Middlesbrough Academy

Middlesbrough FC runs a category 1 academy based in North Yorkshire. They have a 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; Middlesbrough’s Under-18s play in the North League.
• U17 & U18 Premier League Cup – introduced by the Premier League in 2017 (originally as the U16 Premier League Cup, renamed the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020); 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.
• National League Cup – a 32-team midweek competition comprising 16 Under-21 sides from Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
• 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 – four groups of eight, each combining four UK-based Under-21 sides with four invited overseas development squads; the top two in each group advance to the knockout stage.
• North Riding Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Middlesbrough’s Under-21s alongside sides from across North Yorkshire; the club has won the competition a record number of times.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Under-21s Lead Coach Mark Tinkler.

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

• Law McCabe (Midfielder) – Plymouth Argyle
• Charlie Lennon (Forward) – Darlington
• Max Howells (Forward) – Darlington
• Luke Woolston (Midfielder) – South Shields
• Frankie Coulson (Forward) – Morpeth Town
• Brayden Johnson (Midfielder) – Kidderminster Harriers
• Rio Patterson-Powell (Midfielder) – Gateshead
• Shea Connor (Goalkeeper) – Gateshead

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

George McCormick (Defender, #40), Sonny Finch (Forward, #39), Law McCabe (Midfielder, #28).

International Players 2025/26

• Law McCabe (Midfielder) – England U20

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Middlesbrough’s Under-17s were drawn in Group F against Under-17 sides from Leeds, Newcastle and Sunderland.

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

For the FA Youth Cup third round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against Reading. In Premier League 2, the play-offs saw the Under-21s drawn away against Chelsea in the round of 16.

In the National League Cup, Middlesbrough’s Under-21s were placed in Group D of the competition’s second edition, drawn against Boston United, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead and Scunthorpe United, with all matches played away from home.

The Under-21s also took part in the North Riding Senior Cup.

Sonny Finch was nominated for Player of the Month for November 2025.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• 18-year-old Prince Acheampong signed his first professional contract with Middlesbrough.

June 2025

• Josh Coburn completed a permanent move from Middlesbrough to Millwall, with the Lions breaking their transfer record to secure the striker following his loan spell the previous season.

July 2025

• Goalkeeper Owen Foster joined Middlesbrough from Hull City; the 20-year-old signed a one-year deal after making a strong impression during a trial at the end of the previous season.
• 19-year-old defender Archie Baptiste joined the club following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur the previous month.
• Centre-back Jack Daley, 18, joined the Under-21s after a successful trial, having made a strong impact for Newcastle Blue Star the previous season. Winger Jayden Carbon, 19, signed a two-year deal after joining from National League side Oxford City.

October 2025

• Tommy Smith was appointed to oversee the club’s loan players, a role key to supporting their development as they gain experience in competitive football.

November 2025

• Middlesbrough midfielder Law McCabe received a call-up to the England U20 squad ahead of their upcoming match against Japan at Doncaster Rovers.
• Teenager Cruz Ibeh agreed to his first professional deal with Middlesbrough FC.
• Middlesbrough’s Under-18s were set to travel to face Reading in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday 3 December, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.

December 2025

• Max Howells extended his loan spell at Darlington through to the new year.
• Middlesbrough’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Reading.
• Young forward Layton Campbell signed professional terms with Boro after impressing for the Under-21s; formerly with Blackpool and Sunderland, he played senior football for Whitley Bay that season.
• Sonny Finch was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for November.

January 2026

• Ollie Martin signed his first professional contract with Boro.

May 2026

• Promising midfielder Lucas Harrison was rewarded for his impressive development by signing his first professional contract; the 18-year-old agreed to a two-year deal after enjoying a standout season.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Middlesbrough Academy saw the club crowned Premier League U16 National Tournament Winners.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Matty Young (Goalkeeper) – Salford City
• Josh Coburn (Forward) – Millwall
• Sonny Finch (Forward) – MK Dons
• Hazeem Bakre (Forward) – Dagenham & Redbridge; Darlington
• Micah Hamilton (Forward) – Stockport County
• Terrell Agyemang (Midfielder) – Airdrieonians
• George Gitau (Defender) – Raith Rovers
• Alfie Myers-Smith (Defender) – South Shields
• Shea Connor (Goalkeeper) – Darlington
• Dan Nkrumah (Forward) – Halifax
• Pharrell Willis (Forward) – Queen of the South; Maidstone United
• Brayden Johnson (Midfielder) – Gateshead
• Nathan Simpson (Defender) – Spennymoor Town

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Hayden Hackney (Midfielder).

International Players 2024/25

• Tom Dean – England U15 Camp
• Bailey Palmer (Midfielder) – England U17
• Anton Palmer (Midfielder) – England U17
• Eic Hamelberg (Midfielder) – Portugal U18
• Hayden Hackney (Midfielder) – England U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Middlesbrough’s Under-17s were drawn in Group E against Newcastle, Sunderland and Leeds United.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group E against Aston Villa, Fulham and Wolves.

For the National League Cup, Middlesbrough’s Under-21s were placed in Group C of the competition’s inaugural season, drawn against Boston United, Gateshead, FC Halifax Town and Tamworth, with all matches played away from home.

In the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were drawn against Athletic Club, Benfica, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Lyon, alongside fellow UK sides Blackburn, Sunderland and West Ham.

In the North Riding Senior Cup, the Under-21s reached the final against Scarborough Athletic, looking to claim the trophy for a record 56th time.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Middlesbrough were crowned Premier League U16 National Tournament winners, following their final against Norwich.

November 2024

• Hazeem Bakre was nominated for the PL2 Player of the Month award for October 2024.
• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Middlesbrough were drawn away to Tottenham Hotspur.

December 2024

• The FA Youth Cup third-round match against Tottenham Hotspur was scheduled to take place on Sunday 8 December, at Hotspur Way.
• Middlesbrough’s FA Youth Cup run concluded in the third round, following their tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

January 2025

• Terrell Agyemang was recalled from his loan at Airdrieonians.
• 18-year-old midfielder Brayden Johnson joined Middlesbrough from Eastbourne Borough for an undisclosed fee.
• Teenage striker Ajay Matthews completed a permanent move to Millwall.
• Full-back Josh Dede signed with Middlesbrough from Celtic and joined the Under-21s squad.

March 2025

• Sonny Finch scored a hat-trick as Boro’s Under-21s secured their spot in the North Riding Senior Cup final.

April 2025

• Shea Connor was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for March 2025.
• Academy prospect Oliver Samuels signed his first professional contract with the club.

May 2025

• Boro’s Under-21s faced Scarborough Athletic in the North Riding Senior Cup final, looking to claim the trophy for a record 56th time.
• Middlesbrough’s Under-21s’ North Riding Senior Cup final against Scarborough Athletic brought their campaign to a close.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Young Professionals Released: Terrell Agyemang (joined Morecambe), George Gitau (joined Dagenham and Redbridge), Jack Hannah, Afonso Lindo, Dan Nkrumah, Nathan Simpson, Alfie Myers-Smith, Jack Stott, Cain Sykes, Pharrell Willis.

Scholars Released: Addis Dore, Felix Elliott, Noah Muwana, Fin O’Gorman, Ethan Scott, Judah Tawiah.