Stoke City Academy

Stoke City FC runs a category 1 academy based in the West Midlands. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

In recent years, Stoke City has sparked significant excitement and enthusiasm for the game among local young players.

The Club is keen to build on this, aiming to see more locally born talent in the first-team squad in the long term.

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; Stoke City’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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Central League Cup – a reserve-team competition in which entrants are divided into groups, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
• Staffordshire Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Stoke City’s Under-21s alongside sides from across Staffordshire.
• 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 U21 Lead Coach Liam Lawrence (Interim) and U18 Lead Coach Dean Marney.

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

Tristan Achu, Rocco Bardsley, Ben Chivers, Harry Collins, Lucas Connell, Anas Dauda, Max Harrison, Isreal Kelly, Lucas Knight, Angus Llyod, Josh McWilliams, Sidney Moore, David Osamuyimen, Hayden Ovaere, Sultan Sotunde and Deandre Witter.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) – Leyton Orient
• Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) – Solihull Moors
• Emre Tezgel (Forward) – Crewe Alexandra
• Nathan Lowe (Forward) – Stockport County
• Wiktor Gromek (Midfielder) – GKS Jastrzebie
• Adriel Walker (Forward) – Forest Green Rovers
• Jake Griffin (Defender) – FC Halifax Town
• Pedro Nzau (Forward) – Mickleover
• Freddie Anderson (Defender) – Cork City; Barrow
• Favour Fawunmi (Forward) – Leyton Orient
• Ruben Curley (Midfielder) – Curzon Ashton

International Players 2025/26

• Oscar Hatton (Goalkeeper) – Wales U16
• Tom Alcock (Defender) – Wales U16
• Anas Dauda (Defender) – Italy U17
• Jaden Dixon (Defender) – England U19
• Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) – England U21
• Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) – Ireland U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Stoke City’s Under-17s were drawn in Group E against Under-17 sides from Blackburn, Burnley and Manchester United.

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

For the FA Youth Cup third round proper, the Under-18s were drawn away against Norwich City. In Premier League 2, Laurence Giani was nominated for Player of the Month for October 2025.

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

Also in the Central League Cup, Stoke City’s Reserves were drawn in Group A against Reserve sides from Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.

In the Staffordshire Senior Cup first round, Stoke City were drawn away against Stafford Town.

Season Timeline

May 2025

• Nineteen-year-old academy graduate Emre Tezgel, who featured in 17 matches for City during the 2024/25 season, was offered a new contract.
• Stoke City exercised the option to extend the contracts of Under-21 defenders Josh Bickerton and Jake Griffin for a second year.
• Additionally, defender Syd Agina and winger Josh Maskall were offered their first professional contracts.

July 2025

• Stoke City Under-21s captain Jake Griffin signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027.
• Italy Under-17 international Laurence Giani signed his first professional contract with Stoke City, committing his future to the club long-term.

August 2025

• 18-year-old midfielder Souleymane Sidibé completed a move to Dutch Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee; a product of the Potters’ Academy, Sidibé made 21 first-team appearances during his time at the club.
• Seventeen-year-old forward Osei joined City’s Under-21 side following a spell with Crystal Palace; the midfielder made 24 appearances for the Eagles’ Under-18s the previous season and has now signed a three-year contract with the Potters.
• Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Caleb Clothier joined City’s Under-21s, signing for the Potters after spending the past four years in Switzerland with FC Zürich.
• Stoke City completed the signing of England Under-19 goalkeeper True Grant from Manchester City on a three-year contract.

September 2025

• 18-year-old Stoke City Under-21 midfielder Gabriel Kelly signed a contract extension that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.

November 2025

• Midfielder Darius Lipsiuc was named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
• Stoke City’s Under-21s Head Coach, Dave Hibbert, departed to join Wycombe Wanderers’ first-team coaching staff; the 39-year-old spent 12 years at Stoke City’s Academy, most recently overseeing the club’s young professionals.
• Stoke City’s Under-18s were set to travel to face Norwich City’s Under-18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Tuesday 9 December, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00pm.

December 2025

• Stoke City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round, following their tie away to Norwich City’s Under-18s.
• Stoke City Academy Director Gareth Owen departed the club after several years in the role.

February 2026

• Young Potters signed forward Tyler Martin on an 18-month deal; the 18-year-old arrived after time at Liverpool since the age of 13 and impressed during his trial, scoring twice in three PL2 substitute appearances.
• Stoke City Under-21s defender Jaden Dixon joined Arsenal on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee; the 18-year-old arrived at the club three years ago from Tottenham Hotspur and went on to make six first-team appearances during the 2024/25 season.

March 2026

• Under-18s captain Pedro Nzau was named the latest recipient of the Broxap Outstanding Academy Achievement Award.

2024/25 Season

The Under-21s participate in the Staffordshire Senior Cup. Jaden Dixon formed part of the Under-17s squad for their UEFA European Championship finals in Cyprus, having won his first cap for the Young Lions.

Midfielder Sol Sidibe was included in the Under-18s squad for the first time as the Young Lions competed for the Tri Nations Trophy at St George’s Park.

Scholars 2024/25

The Potters inducted 12 new Academy scholars into the club for the 2024/25 season: Connor Day (Midfielder), Oghosaiwi Enabulele (Midfielder), Daniel Eyaife (Midfielder), Elliot Fearn (Forward)

Laurence Giani (Defender), Ryan Liu (Midfielder), Tommy McNally (Forward), Pedro Nzau (Forward), Jaden Ogbebor (Forward), Sanchez Phillips (Defender), Owen Powell (Defender) and Jensen Tortoishell (Defender).

“This is the group that got to the national final of the Under-15s Cup in 2023 and we are really excited about them.” – Gareth Owen, Academy Director.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) – Walsall
• Nathan Lowe (Forward) – Walsall
• Luke Badley-Morgan (Defender) – Airdrieonians
• Dara McGuinness (Forward) – Leek Town
• Adam Watson (Forward) – Hanley Town; Witton Albion
• Keke Jeffers (Forward) – Torquay United
• Nikola Jojić (Forward) – FK Mladost Lučani
• Dean Adekoya (Forward) – Runcorn Linnets
• Freddie Anderson (Defender) – Cork City
• Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) – Walsall
• Jake Griffin (Defender) – Brackley
• Josh Maskall (Forward) – Mickleover

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Souleymane Sidibe (Midfielder, #30), Emre Tezgel (Forward, #37), Jaden Dixon (Defender, #41), Freddie Anderson (Defender, #43), Darius Lipsuic (Midfielder, #50), Laurence Giani (Defender, #52).

International Players 2024/25

• Laurence Giani (Defender) – Italy U17
• Jaden Dixon (Defender) – England U17, U18
• Sol Sidibe (Midfielder) – England U18
• Souleymane Sidibe (Midfielder) – England U18
• Freddie Anderson (Defender) – USA U19
• Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) – England U20
• Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) – Republic of Ireland U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Stoke City’s Under-17s were drawn in Group G against Manchester United, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Newcastle, Millwall and Chelsea.

For the Central League Cup, Stoke City’s Reserves were drawn in Group B against Wigan Athletic Reserves, Stockport Reserves and Preston North End Reserves.

In the National League Cup, Stoke City’s Under-21s were placed in Group B of the competition’s inaugural season, drawn against Altrincham, Forest Green Rovers, Oldham Athletic and Rochdale, with all matches played away from home.

Emre Tezgel was named Premier League 2 Player of the Month for March.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Stoke City’s Under-11s captured the trophy at the National Premier League Finals five-a-side tournament.

November 2024

• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Stoke City were drawn at home to Woking.
• Stoke City midfielder Ryan Liu signed his first professional contract with the Potters.

December 2024

• Stoke City’s Under-18s advanced to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Woking at St. George’s Park.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, Stoke City were drawn at home to West Bromwich Albion.

January 2025

• Luke Badley-Morgan was recalled from his loan at Airdrieonians.
• The FA Youth Cup fifth round draw took place.
• Nathan Lowe was recalled from his loan spell with the Saddlers after Stoke City activated the recall clause in his agreement; the 19-year-old impressed with 17 goals and six assists in 29 appearances that season.
• Stoke City’s Under-18s saw their FA Youth Cup journey end in the fourth round, following their tie at home to West Bromwich Albion.

April 2025

• Emre Tezgel was shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for March 2025.
• Souleymane Sidibe was shortlisted by the LFE for the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season awards for 2025, an award honouring exceptional young professionals at EFL clubs who have distinguished themselves both on and off the pitch throughout the 2024/25 season.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

George Iorpenda (joined Huddersfield Town).