo Farrell (Forward) Altrincham
Academy Players in the First Team 2026/27
- Vimal Yoganathan (Midfielder) #45
International Players 2026/27
2026/27 Tournament Groupings
Season Timeline
June 2026
First Professional Contract
- Robson Woodcock (Defender)
- Arley Kay (Defender)
Other News
- Young defender Calum Hudson joins Barnsley FC as the first U21 summer signing after progressing from Scarborough Athletic’s youth ranks to the senior side.
July 2026
- Barnsley FC have signed 18-year-old midfielder Franklin Middleton on his first professional contract after his development at Doncaster Rovers.
August 2026
- Barnsley FC have signed 18-year-old forward O’Rian Reid on a one-year deal with the U21s after his spell at Hartpury FC.
September 2026
New Professional Contract
Nathan Willis (Midfielder)
2025/26 Season
The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Bobby Hassell.
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.
Academy Players on Loan 2025/26
- Bayley McCann (Defender) – Peterborough Sports
- Rogan Ravenhill (Goalkeeper) – Leamington FC
- Ziggy Kozluk (Defender) – Brighouse Town
- Aston Ellard (Forward) – Stocksbridge Park Steels; Hemel Hempstead
- Tom Senior (Defender) – Guisley AFC
- Ben Jordison (Defender) – Stocksbridge Park Steels
- Leo Farrell (Forward) – Guisley AFC; Scunthorpe United
- Connor Barratt (Defender) – Galway United
- Fábio Jaló (Forward) – Oldham Athletic
Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26
Vimal Yoganathan (Midfielder, #45), Kieren Flavell (Goalkeeper, #51), Robson Woodcock (Defender, #33), Jonathan Bland (Midfielder, #30), Connor Barratt (Defender, #29).
International Players 2025/26
- Vimal Yoganathan (MF) – Wales U21
- Jonathan Bland (MF) – Wales U21
2025/26 Tournament Groupings
In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Barnsley’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Stockport County, Mansfield Town and Grimsby Town.
In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Grimsby Town, Hull City and Preston North End, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.
Season Timeline
July 2025
- Four new players joined Barnsley’s Under-21s to strengthen the squad — Aston Ellard (from Coventry), Ben Jordison (from Burnley), Kingston Simbai (from Norwich City) and Nathan Willis (from Blackburn Rovers)
- Contract extensions were secured for current Reds Bayley McCann, Ziggy Kozluk, Aaron Atkinson, Luke Alker and Tom Senior.
August 2025
- Voldi Mbaya and Lewis Gould joined Barnsley’s Under-21 squad.
- Mbaya arrived following a spell in Sheffield Wednesday’s academy, while Gould linked up with the Reds after gaining senior experience in non-league football with Crawley Down Gatwick FC.
September 2025
- Barnsley FC signed Liverpool-born midfielder Stanley Holder, who links up with the Under-21s after developing at Everton before most recently playing for National League North side AFC Fylde.
October 2025
- Barnsley’s Under-18s were confirmed to host Mansfield Town in the FA Youth Cup second round proper, with the tie scheduled for Friday 14 November.
- 15-year-old Barnsley academy defender Josh Kenchington completed a move to Premier League club Newcastle United.
November 2025
- Barnsley’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie against Mansfield Town.
May 2026
- Arley Kay, Max Rayner and Robson Woodcock were all offered professional contracts.
June 2026
- Robson Woodcock signed his first professional contract with Barnsley FC after impressing with a series of standout performances in the club’s academy.
- Arley Kay signed a professional contract to extend his stay at Oakwell, having been a key figure across Barnsley FC’s academy sides in recent seasons.
July 2026
- Young defender Calum Hudson became Barnsley FC’s first Under-21 summer signing after progressing from Scarborough Athletic’s youth ranks to the senior team in the National League North.
Released Academy Players (end of 2025/26)
Feyi Afuape, Jake Andrassy, Euan Cutler, Kalaab Daniel, Chrysolite Ogbu, Charles Price, Noah Ward, Aston Wilson, Jack Woodcock.
2024/25 Season
The 2024/25 season saw Barnsley’s Academy compete across the full slate of Category Two competitions, under Academy Manager Bobby Hassell, with the Under-21s also participating in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup.
Scholars 2024/25
Eleven scholars joined the programme for the 2024/25 season: Feyi Afuape, Jake Andrassy, Euan Cuttler, Kalaab Daniel, Arley Kay, Chrysolite Ogbu, Charlie Price, Max Rayner, Noah Ward, Robson Woodcock, Jack Woodcock.
Academy Players on Loan 2024/25
- Bayley McCann (Midfielder) – Peterborough Sports
- Jonathan Bland (Midfielder) – Peterborough Sports
- Aiden Marsh (Forward) – Raith Rovers
- Vimal Yoganathan (Midfielder) – Oldham
- Kieran Flavell (Goalkeeper) – Mickleover; Farsley
- Hayden Pickard (Defender) – Farsley
Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25
Adam Hayton (Goalkeeper, #27), Callum West (Midfielder, #28), Connor Barratt (Defender, #29), Jonathan Bland (Midfielder, #30), Nathan James (Defender, #37), Bayley McCann (Midfielder, #41)
Luke Alker (Forward, #42), Josiah Dyer (Forward, #43), Vimal Yoganathan (Midfielder, #45), Ziggy Kozluk (Midfielder, #47).
International Players 2024/25
- Oliver Wilkinson (DF) – England U16
- Malachi Mbogba (MF) – Sierra Leone U20
- Bayley McCann (MF) – Northern Ireland U21
- Jonathan Bland (MF) – Wales U21
- Josiah Dyer (FW) – Montserrat First Team
2024/25 Tournament Groupings
In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, Barnsley’s Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Under-18 sides from Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City and Hull City.
Season Timeline
July 2024
- Additions were made to the Barnsley Academy Under-21 squad.
October 2024
- Barnsley were drawn away to Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
- Barnsley’s Under-21s were set to face NCEL Division One side Athersley Recreation in the second round of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup.
- Barnsley secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Oldham Athletic.
November 2024
- Barnsley’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Carlisle United in the second round of the FA Youth Cup, with the match scheduled for Wednesday 13 November.
- Barnsley’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the second round, following their tie against Carlisle United.
January 2025
- Barnsley were eliminated from the Under-17s Professional Development League Cup at the Round of 16 stage, following their tie against Cambridge United.
March 2025
- Bayley McCann made his league debut for Barnsley against Blackpool.
June 2025
- Vimal Yoganathan helped Oldham Athletic to a memorable play-off promotion back to the EFL; since joining the Latics in January, the 19-year-old midfielder had made 17 appearances and played a key role throughout their play-off campaign.
Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)
Geoffrey Lundoloki, Elliott Probert, Kallum Reid, Maxwell Swift, William Thompson, Malachi Tommy-Mbogba, Owen Warburton.