Brentford Academy

Brentford FC runs a category 2 academy based in London. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy’s aim is to be “admired as the most caring and progressive football academy in the world” as well as “winning through development.”

“Brentford has an incredible foundation, and now it’s about taking the Academy to the next level. We are building something special here, and the momentum is real.” – Jamie Greenwood, Head of Academy Football Development.

Brentford Academy B Team and Under-18s home matches take place at Wheatsheaf Park, Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 2PD.

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

In the 2024/25 season, the Academy achieved Category Two status as the Under-9s to Under-16s age groups were reinstated at Jersey Road.

“It’s part and parcel of academy life. We use the term ‘playing across age groups’ rather than ‘playing up’ or ‘playing down’.” – Stephen Torpey, Brentford Academy Director.

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.
• 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.
• Middlesex Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Brentford’s Academy alongside sides from across Middlesex.
• London Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Brentford’s B Team alongside senior and academy sides from across London.
• Atlantic Cup – a pre-season tournament held in Portugal, usually in January and February, featuring teams from Scandinavia and other European countries, giving sides the chance to train in warm weather and play competitive matches during the winter break.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Director David Rainford, B Team Head Coach Sam Saunders, and Under-18s Head Coach Gary McDermott.

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

The Bees welcomed 11 new scholars ahead of the 2025/26 season: Felix Lyon (Goalkeeper), Layton Nicholls (Defender), Nathaniel Ogungbemi (Defender), Josh Oladapo-Gamu (Defender)

Reuben Lawal (Defender), Micaiah Fanoiki (Defender), Josh Zetter-Plummer (Defender), Jai Bansoodeb (Midfielder), Chris Cohalan (Midfielder), Beau Redknapp (Midfielder) and Jovan Kasujja (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Ethan Brierley (Midfielder) – Exeter City
• Tony Yogane (Forward) – Dundee FC
• Ben Krauhaus (Midfielder) – Bromley
• Benjamin Fredrick (Defender) – FCV Dender
• Ryan Trevitt (Midfielder) – Wigan Athletic
• Chanse Headman (Defender) – Maidenhead United
• Iwan Morgan (Forward) – Shrewsbury Town
• Michael Olakigbe (Forward) – Swindon Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Benjamin Arthur (Defender, #43).

International Players 2025/26

• Coran Madden (Midfielder) – Northern Ireland U17
• Luka Bentt (Midfielder) – Belgium U19
• Jayden Meghoma (Defender) – England U20
• Benjamin Arthur (Defender) – England U20
• Connor McManus (Defender) – Ireland U21
• Benjamin Frederick (Defender) – Nigeria First Team

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Brentford’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Oxford United, MK Dons and Forest Green Rovers.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group H against Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town and Queens Park Rangers, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

In the FA Youth Cup third round proper, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Chelsea.

Also in the U21 Premier League Cup, Brentford’s Under-21s were drawn in Group E against Exeter City, Luton Town and West Brom, before being drawn against Burnley in the round of 16.

In the Middlesex Senior Cup, the Under-18s were drawn away against British Airways FC.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• 18-year-old attacking midfielder Romelle Donovan signed a five-year permanent deal with Brentford, following a successful loan spell the previous season; the former Blues apprentice had joined Brentford’s B team on loan in February.
• 17-year-old Theo Mawene completed a permanent move to Brentford B from Preston North End.

July 2025

• Defender Benjamin Arthur and goalkeeper Julian Eyestone joined Keith Andrews’ first-team squad for the 2025/26 season, having both signed new contracts until summer 2031, with the club holding an option to extend.
• Brentford B midfielder Riley Owen signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until at least the summer of 2026.
• Brentford B were set to take on Hanwell Town FC in the final of the 2024/25 London Senior Cup, with the match to be played away at the Powerday Stadium on Tuesday 19 August.

August 2025

• Defender Luka Bentt signed his first professional contract with Brentford.
• Brentford B’s 2024/25 London Senior Cup campaign, postponed from the previous season, came to an end with the final against Hanwell Town at the Oliver Connell & Son Community Stadium.
• Coran Madden signed for Brentford after leaving Cliftonville in the summer.

September 2025

• Brentford B have signed free-agent 18-year-old defender Luca Picotto on a one-year contract, with the option to extend for a further 12 months, following his departure from Fulham.
• The Bees have also secured the services of 20-year-old defender Maxwell McKnight on a similar deal after he impressed during his trial spell.
• McKnight, who spent time at Tottenham from Under-12 to Under-21 level, became a regular for Brentford’s Under-21 side during pre-season and into the 2025/26 campaign.

October 2025

• Brentford’s Under-18s’ Middlesex Senior Cup run came to an end, following their tie against British Airways.
• Midfielders Enrique Roca and Otis Honor both signed their first professional contracts with Brentford.
• Coran Madden was selected for the Northern Ireland squad ahead of their Under-17 Euro Qualifiers, where they were set to face Armenia, Cyprus and Finland.

November 2025

• Defender Connor McManus was named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
• Brentford defenders Olabade Aluko and Jayden Meghoma received a call-up to the England U20 squad ahead of their upcoming match against Japan at Doncaster Rovers.
• Brentford’s Under-18s were set to host Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Tuesday 16 December, with kick-off at 7:00pm.

December 2025

• Brentford’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Chelsea.
• Brentford B secured a runners-up finish in their U21 Premier League Cup group and advanced to the knockout stages, with round of 16 fixtures to be confirmed in due course.

January 2026

• Chanse Headman sealed a permanent move to Sky Bet League Two outfit Harrogate Town; the centre-back had spent the past month on loan at Maidenhead United and left the club to take the next step of his career in the EFL.

February 2026

• Former Brentford B midfielder Yaw Agyei joined top-flight club FC Slovácko, where he will initially feature for the club’s B team in the third tier.

2024/25 Season

The 2024/25 season was a highly successful one for the Brentford Academy, with the teams enjoying strong runs across several competitions. T

he Academy reached the quarter-finals of the U18 Professional Development League Cup, while also making the finals of both the U21 Premier League Cup and the London Senior Cup.

Their achievements were capped by being crowned Professional Development League (PDL) National Champions.

Scholars 2024/25

They welcomed 12 new scholars ahead of the 2024/25 season: Luka Bentt (Midfielder), Domeiro Bobb-Semple (Forward), Michael Boni (Forward), Staitham Bowen (Defender)

Naeem Giscombe (Forward), Aidan Golding (Defender), Otis Honor (Midfielder), Yerime Quattara (Midfielder), Nedved Owusu (Forward), Isaiah Powis (Midfielder), Enrique Roca (Midfielder) and Archie Trimboli (Defender).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Tristan Crama (Defender) – Exeter
• Michael Olakigbe (Forward) – Wigan; Chesterfield
• Valentino Adedokun (Defender) – Diósgyór VTK; Cheltenham Town
• Ben Winterbottom (Goalkeeper) – AFC Fylde
• Ashley Hay (Forward) – Cheltenham Town
• Jayden Meghoma (Defender) – Preston North End
• Tony Yogane (Forward) – Exeter City
• Matthew Cox (Goalkeeper) – Crawley Town

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Jayden Meghoma (Defender, #21), Ryan Trevitt (Midfielder, #28), Yehor Yarmolyuk (Midfielder, #18), Mads Roerslev, Tony Yogane (Midfielder, #42), Benjamin Arthur (Defender, #50).

International Players 2024/25

• Iwan Morgan (Forward) – Wales U19
• Jayden Meghoma (Defender) – England U19
• Benjamin Fredick (Defender) – Nigeria First Team

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Brentford’s Under-17s reached the round of 16, where they were drawn against Crewe Alexandra.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Coventry, AFC Wimbledon and Watford, before progressing to the quarter-finals against Sheffield United.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, Brentford were drawn in Group I alongside Chelsea, Derby County and AFC Bournemouth before advancing through the knockout stages.

They overcame Exeter City, Nottingham Forest and Southampton in the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, setting up a final against QPR.

In the Atlantic Cup, Brentford B took part alongside CD Mafra, IFK Värnamo, Brøndby IF, IFK Göteborg, FC Dallas and Rosenborg BK.

Season Timeline

September 2024

• Caelan Avenell joined Brentford on a short-term deal following a successful trial.

November 2024

• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Brentford were drawn away to Norwich City.
• The FA Youth Cup third-round match against Norwich City was set to be held at Carrow Road on Monday 9 December.
• Both the Under-17 and Under-18 teams advanced to the round of 16 in their respective PDL campaigns.

December 2024

• Brentford’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end after a third-round tie away at Carrow Road.
• Former Brentford B players collectively made 500 first-team appearances for the Bees; the milestone was reached when Yehor Yarmoliuk, Mads Roerslev and Paris Maghoma all featured in the Carabao Cup match at St James’ Park. Over the past eight years, 31 B team players have made competitive first-team debuts.
• Brentford’s Under-18s enjoyed a successful PDL Cup campaign, finishing at the top of Group F, securing a spot in the quarter-finals.

January 2025

• Defender Val Adedokun rejoined the Bees after completing a loan spell at Diósgyőr VTK; the full-back, who had joined the Hungarian top-flight club in September, made three appearances.
• Tristan Crama was recalled from his loan spell at Exeter City.
• Brentford B were set to participate in the Atlantic Cup in Portugal the following month.

February 2025

• Kyreece Lisbie completed a permanent transfer from Brentford B to Sky Bet League Two club Colchester United.

March 2025

• The young Bees were set to face Exeter City’s Under-21s in the next round of the Premier League Cup, with the match taking place at St James Park on 13 March.
• Brentford’s Under-21s were drawn at home to face Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s in the quarter-finals of the U21 Premier League Cup.
• Brentford’s Under-21s progressed past Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals.

April 2025

• The B team was set to take on Barking FC in the semi-final of the London Senior Cup on Tuesday 15 April at Wheatsheaf Park.
• Brentford’s Under-21s secured their place in the London Senior Cup final, following their semi-final tie against Barking.
• Defender Valentino Adedokun’s loan spell at Cheltenham Town was ended early after he picked up an injury.

May 2025

• Brentford B booked their place in the U21 Premier League Cup final, following their tie against Southampton’s Under-21s; the Bees were set to face QPR’s Under-21s in the final.
• Brentford B were set to take on QPR’s Under-21s in the Premier League Cup final on Thursday 15 May, at Loftus Road, with kick-off at 7pm.
• Brentford B advanced to the final of the U21 Professional Development League play-off, following an extra-time victory away at Sheffield United.
• Brentford B’s Premier League Cup final against QPR’s Under-21s came to an end; the side was then set to take on AFC Bournemouth in the PDL play-off final, scheduled for Wednesday 21 May at 7pm at the Vitality Stadium.
• Brentford B were crowned Professional Development League National Champions, following their final against AFC Bournemouth’s Under-21s.

June 2025

• Ethan Brierley was named the B team’s Players’ Player of the Year and was presented with the Mary Halder Award.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

B Team Players Released: Beaux Booth (joined FC Sholing), Max Dickov (joined Mansfield Town), Kerron Samuels, Max Wilcox, Vonnte Williams, Adrian Janusz, Yaw Agyei.

Under-18 Players Released: Evan Anderson, Joshua Djoro, Mikel Francis, Kaya Halil, Konstantin Ivanov, Trae Payet, Freddie Taylor.