Leicester City Academy

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

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; Leicester City’s Under-18s play in the South 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.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• 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.
• Premier League 2 – since 2023, all Category One academies play in a single Swiss-style league, with entry and removal governed by Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
• Premier League International Cup – teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 sides and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads, with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stage.
• National League Cup – a 32-team midweek competition comprising 16 Under-21 sides from Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Ian Cawley, Under-21 Coach Leon McSweeney, and Under-18 Coach Adam Barradell.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Thomas Wilson-Brown (Defender) – Swindon Town
• Jayden Joseph (Defender) – Tranmere Rovers
• Will Alves (Midfielder) – Huddersfield Town
• Kian Pennant (Forward) – Gateshead
• Henry Cartwright (Midfielder) – Falkirk
• Harry French (Goalkeeper) – Boston United
• Jake Evans (Forward) – Northampton Town
• Sammy Braybrooke (Midfielder) – Newport County; Chesterfield

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Ben Nelson (Defender, #4), Jeremy Monga (Midfielder, #28), Will Alves (Midfielder, #37), Kasey McAteer (Forward, #35), Silko Thomas (Forward, #39), Olabade Aluko (Defender, #56).

International Players 2025/26

• Darren Motsi (MF) – England U16
• Jack Peter Hames (GK) – England U16
• Jeremy Monga (FW) – England U17
• Louis Page (MF) – England U17; U18
• Olabade Aluko (DF) – England U20
• Ben Nelson (DF) – England U21
• Chris Popov (FW) – Wales U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

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

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group B against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle United.

Also in the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group C against Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic and Preston North End.

In the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Nordsjælland, Juventus and Valencia, alongside fellow English sides Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

For the National League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group B against Wealdstone, Forest Green Rovers, Boreham Wood and Braintree Town, with all fixtures played away from home.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Several young talents remained with Leicester City following the confirmation of new contracts, contract extensions and scholarship agreements: seven scholars — Bless Akolbire, Ryan Donnelly, Jake Donohue, Alfie Fisken, Reiss Khela, Ola Omobolaji and Kirsten Otchere — were offered new contracts, while Jeremy Monga agreed to begin his professional career with Leicester City.
• Olabade Aluko signed his first professional contract after making his Premier League debut for Leicester City against Bournemouth on the final day of the season, and Silko Thomas, Bobby Amartey, Toby Onanaye and Stevie Bausor were all handed contract extensions with the club, with a contract offer also made to midfielder Brandon Cover.
• Bristol Rovers signed goalkeeper Brad Young on a two-year contract after his release from Leicester City.

October 2025

• Midfielder Louis Page was called up to the England Under-17 squad for the 2025 World Cup in Qatar.
• Leicester City Academy midfielder Darren Motsi earned a call-up to the England Under-16 squad for the Football Federations Cup in Antalya, Türkiye.

November 2025

• Defender Olabade Aluko received a call-up to the England Under-20 squad for their match against Japan at Doncaster Rovers.
• Leicester City’s Under-18s were confirmed to travel to face Bolton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup third round, with kick-off scheduled for Wednesday 3 December.

December 2025

• Leicester City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup run came to an end, following their tie against Bolton Wanderers.

April 2026

• Nine apprentices were recognised at the EFL Awards in London, honouring top young players for the 2025/26 season, with one winner chosen per division; Louis Page was named Leicester City’s Championship nominee, alongside Leo Pecover of Bristol City and Sheldon Kendall of Millwall.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Leicester City Academy saw the Under-21s reach the Round of 16 of both the U21 Premier League Cup and the Premier League 2 knockout stage.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Silko Thomas (Forward) – Wigan Athletic
• Sammy Braybrooke (Midfielder) – Dundee
• Brandon Cover (Midfielder) – Port Vale; Fleetwood Town
• Amani Richards (Forward) – Exeter City
• Chris Popov (Forward) – Barrow
• Brad Young (Goalkeeper) – Hartlepool United
• Ben Nelson (Defender) – Oxford United
• Wanya Marcal-Madivadua (Forward) – De Graafschap
• Will Alves (Midfielder) – Cardiff City
• Tom Wilson-Brown (Defender) – Kilmarnock
• Oliver Ewing (Midfielder) – Buxton

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Luke Thomas (Defender, #33), Kasey McAteer (Forward, #35), Will Alves (Midfielder, #37), Olabade Aluko (Defender, #77), Jeremy Monga (Midfielder, #93).

International Players 2024/25

• Olly Holmes – England U15 Camp
• Darren Motsi (FW) – England U15
• Jeremy Monga (FW) – England U16
• Hugo De Lisle (MF) – England U16
• Will Daniels (MF) – Canada U17
• Louis Page (MF) – England U17
• Lyndon Turrell (MF) – Gibraltar U17
• Ben Nelson (DF) – England U20
• Will Alves (FW) – England U20
• Chris Popov (FW) – Wales U21
• Logan Briggs (MF) – Wales U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

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

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group B against Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

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

Season Timeline

August 2024

• New professional contracts were agreed for 11 players from the Academy ranks.

November 2024

• Leicester City were drawn at home to Chelsea in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

December 2024

• Leicester City’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie against Chelsea in the third round.
• Leicester City published a recap of the first half of the season for their Development Squads.

January 2025

• Amani Richards was recalled from his loan at Exeter City, where he had featured in six appearances for the club.

April 2025

• At just 15 years old, Jeremy Monga became the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history, behind only Ethan Nwaneri, making his appearance off the bench for Leicester.
• In the Premier League 2 Round of 16, Leicester City’s Under-21s were drawn against Southampton’s Under-21s, with the match scheduled for 27 April.
• Leicester City’s Under-21s were eliminated from the Premier League 2 knockout stage, following their tie away to Southampton.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Scholars: Kaleb Dyke (joined QPR), Lewis McNab.

Young Professionals: Oliver Ewing (joined Scunthorpe United), Harvey Godsmark-Ford (joined The New Saints), Ben Grist (joined Boston United), Deniche Hill, Liam McAlinney (joined Oud-Heverlee Leuven U23), Arjan Raikhy (joined Boston United), Joe Wormleighton (joined Northampton Town), Brad Young (joined Bristol Rovers).