Portsmouth FC Academy

Portsmouth FC runs a category 3 academy based in Hampshire. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

Portsmouth FC’s academy, officially known as Pompey Academy, focuses on identifying and developing the top young talent in the region, with the goal of eventually promoting these players to the first-team squad.

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

Academy Competitions

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

• U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament for players aged 17 and under.
• U18 Youth Alliance Cup – an EFL-organised youth tournament for Under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs competing in the EFL Youth Alliance. It follows a format similar to the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
• 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.
• Hampshire Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Portsmouth’s Academy alongside sides from across Hampshire.
• Portsmouth Divisional FA Cup (PDFA) – a regional cup competition contested by Portsmouth’s Academy alongside services and local sides.

2026/27 Season

Scholars 2026/27

1. Reuben Allen (Goalkeeper)
2. Ethan Bell (Goalkeeper)
3. Karl Borsberry-Lewis (Goalkeeper)
4. Elisha Pfupa (Defender)
5. Ben Philipson (Defender)
6. George Tregunna (Defender)
7. Cruz Connor (Midfielder)
8. Jakub Jablonski (Midfielder)
9. Julian Korsah (Winger)
10. Billy Gillooly (Forward)
11. Kyran Sylvanus (Forward)

Academy Players on Loan 2026/27

Academy Players in the First Team 2026/27

International Players 2026/27

• Ashton Sizer (Centre-Back) Wales U19
• Elisha Pfupa (Forward) Zimbabwe U21

2026/27 Tournament Groupings

Season Timeline

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager James Barlow and Lead Professional Development Phase Coach Sam Hudson.

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

George Wilson (Defender), Aston Sizer (Defender), Max Hammond (Midfielder), Fraser Thomas (Midfielder), Tadi Bare (Midfielder), Dexter Lee (Forward) and Dane Bailey (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Toby Steward (Goalkeeper) – St Johnstone
• Harry Clout (Midfielder) – Farnborough FC; Welling United
• Reuben Swann (Midfielder) – Havant & Waterloo

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Olutayo Singerr (Forward, #43), Ashton Sizer (Defender, #44).

International Players 2025/26

• Brandon Downey (Midfielder) – Northern Ireland U19

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Portsmouth’s Under-17s were drawn in a group with Under-17 sides from AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage and QPR, before being drawn against Gillingham in the round of 16.

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup first round, the Under-18s were drawn away against Bromley.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group A against AFC Bournemouth, Cheltenham Town and Plymouth Argyle, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

In the FA Youth Cup third round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against Newcastle United.

In the Hampshire Senior Cup round of 32, the Under-18s were drawn away against Romsey Town.

Also in the Portsmouth Divisional FA Cup, the Under-18s were drawn away against Royal Navy, before being drawn away against Havant & Waterlooville in the quarter-final.

Season Timeline

July 2025

• Harry Clout signed his first professional contract with Portsmouth FC.

November 2025

• Pompey Academy advanced to the quarter-finals of the Portsmouth Divisional FA Cup, following their tie against the Royal Navy at HMS Temeraire.
• Portsmouth were set to travel to Whitley Park for their FA Youth Cup third-round tie against Newcastle United’s Under-18s on Tuesday, 16 December.

December 2025

• Portsmouth’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie against Newcastle United’s Under-18s.

January 2026

• Portsmouth Football Club confirmed that Greg Miller would step down as Academy Manager in February to take up a similar role at Charlton; James Barlow, currently the Academy’s Head of Coaching, was promoted to Academy Manager.
• Teenage forward Tayo Singerr signed his first professional contract with Portsmouth.

February 2026

• Portsmouth’s Under-18s booked their place in the PDFA Cup semi-finals, following their tie against Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

2024/25 Season

Based in Hampshire, Portsmouth FC ran a Category Three academy.

Scholars 2024/25

Oscar Glover (Goalkeeper), Reggie Buckland (Defender), Ciaran Martin (Defender), Beau Mullins (Defender), Michael Ani (Midfielder), Chinedu Agu (Midfielder)

Jermaine Osifo (Forward), Nathaniel Chioma (Forward) and Tayo Singerr (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Ciaran Martin (Defender) – Moneyfields FC
• Toby Steward (Goalkeeper) – Tonbridge Angels (recalled); Wealdstone; Crawley Town
• Reuben Swann (Midfielder) – Havant & Waterlooville

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Portsmouth’s Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Under-18 sides from Exeter City, Newport County, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers.

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

In addition to their league and cup schedule, Pompey Academy also competed in the Portsmouth Divisional FA Cup and the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Season Timeline

November 2024

• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Portsmouth were drawn at home to Leeds United.

December 2024

• The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Portsmouth after a third-round tie at home to Leeds United.

March 2025

• Terry Devlin earned his senior debut for the Northern Ireland national team against Switzerland, coming on as a substitute.

April 2025

• Tayo Singerr was named Portsmouth FC’s Academy Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Cody Howard, Jayden Keteku (joined Sutton United), Connor May, Luke Staight.