Coventry City Academy

Coventry City FC runs a category 2 academy based in West Midlands. They have a strong youth development program that nurtures young talent.

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

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category Two clubs:

• 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.
• Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Coventry City’s Academy alongside senior and academy sides from across Birmingham.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Dan Bolas, Head of Academy Coaching Adam Bridgeford, and Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Mark Delaney.

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

• Harvey Broad (Defender) – Dagenham & Redbridge
• Isaac Moore (Midfielder) – Forest Green Rovers
• Aidan Dausch (Forward) – Forest Green Rovers; Scunthorpe United
• Justin Obikwu (Forward) – Lincoln City
• Kai Yearn (Midfielder) – Maidenhead United; Chesham United
• Elliott Betjemann (Forward) – St Albans City
• David Mantle (Defender) – Weymouth; Maidenhead United
• Charlie Finney (Midfielder) – Weymouth
• Greg Sandiford (Defender) – Bedford Town
• Callum Perry (Defender) – Rochdale
• Kai Andrews (Midfielder) – Hibernian
• Rylie Siddall (Forward) – Gloucester City AFC
• MacKenzie Stretton (Midfielder) – Gloucester City AFC

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Kai Andrews (Midfielder, #54), George Shepherd (Midfielder, #50).

International Players 2025/26

• Greg Sandiford (Defender) – Granada U21
• Kai Andrews (Midfielder) – Wales First Team

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Professional Development League Cup, Coventry City’s Under-18s were drawn in Group G against Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale.

In the FA Youth Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Birmingham City in the third round proper, before being drawn at home against Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round proper.

For the U21 Premier League Cup, Coventry City’s Under-21s were drawn in Group D against Blackburn Rovers, Leyton Orient and Watford.

In the Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup second round, the Under-21s were drawn away against Rugby Town.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• The Under-21s were set to travel to Singapore in July to take part in the Soccer7s Series, where teams from across Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region would compete in three tournaments.
• The following Under-21 players agreed new contracts with the Sky Blues: Tristen Batanwi, Elliot Betjemann, Riccardo Di Trolio, Charlie Finney, Greg Sandiford Jr, Rylie Siddall, and Kai Yearn all signed new one-year deals.

July 2025

• Goalkeeper Oscar Varney joined Coventry City, linking up with the club’s Under-21s squad; the 18-year-old signed a two-year contract following his departure from Premier League side Fulham.
• Six academy graduates were set to join Coventry City’s Under-21s ahead of the 2025/26 Professional Development League campaign.
• Conrad Ambursley, Joshua Gordon, Jack James, David Mantle, Joseph McCallum and MacKenzie Stretton all signed contracts, becoming the latest players to progress through the Sky Blues Academy system.
• Goalkeeper Luis Lines signed with Norwich City following his exit from Coventry City.

November 2025

• Coventry’s Under-21s exited the Birmingham Senior Cup, following their tie away against Rugby Town.

December 2025

• Coventry City’s Under-18s were set to host Birmingham City in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Monday 15 December at CBS Arena, with kick-off at 7:00pm.
• Coventry City’s Under-18s booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Birmingham City, setting up a tie against Blackburn Rovers. George Sheppard signed his first professional contract with the club, just days after celebrating his 17th birthday.
• Coventry City’s Under-18s were set to welcome Blackburn Rovers to CBS Arena for their fourth-round tie on Wednesday 21 January, with kick-off at 7pm.

January 2026

• Coventry City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fourth round, following their tie at home to Blackburn Rovers’ Under-18s.
• Defender Shay Dunn completed a move to Coventry City, joining up with their Under-21s setup; Dunn came through the ranks at Isthmian League South East Division club Merstham.

February 2026

• Coventry Academy midfielder Joseph McCallum, 18, completed a permanent move to Wycombe Wanderers.

2024/25 Season

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Ryan Howley (Midfielder) – Ayr United
• Justin Obikwu (Forward) – Grimsby Town
• Riccardo Di Trolio (Defender) – Welling United
• Kai Andrews (Forward) – Motherwell
• Aidan Dausch (Forward) – St Albans City
• Kain Ryan (Defender) – Rushall
• Charlie Finney (Midfielder) – Rushall

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Kai Andrews (Midfielder, #54).

International Players 2024/25

• Elliot Meredith (Goalkeeper) – Wales U17
• Kai Andrews (Midfielder) – Wales U19; U21; First Team
• Aidan Dausch (Forward) – USA U20

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

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

In the U21 Premier League Cup, Coventry City’s Under-21s were drawn in Group B against Nottingham Forest, Hull City and Leicester City.

Season Timeline

June 2024

• Seven Coventry City players signed their first professional contracts with the club: Tristen Batanwi, Elliot Betjemann, Aidan Dausch, Charlie Finney, Callum Perry, Daniel Rachel and Jayden Smith.

November 2024

• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Coventry City were drawn away to Manchester United.

December 2024

• The winner of the match between Manchester United and Coventry would face Preston North End in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Coventry City’s FA Youth Cup run came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Manchester United.

April 2025

• Coventry City’s Birmingham Senior Cup campaign ended at the semi-final stage, following extra time and penalties, with Ryan Howley among the scorers for the Sky Blues.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Academy Graduates Released: Cian Tyler, Jack Burroughs, Ryan Howley (joined Bristol Rovers).

Under-21s Released: Aston Ellard (joined Barnsley), Daniel Rachel, Kain Ryan, Jayden Smith.