Cardiff City Academy

Cardiff City FC runs a category 2 academy based in Wales. They have a strong youth development program that aims to nurture young talent.

Most Under-21 home matches take place at Cardiff International Sports Campus, an athletics stadium and playing fields in the Canton area of Cardiff, at Leckwith Rd, Cardiff CF11 8AZ.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @CF11Academy.

“The development of our Academy players has a values-driven approach, with keen attention provided to the importance of studies off the field.” — Olivia Linton, Head of Education.

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.
• Nathaniel MG Cup (Welsh League Cup) – organised by the Football Association of Wales, and regarded as the second most prestigious domestic cup in Welsh football after the Welsh Cup. Cardiff City’s Under-21s participate in this competition.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Under-21 Head Coach Darren Purse and Under-18 Head Coach Tom Hutton.

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

• Michael Reindorf (Forward) – Newport County; Tamworth
• Luke Armstrong (Goalkeeper) – Penybont
• Morgan Wigley (Forward) – Barry Town United
• Isaac Jefferies (Forward) – The New Saints
• Will Spiers (Forward) – Merthyr Town; Eastleigh
• Luey Giles (Defender) – Eastleigh
• Dakario Mafico (Midfielder) – Yeovil Town
• Troy Perrett (Midfielder) – Yeovil Town
• Ewan Griffiths (Goalkeeper) – Cardiff Met
• Jake Dennis (Goalkeeper) – Merthyr Town
• Jac Thomas (Defender) – Merthyr Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Dakario Mafico (Midfielder, #28), Ronan Kpakio (Defender, #44), Dylan Lawlor (Defender, #48), Matthew Turner (Goalkeeper, #41), Tom Davies (Defender, #39), Eli King (Midfielder, #24), Joel Colwill (Midfielder, #27)

Rubin Colwill (Midfielder, #10), Cian Ashford (Midfielder, #45), Gabriel Keita (Defender, #50), Daniel Higgs (Goalkeeper, #51), Luke Pearce (Forward, #56), Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (Forward, #29), Troy Perrett (Midfielder, #52)

Robert Tankiewicz (Midfielder, #55), T-Jay Parfitt (Defender, #58), Trey George (Midfielder, #62), Axel Donczew (Forward, #31), Noah Williams (Defender, #70).

International Players 2025/26

• Noah Anyadike (MF) – Wales U16
• Hugo Daniel (DF) – Wales U16; U17
• Paul Moreno (MF) – Wales U16
• Gruffydd Evans (MF) – Wales U16
• Axel Donczew (FW) – Wales U16; U17
• Dembo Jaiteh (FW) – Wales U16
• Alex Cross (GK) – Wales U17
• Keano Conaty (FW) – Wales U17
• Robert Tankiewicz (MF) – Wales U17
• Jacob Norris (FW) – Wales U17
• Leo Papirynk (FW) – Wales U17
• Josh Itsondo (FW) – Wales U17
• Noah Williams (DF) – Wales U18; U19
• Jack Sykes (FW) – Wales U18
• Hayden Allmark (MF) – Wales U18
• Jac Thomas (DF) – Wales U19
• Mannie Barton (FW) – Wales U19
• Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (FW) – Wales U21
• Cian Ashford (MF) – Wales U21
• Joel Colwill (MF) – Wales U21
• Luey Giles (DF) – Wales U21
• Dakario Mafico (MF) – Wales U21
• Luke Armstrong (GK) – Wales U21
• Ronan Kpakio (DF) – Wales First Team
• Dylan Lawlor (DF) – Wales First Team
• Rubin Colwill (MF) – Wales First Team

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Cardiff City’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Walsall, Port Vale and Cheltenham Town.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group B against Swansea City, Swindon Town and Wrexham, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group F against Burnley, QPR and Stockport County.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Cardiff City activated extended contract options for Josh Beecher, Jake Dennis, Trey George, Ewan Griffiths, Luke Pearce, Michael Reindorf, Will Spiers and Morgan Wigley.
• Cardiff City offered first professional contracts to scholars Jake Davies, Alyas Debono, Daniel Ola and Jac Thomas, with a further contract offer made to Isaac Jefferies.
• The Bluebirds were confirmed as a wildcard entry into the 2025/26 edition of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

July 2025

• Charlie O’Brien (formerly of Cobh Ramblers), Gabriel Keita (formerly of Norwich City) and midfielder Matthew Apter (from Everton) all joined Cardiff City’s Under-21s.
• Winger Isaac Jefferies, who joined the Bluebirds at the age of eight and enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 season with the Under-21s, signed a new contract with the club.
• 17-year-old Mannie Barton signed his first professional contract with the Bluebirds, having joined Cardiff City at the age of ten.

August 2025

• Cardiff City’s Under-21s were knocked out of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
• 19-year-old defender Jack Kingdon joined Cardiff City’s Under-21s after leaving Manchester United in the summer.

September 2025

• 18-year-old full-back Ronan Kpakio signed a new contract with Cardiff City, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2029.

October 2025

• Born in 2010, Axel Donczew made history as Cardiff City’s youngest-ever player, breaking the record set just 64 minutes earlier by Rob Tankiewicz during that season’s Vertu Trophy match against Newport County.
• Cardiff City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end following their tie against Cheltenham Town.

January 2026

• Cardiff City completed the permanent signing of midfielder Herbie James, who arrived in south Wales after joining from Manchester City in 2023.
• Midfielder Isaac Davies completed a permanent move from Nottingham Forest, having featured for Forest’s Under-18s in the Premier League throughout the current season.
• Morgan Wigley returned to Cardiff City from his loan spell at Barry Town United.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Cardiff City Academy saw the Under-17s reach the final of the U17 Professional Development League Plate, and the Under-21s reach the Round of 16 of the U21 Premier League Cup.

Scholars 2024/25

Hayden Allmark, Mannie Barton, Daniel Higgs, Riley Hilaire-Clarke, Jacob Hobson, Sam Jones, T-Jay Parfitt, Leeyon Phelan, Oliver Reynolds, Ollie Walsh, Harry Watts, Noah Williams.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Eli King (Midfielder) – Stevenage
• Raheem Conte (Midfielder) – Woking
• Joel Colwill (Midfielder) – Cheltenham Town; Exeter City
• Josh Beecher (Defender) – Barry Town United
• Ewan Griffiths (Goalkeeper) – Plymouth Parkway FC
• Luke Pearce (Forward) – Sligo Rovers
• Jake Dennis (Goalkeeper) – Oldham Athletic
• Joe Thomas (Goalkeeper) – Yate Town
• Baylin Johnson (Forward) – Maidstone United
• Michael Reindorf (Forward) – Bristol Rovers

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Luey Giles (Defender, #49), Dylan Lawlor (Defender, #48), Cian Ashford (Midfielder, #45), Adeteye Gbadehan (Midfielder), Jake Dennis (Goalkeeper), Matthew Turner (Goalkeeper, #41), Cody Twose (Midfielder)

Isaac Jefferies (Forward), Michael Reindorf (Forward), Troy Perrett (Midfielder, #55), Ronan Kpakio (Defender, #44), Tom Davies (Defender, #37), Dakarai Mafico (Midfielder, #51).

International Players 2024/25

• Leo Papyrnik (FW) – Wales U16
• Jacob Norris (FW) – Wales U16
• Logan Cartwright (DF) – Wales U16
• Keano Conaty (FW) – Wales U16
• Paul Moreno (MF) – Wales U16
• Rob Tankiewicz (MF) – Wales U16
• Noah Williams (DF) – Wales U17
• Olly Reynolds (DF) – Wales U17
• Hayden Allmark (MF) – Wales U17
• Cody Twose (MF) – Wales U19
• Dakarai Mafico (MF) – Wales U19
• Ewan Griffiths (GK) – Wales U19
• Ronan Kpakio (DF) – Wales U19
• Trey George (MF) – Wales U19
• Luke Armstrong (GK) – Wales U19; U21
• Alyas Debono (DF) – Wales U19
• Troy Perrett (MF) – Wales U19; U21
• Mannie Barton (FW) – Wales U19
• Josh Beecher (DF) – Wales U19
• Tom Davies (DF) – Wales U21
• Luey Giles (DF) – Wales U19; U21
• Joel Colwill (MF) – Wales U21
• Rubin Colwill (MF) – Wales U21
• Eli King (MF) – Wales U21
• Cian Ashford (MF) – Wales U21
• Dylan Lawlor (DF) – Wales U21; First Team
• Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (FW) – Wales U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, Cardiff City’s Under-18s were drawn in Group A against AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Swindon Town.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group F against Ipswich Town, Watford and Everton.

Season Timeline

November 2024

• Cardiff City were drawn at home to either Chesterfield or Shrewsbury Town in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

December 2024

• The young Bluebirds were set to host Chesterfield in the FA Youth Cup third round at the Cardiff International Sports Campus.
• Cardiff City’s Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, Cardiff City were drawn at home against Bristol City.

January 2025

• Cardiff City published its Academy reflections for 2024.
• The Bluebirds were set to face Bristol City in the FA Youth Cup fourth round at the Cardiff International Sports Campus.
• Cardiff City’s Under-18s were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Bristol City.

March 2025

• Under-21 centre-back Dylan Lawlor made his first-team debut for Cardiff against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
• Sekou Kaba made the move to the Bluebirds from Manchester United, with the second-year scholar set to sign a professional contract with Cardiff City.
• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, celebrated across all 72 League clubs, Cardiff City highlighted its strong track record of developing Academy players.

April 2025

• Cardiff City’s Under-17s were set to take on Shrewsbury Town’s Under-17s in the final of the Professional Development League Trophy.
• Ronan Kpakio was shortlisted by the LFE for the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season awards for 2025, an award honouring exceptional young professionals at EFL clubs who have distinguished themselves both on and off the pitch throughout the season.

May 2025

• Cardiff City’s Under-17s’ Professional Development League Trophy campaign came to an end in the final against Shrewsbury Town.

June 2025

• Dylan Lawlor received a call-up to the Wales senior squad for their upcoming match against Belgium.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Young Professionals: Freddie Cook, Cole Fleming, Adeteye Gbadehan, Baylin Johnson, Joseph Thomas.

Scholars: Joseff Edwards, Corey Foggarty, Osian Rees, Lennon Talbot.