West Bromwich Academy

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

Most Under-21 Academy matches take place at Keys Park Stadium, home of Hednesford Town FC.

West Bromwich Academy boasts an impressive track record of nurturing young talents who have gone on to join other prominent clubs, including Morgan Rodgers (Manchester City), Leo Cardoso (Chelsea), Kiano Dyer (Chelsea), Triston Rowe (Aston Villa), Lino Sousa (Arsenal), Luka Lynch (Aston Villa) and Jayden Koussou (Newcastle United).

The Academy has also developed players such as Jamal Jimoh, Max Jenner and Keilan Quinn, all of whom later joined Aston Villa.

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; West Bromwich Albion’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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup – a county knockout competition contested by West Bromwich Albion’s Under-21s alongside senior sides from across the West Midlands.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Richard Stevens, Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Deon Burton, and Lead U18 Professional Development Phase Coach Chay Thompson.

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

Maxwell Moses (Goalkeeper), George Shaw (Defender), Antonio Perkins (Defender), Joel Asomugha (Defender), Alfie Round (Defender), Theo Jackson (Defender), Reece Bastafield (Midfielder)

Danyal Iqbal (Midfielder), Shane Gompe (Midfielder), Harry French (Midfielder), Umar Sankoh (Midfielder), Remar McNeil (Forward), Justin Seven-Seven (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Eseosa Sule (Forward) – Motherwell
• Ben Cisse (Goalkeeper) – Rushall Olympic
• Harry Whitwell (Midfielder) – Forest Green Rovers
• Akeel Higgins (Forward) – Exeter City
• Cole Deeming (Midfielder) – Truro City; Cheltenham Town
• Evan Humphries (Defender) – Oxford City
• Jamal Mohammed (Defender) – Gloucester City
• Daniel Chimeziri (Forward) – Rushall Olympic

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Alex Williams (Defender, #41), Harry Whitwell (Midfielder, #34), Cole Deeming (Midfielder, #33).

International Players 2025/26

• Cyril Lartey (DF) – England U16
• Jack Lines (GK) – Wales U17
• Oliver Bostock (MF) – Wales U19
• Ben Cisse (GK) – England U20
• Alex Williams (DF) – Wales U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

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

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group F against Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Fulham.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group E against Exeter City, Brentford and Luton Town.

Also in the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were grouped with Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Nordsjælland, Juventus and Valencia, alongside fellow English sides Fulham, Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

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

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Academy defender Alfie Maughan signed his first professional contract with West Bromwich Albion.

July 2025

• Albion secured the signing of young forward Jack Bray from Sky Bet League Two club Harrogate Town, with the 18-year-old signing a three-year contract at The Hawthorns running until 2028 and linking up with the Baggies’ Under-21 squad.
• The Baggies strengthened their squad with several new deals: Eseosa Sule, Michael Parker and Souleyman Mandey signed two-year contracts until June 2027; Akeel Higgins and Alex Williams agreed one-year deals with an option for a further 12 months, as did former Peterborough United forward Torin Ntege; and striker Layton Love signed a six-month contract as he continued his recovery from a serious injury sustained the previous season.

August 2025

• 19-year-old prospect Harry Whitwell signed a new two-year contract with the club.
• 22-year-old centre-back Caleb Taylor departed West Brom to join Millwall on a long-term permanent contract.

December 2025

• Albion’s Under-21s were drawn away to Bedworth United in the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup, with the fixture scheduled for Tuesday 13 January at Bedworth’s Oval Stadium.
• West Bromwich Albion’s Under-18s booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, setting up a tie against Sunderland.
• West Bromwich Albion’s Under-18s were confirmed to host Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup, with the tie scheduled for Tuesday 10 February 2026.

April 2026

• Four of Albion’s academy scholars — Charlie Blackshields, Ryan Colesby, Adam Letlat and Abdul Abudu — have signed their first professional contracts with the club, agreeing two-year deals until June 2028.
• The quartet earned their contracts after impressing during a strong Under-18s campaign, helping the Baggies reach the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals while also contributing to the club’s Premier League 2 side.

2024/25 Season

A competitive 2024/25 season for the West Bromwich Albion Academy saw the Under-18s reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, and the Under-21s reach the quarter-finals of the U21 Premier League Cup.

Scholars 2024/25

Liam Wilkes (Goalkeeper), Alfie Maughan (Defender), Noah DuPont (Defender), Idrissa Dauda (Defender), Adam Letlat (Defender), Abdul Abudu (Defender), Charlie Blackshields (Midfielder)

Matthew Crowther (Midfielder), Rio Parmar (Midfielder), Adam Okorodudu (Forward), Jaiden Francis-Caesar (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Josh Griffiths (Goalkeeper) – Bristol Rovers
• Reyes Cleary (Forward) – Walsall; Hartlepool United
• Caleb Taylor (Defender) – Wycombe Wanderers
• Ronnie Hollingshead (Goalkeeper) – Alvechurch
• Souleyman Mandey (Midfielder) – Stourbridge
• Alex Williams (Defender) – Stratford Town
• Matt Richards (Midfielder) – Alvechurch; Leamington
• Fenton Heard (Midfielder) – Rushall Olympic
• Josh Shaw (Defender) – Marine FC

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Tom Fellows (Midfielder, #31).

International Players 2024/25

• Jack Lines (GK) – Wales U16
• Maxwell Moses (GK) – England U17
• Idrissa Dauda (DF) – Italy U17
• Antonio Perkins (MF) – Cyprus U17
• Adam Letlat (DF) – Morocco U17
• Rhys Morrish (DF) – Wales U19
• Ben Cisse (GK) – England U20
• Tom Fellows (MF) – England U21
• Alex Williams (DF) – Wales U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, West Bromwich Albion’s Under-17s were drawn in Group B against Under-17 sides from Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City and West Ham United.

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

Also in the U21 Premier League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group C against Swansea City, Southampton and Fleetwood Town.

In the National League Cup, the Under-21s were drawn in Group D against Braintree Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United and Sutton United, with all fixtures played away from home.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Harry Whitwell was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for September 2024.

November 2024

• West Bromwich Albion’s Under-18s were drawn away to either Harrogate Town or Birmingham City in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• WBA were confirmed to play Harrogate Town in the third round, following Harrogate’s progression past Birmingham City.

December 2024

• West Bromwich secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Harrogate Town.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, West Bromwich were drawn away to Stoke City.

January 2025

• Reyes Cleary returned to West Bromwich Albion after his loan spell at Walsall, having made eight appearances for the Saddlers in all competitions.
• West Bromwich Albion advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Stoke City.
• The Under-18s advanced to the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Norwich City.

February 2025

• Albion’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Manchester City was confirmed for Thursday 27 February at The Hawthorns.
• Shane Gompe signed a scholarship at West Bromwich Albion following a trial period.
• West Brom’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end, following their tie against Manchester City.

March 2025

• West Bromwich Albion’s Under-21s were drawn at home in the Premier League Cup quarter-finals against QPR, with the tie scheduled for Monday 31 March at Damson Park.

May 2025

• Ten academy graduates — attackers Reyes Cleary, Akeel Higgins, Layton Love and Eseosa Sule, goalkeeper Louis Brady, defenders Michael Parker and Alex Williams, midfielder Souleyman Mandey, and forwards Dan Chimeziri and Divine Onyemachi — were offered new contract deals by Albion, reflecting the club’s ongoing commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Corey Sears, Rhys Morrish, Fran Cherchi, Sam Beedie, Matt Richards, Archie Kirton, Ronnie Hollingshead (joined Aston Villa), Josh Shaw, Reece Hall, Fenton Heard.