Reading Academy

Reading FC runs a category 1 academy based in Berkshire. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

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

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; Reading’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.
• 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, featuring nine groups with the top team in each group plus the seven best runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
• 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.
• Berks and Bucks Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Reading’s Under-21s alongside senior sides from across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Under-18 Head Coach Harrison Gilkes and Under-21 Head Coach Peter Scott.

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

• Abraham Kanu (Defender) – Forest Green Rovers
• Tom Norcott (Goalkeeper) – Woking FC; Enfield Town
• Jacob Borgnis (Midfielder) – Slough Town
• Basil Tuma (Forward) – Slough Town
• Michael Stickland (Defender) – Farnborough
• Matthew Rowley (Goalkeeper) – Hampton & Richmond; Tonbridge Angels
• Ashqar Ahmed (Defender) – Forest Green Rovers
• Boyd Beacroft (Defender) – Farnborough
• Sean Patton (Forward) – Aldershot Town
• Jeremiah Okine-Peters (Forward) – Uxbridge
• Shay Spencer (Midfielder) – Wealdstone
• Jay Williams (Defender) – Dorchester Town
• Josh Wellend (Goalkeeper) – Beaconsfield Town
• Joe Barough (Midfielder) – Basingstoke Town
• Miles Obodo (Forward) – Chichester City
• Harrison Rhone (Goalkeeper) – Brackley Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Michael Stickland (Defender, #22), John Ryan (Defender, #36), Ashqar Ahmed (Defender, #39), Andre Garcia (Defender, #19), Matt Rowley (Goalkeeper, #48), Phillip Duah (Defender, #38)

Tyler Sackey (Midfielder, #44), Reece Evans (Forward, #55), Sean Patton (Forward, #57), Jeremiah Okine-Peters (Forward, #43), Shay Spencer (Midfielder, #47), Jacob Borgnis (Midfielder, #46).

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Reading’s Under-17s were drawn in Group H against Under-17 sides from Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolves.

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

Also in the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group A against Birmingham City, Hull City and AFC Bournemouth.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• John Clarke and John Ryan both signed new one-year contracts with Reading FC, extending their time with the Royals until 2026.
• Michael Stickland signed a new one-year deal, also extending his stay with the Royals until 2026.

July 2025

• Reading FC confirmed the signing of nine young players who would remain with the Royals for the 2025/26 campaign: Ashqar Ahmed, Jacob Borgnis, Carter Bowdery, Philip Duah, Sam Harrison, Abraham Kanu, Shay Spencer, Basil Tuma and Josh Welland.
• Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Luke Howard agreed new contracts that will keep them at the Royals for another year.
• 22-year-old forward Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan signed a new two-year deal, extending his time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

August 2025

• Miles Obodo, a recent scholar at Swindon Town, David Hicks, formerly of Stevenage, and Reece Evans, previously on the books at Queen’s Park in Scotland, all signed to strengthen Peter Scott’s Under-21 squad at Reading FC.

September 2025

• Reading FC signed 19-year-old striker Sean Patton from Derry City on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance, after he impressed on trial during the Royals’ pre-season trip to Fota Island.

November 2025

• Reading’s Under-18s were confirmed to host Cheltenham Town in the FA Youth Cup second round proper, with the tie scheduled for Wednesday 12 November.
• Reading’s Under-18s advanced to the third round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Cheltenham Town.
• Reading’s Under-18s were confirmed to host Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup third round proper, with the tie scheduled for Wednesday 3 December at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

February 2026

• Reading FC academy prospect Andre Garcia departed the club to complete a move to Club Brugge; the 18-year-old left-back joined the Belgian side on a deal running until 2029, for an undisclosed fee.

March 2026

• Shay Spencer’s loan with Wealdstone was extended until the end of the season.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Reading Academy saw the Under-18s reach the final of the U18 Premier League Cup.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Matthew Rowley (Goalkeeper) – Tonbridge Angels
• Harrison Rhone (Goalkeeper) – Marlow

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Adrian Akande (Forward, #37), Michael Stickland (Defender, #38), Andre Garcia (Defender, #30), Matthew Christopher Rowley (Goalkeeper, #48).

International Players 2024/25

• Kanazawa Kanninda – England U15 Camp
• Tyler Adjei – England U15
• Jubilee Ntege (MF) – Sweden U16
• Joseph Ntege (MF) – Sweden U16
• Andre Garcia (DF) – England U18

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Reading’s Under-17s were drawn in Group C against Under-17 sides from Brighton, Crystal Palace and Southampton.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group G against Luton Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley.

Also in the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Valencia CF, AS Monaco, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb, alongside fellow English sides Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Reading’s Under-21s were originally placed in Group A of the National League Cup, alongside Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United, Wealdstone and Woking, but the club later withdrew from the competition and were replaced by Derby County’s Under-21s.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Reading Academy were drawn away to AFC Dunstable in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Reading’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the first round, following their tie away to AFC Dunstable.

November 2024

• Jeremiah Okine-Peters was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for October 2024.

February 2025

• Reading’s Under-21s exited the Berks and Bucks FA Cup, following their tie away to Bracknell Town.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Under-21s: Jack Senga-Ngoyi, Charlie Wellens.

Under-18s: Verrell George, James Sharlott (joined Thatcham Town), Kai Source.