Derby County Academy

Derby County FC runs a category 1 academy based in East Midlands. They have a strong youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy’s goal is to develop talented young footballers with the potential to join the First Team, emphasising a purposeful passing style of play and focusing on both technical and tactical skills.

Derby County Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @dcfcacademy.

Derby County will implement a B Team structure ahead of the 2025/26 season, designed to operate as an extension of the First Team environment.

The Rams’ B Team competes in the Central League and the Derbyshire Senior Cup, in addition to playing various friendly matches, while the Under-21s remain active in Premier League 2 and the Premier League Cup.

From the start of the 2026/27 season, Derby County’s Under-21s will make Long Eaton United their home venue, after the clubs agreed a three-year partnership running through to the end of the 2028/29 campaign.

Academy Competitions

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

• U18 Premier League – split into North and South divisions; Derby County’s Under-18s play in the North League.
• U17 & U18 Premier League Cup – introduced by the Premier League in 2017; seven group winners plus the best runner-up (by points, goal difference, then head-to-head) progress to the quarter-finals.
• Premier League 2 – since 2023, all Category One academies play in a single Swiss-style league (29 clubs in 2025/26), with entry and removal governed by Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
• U21 Premier League Cup – introduced in the 2013/14 season to add a knockout tournament alongside the regular Professional Development Phase league schedule. For 2025/26, the format features nine groups, with the top team in each group plus the seven best runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
• Central League Cup – a reserve/B Team competition in which entrants are divided into groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
• National League Cup – a 32-team midweek competition comprising 16 Under-21 sides from Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup – a county knockout competition involving senior and academy sides from clubs across Derbyshire, contested by Derby County’s B Team and Under-21s.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Jamie Smith, Head of Academy Coaching Keith Gilroy, Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Danny Maye (also Under-21 Lead Coach), and Under-18 Lead Coach Bradley Johnson.

Smith took on the Academy Manager role in an interim capacity in December 2025 following the departure of Matt Hale, before being confirmed in the position permanently in June 2026.

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

Cristiano Dzialuk (Goalkeeper), Tom Marriott (Defender), Darnelle Thomas (Defender), George Stokes (Midfielder), Charlie Smith (Midfielder), Zayne Blake (Forward), Kieran Clarke (Forward), Luca Crolla (Forward), Kacey Gill (Forward), Euan Griffiths (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Daniel Cox (Defender) – Walsall; Wealdstone; Solihull Moors
• Harry Evans (Goalkeeper) – Coleraine; Buxton FC
• Jack Thompson (Goalkeeper) – Worcester City; Braintree Town
• Dajune Brown (Forward) – Port Vale
• Darren Robinson (Midfielder) – St. Patrick’s Athletic
• Harley Price (Goalkeeper) – Worcester City; Peterborough Sports
• Harry Hawkins (Midfielder) – Bedford Town; Barwell FC
• Alfie Friars (Defender) – Stockport County (work experience)
• Lennon Wheeldon (Forward) – South Shields
• Israel Green (Forward) – Belper Town
• Tristan Gill (Defender) – Buxton FC
• Sam Kane (Goalkeeper) – Worcester City
• Freddie Turley (Defender) – Dunfermline
• Marsel Tola (Midfielder) – Stafford Rangers
• Rio Canoville (Defender) – Matlock Town
• Billy Gough (Defender) – Barwell FC
• Jack Perry (Defender) – Barwell FC
• Adisa Osayande (Defender) – Stafford Rangers
• Niall McAndrew (Forward) – South Shields
• Cristiano Dzialuk (Goalkeeper) – Worcester City
• Cameron Wilson (Forward) – Worcester City

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Owen Eames (Midfielder, #37), Cruz Allen (Midfielder, #54).

International Players 2025/26

• Cruz Allen (MF) – Wales U19
• Alfie Friars (DF) – Northern Ireland U19
• Sean Corry (MF) – Northern Ireland U19
• Kacey Myers (MF) – Gibraltar
• Jack Thompson (GK) – England U20
• Freddie Turley (DF) – Ireland U21
• Dan Cox (DF) – Wales U21
• Darren Robinson (MF) – Northern Ireland U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

The U17 Premier League Cup, Derby County’s Under-17s were drawn in Group B against Under-17 sides from Birmingham City, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group H against Burnley, Reading and Tottenham Hotspur.

For the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group B against Bristol City, Sheffield United and Stoke City.

And finally in the Central League Cup, Derby County B were drawn in Group B against Reserve sides from Chesterfield, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Freddie Turley was awarded Irish Football’s Under-19 International Player of the Year, having captained the national Under-19 side last season.

July 2025

• Eight Academy players — Harley Price, Luke Banks, Adisa Osayande, Isaac Gordon, Owen Eames, Marsel Tola, Justin Oguntolu and Johnson Osong — signed their first professional contracts with the club ahead of the 2025/26 season.
• Attacker Cameron Wilson joined Derby on a permanent deal from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, following an impressive trial with Danny Maye’s squad.

August 2025

• 19-year-old German midfielder Jamie Wähling joined the Rams’ Under-21 squad as a free agent, following his departure from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim’s youth system.
• Derby County signed 19-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Sam Kane from Scottish Championship side Queen’s Park.

September 2025

• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, Derby County highlighted that since moving to Pride Park in 1997, 76 Academy players have progressed to make competitive first-team debuts.

October 2025

• 16-year-old Academy goalkeeper Charlie Hardy joined Manchester United, moving to Old Trafford to link up with their Under-18 squad.
• 17-year-old defender Luca Crolla signed his first professional contract with the club, running until 2028.

November 2025

• Derby County B were drawn away to Buxton in the third round of the Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup, with the tie scheduled for 2 December.

December 2025

• Derby County’s Under-18s booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, setting up a tie against Manchester United.
• Derby County’s B Team were drawn to face Mickleover FC in the quarter-final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, with the tie scheduled for 20 January 2026 at the Don Amott Arena.
• Defender Rio Canoville signed his first professional contract with Derby County, having joined the Academy at Under-15 level after spells with Notts County and Nottingham Forest.
• The Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford was confirmed for Friday 23 January.

January 2026

• Under-21s midfielder Darren Robinson completed a permanent move to Sky Bet League One club Doncaster Rovers.
• 17-year-old midfielder Charlie Smith signed his first professional deal with Derby County.
• 18-year-old striker Charles Agbawodikeizu, who joined the club ahead of the 2024/25 season after a spell with West Ham United, signed his first professional contract.
• Derby County’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in the fourth round.
• Midfielder Owen Eames signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal, keeping the homegrown 19-year-old at Pride Park Stadium until the summer of 2029.

February 2026

• Raymond Offor joined Derby County’s Academy from Shelbourne. The 6ft 5in centre-back, who can also play in defensive midfield, made his first-team debut in the FAI Cup in July 2025.

2024/25 Season

The 2024/25 campaign was a proud one for the Academy, with the Under-18s reaching the semi-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup. The Under-21s were led by Jake Buxton as Lead Coach during the season.

Scholars 2024/25

Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu (Forward), Sean Corry (Forward), Braidy Connell-Webster (Defender), Rio Canoville (Defender), Anthony Junior Doyle (Defender), Alfie Friars (Defender).

Khace Gordon (Defender), Israel Green (Forward), Dantel Hodges (Midfielder), Marley Mintus (Midfielder), Harvey Rees (Goalkeeper), James Ward (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Darren Robinson (Midfielder) – Hartlepool United
• Tony Weston (Forward) – Boston United
• Ben Radcliffe (Defender) – Gateshead
• Ryan Bartley (Defender) – Spennymoor Town; Hereford
• Daniel Cox (Defender) – Enfield Town
• Max Bardell (Defender) – AFC Fylde
• Alex Stepien-Iwumene (Midfielder) – Eastleigh
• Josh Shattell (Goalkeeper) – Erith Town
• Lennon Wheeldon (Forward) – Boston United
• Harry Hawkins (Midfielder) – AFC Telford United
• Jack Thompson (Goalkeeper) – Alfreton Town
• Emmanuel Ilesanmi (Forward) – Torquay United
• Keilan Robinson (Defender) – Kidderminster Harriers
• Harley Price (Goalkeeper) – AFC Telford United

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Lennon Wheeldon (Forward, #48).

International Players 2024/25

• Rem Harvey – England U15 Camp
• Charlie Hardy (GK) – England U16
• Cruz Allen (MF) – Wales U18; U19
• Lennon Wheeldon (FW) – England U19
• Dan Cox (DF) – Wales U19
• Niall McAndrew (MF) – Ireland U19
• Freddie Turley (DF) – Ireland U19
• Darren Robinson (MF) – Northern Ireland U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

For the U17 Premier League Cup, Derby County’s Under-17s were drawn in Group D against Under-17 sides from Aston Villa, Wolves and Leicester City.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group A against Brighton, Manchester City and Norwich City.

For the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group I against Brentford, Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth.

In the National League Cup, Derby County’s Under-21s were placed in Group A, set to face Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United, Wealdstone and Woking, with all fixtures played away from home — the club’s entry followed Reading’s withdrawal from the competition.

Season Timeline

November 2024

• Derby County were drawn at home to Sunderland in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• The Under-18s progressed to the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.
• The Under-17s advanced to the next round of the U17 Premier League Cup.

December 2024

• Derby County advanced to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, setting up a tie against Sheffield United.
• The fourth-round tie away at Sheffield United was confirmed for Thursday 16 January at the LNER Community Stadium.

January 2025

• Derby County’s Under-21s progressed to the quarter-finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, setting up a tie against Long Eaton for a place in the semi-finals.
• Young defender Ben Radcliffe completed a permanent move to Sky Bet League One club Crawley Town.
• Ryan Bartley returned from his loan spell at National League North side Hereford.
• Lennon Wheeldon returned from a one-month loan at Boston United.
• Midfielder Alex Stepien-Iwumene returned from his loan spell with National League side Eastleigh.
• 18-year-old defender Tristan Gill, part of the Rams’ setup since joining at Under-12 level, signed his first professional contract with Derby County.
• Derby County’s Under-21s secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
• The young Rams advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.

February 2025

• Derby County’s Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup.
• Harry Evans was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for January 2025.
• The Under-21s were set to take on Buxton in the semi-finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, with the match scheduled for Tuesday 4 March at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.

April 2025

• Lennon Wheeldon made his league debut for Derby County’s first team, coming off the bench in their EFL Championship fixture against Swansea City.
• Luke Banks received the Scholar of the Season award from Derby County Academy, while Tom Marriott was named the 2024/25 Academy Player of the Year.

May 2025

• Academy midfielder Harry Hawkins, on loan at AFC Telford United, played a key role in their promotion through the play-offs, making 17 appearances for the Bucks.
• Nine second-year scholars — Demiane Agustien, Luke Banks, Owen Eames, Isaac Gordon, Justin Oguntolu, Adisa Osayande, Johnson Osong, Harley Price and Marsel Tola — were offered professional contracts.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Max Bardell (joined Buxton), Emmanuel Ilesanmi, Riley Moloney (joined North Carolina State Wolfpack), Josh Shattell, Morten Spencer (retired from football), Alex Stepien-Iwumene (joined Bromley), Tony Weston.