Arsenal Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in North London, Arsenal FC runs a category 1 academy
- Academy Manager: Per Mertesacker
- Under-21 Head Coach: Max Porter
- Under-18 Head Coach: Adam Birchall
Arsenal Scholar 2025/26
- Jack Talbot (Goalkeeper)
- Remi Lupinski (Goalkeeper)
- Marli Salmon (Defender)
- Patrick Stachow (Defender)
- Joshua Tahou (Defender)
- Abraham Owusu-Gyasi (Defender)
- Josiah King (Defender)
- Callan Hamill (Defender)
- Teshaun Murisa (Midfielder)
- Maalik Hashi (Midfielder)
- Saurap Sampang (Midfielder)
- Bowen Phillips (Midfielder)
- Brando Bailey-Joseph
- Marley Frohock (Forward)
Arsenal Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Ismeal Kabia (Forward) Shrewsbury Town
- Lucas Nygaard (Goalkeeper) Brabrand IF
- Maldini Kacurri (Defender) Morecambe
- Daniel Oyetunde (Forward) St Albans
- Cam’ron Ismail (Defender) Uxbridge FC
- Harrison Dudziak (Midfielder) Braintree Town
- Louie Copley (Midfielder) Crawley Town
- Ethan Nwaneri (Midfielder) Marseille
- Charles Sagoe Jr.(Forward) Kalmar FF
Arsenal Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Andre Harriman-Annous (Forward) #71
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Defender) #49
- Ethan Nwaneri (Midfielder) #22
- Max Dowman (Forward) #56
- Josh Nichols (Defender) #48
- Marli Salmon (Defender) #89
- Louie Copley (Midfielder) #38
- Tommy Setford (Goalkeeper) #35
- Brando Bailey-Joseph (Forward) #81
- Ife Ibrahim (Midfielder) #72
- Ceadach O’Neill (Forward) #76
Arsenal Academy International Players 2025/26
Young players playing for their countries.
- Charles Phillips (Goalkeeper) England U16
- Mishel Nduka (Midfielder) England U16
- Emerson Nwaneri (Midfielder) England U16
- Josiah King (Defender) England U17
- Patrick Stachow (Defender) Poland U17
- Victor Ozhianvuna (Midfielder) Ireland U17
- Alex Marciniak (Midfielder) Wales U18
- Ife Ibrahim (Midfielder) England U18
- Brayden Clarke (Defender) Wales U19
- Jack Porter (Goalkeeper) England U17; U18; U19
- Max Dowman (Forward) England U19
- Khari Ranson (Goalkeeper) England U19
- Callan Hamil (Defender) Scotland U19
- Demiane Agustien (Midfielder) Netherlands U19
- Tommy Setford (Goalkeeper) England U20
- Alexei Rojas (Goalkeeper) Columbia U20
- Ethan Nwaneri (Forward) England U21
- Ceadach O’Neill (Forward) Northern Ireland U21
- Maldini Kacurri (Defender) Albania First Team
Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Arsenal Under-18 play in the South League
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U17 and U18 Premier League Cup
In 2017, the Premier League introduced the U18 Premier League Cup and the U16 Premier League Cup, renaming the latter to the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020 for their respective age groups.
The seven group winners, along with the best runner-up determined by total points, goal difference, and then head-to-head record, will progress to the quarterfinals.
U17 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Arsenal U17 are drawn in Group A against under 17 teams from Crystal Palace, Fulham and Watford.
- Arsenal U17 lost at home against Crystal Palace U17 (0 – 3)
- Arsenal U17 drew away against Watford U17 (3 – 3)
- Arsenal U17 drew at home against Fulham U17 (3 – 3)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Arsenal U18 are drawn in Group A against under 18 teams from Norwich, Peterborough and Stoke.
- Arsenal U18 won at home against Peterborough United U18 (4 – 0)
- Aleksander Marciniak
- Ceadach O’Neill (2)
- Brando Bailey-Joseph
- Arsenal U18 lost away at Stoke City U18 (6 – 1)
- Kyran Thompson
- Arsenal U18 drew away against Norwich City U18 (3 – 3)
- Brando Bailey-Joseph
- Ceadach O’Neill
- Bowen Phillips
The young gunners will exit the competition in the group stage.
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Arsenal U18 have been drawn away against Mansfield Town U18
- Arsenal U18 won away against Mansfield Town U18 (1 – 4)
- Callan Hamill
- Maalik Hashi
- Louis Zecevic-John
- Brando Bailey-Joseph
Fourth Round Proper
Arsenal U18 have been drawn away against Manchester City U18
U19 UEFA Youth League
As the leading club competition for academy-age footballers worldwide, it serves as a prestigious and vital platform where players can build their reputations and rise to prominence.
When eligible, the Under-19s compete in the UEFA Youth League, which mirrors the UEFA Champions’ League group stage.
UEFA will be introducing a new format from the 2024-25 season.
U19 UEFA Youth League Group Stage
Arsenal U19 are drawn against under 19 teams from Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, Bayern Munich and Club Brugge
- Matchday 1 – Tue, Sep 16: Athletic Club vs Arsenal, Lezama Campo, 11am
Matchday 2 – Wed, Oct 1: Arsenal vs Olympiacos, Mangata Pay UK Stadium, 1pm
Matchday 3 – Tue, Oct 21: Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid, Mangata Pay UK Stadium, 1pm
Matchday 4 – Tue, Nov 4: Slavia Prague vs Arsenal, Sports Centre Radotin, 12pm
Matchday 5 – Wed, Nov 26: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich, Mangata Pay UK Stadium, 1pm
Matchday 6 – Wed, Dec 10: Club Brugge vs Arsenal, The Nest, 2:30pm
- Arsenal U19 lost away against Athletic Juvenil A (3 – 1)
- Brando Bailey-Joseph
- Arsenal U19 lost at home against Olympiacos U19 (1 -2)
- Joshua Ogunnaike
- Arsenal U19 lost at home against Athletic Club U19 (3 – 4)
- Harrison Dudziak
- Max Dowman
- Arsenal U19 lost away against Slavia Prague U19 (5 – 1)
- Ceadach O’Neil
- Arsenal U19 won at home against Bayern München U19 (4 – 2)
- Max Dowman
- Kyran Thompson
- Ceadach O’Neill
Premier League 2
Starting from the 2023 season, all Category 1 teams compete in a single league using the Swiss-style format.
There are a total of 29 clubs competing in the 2025/26 season.
Entry into or removal from this league depends on meeting the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
Premier League 2 Player of the Month
August 2025
- Charles Sagoe Jr (Nominee)
Vertu Trophy (EFL Trophy)
The Vertu Trophy is a midweek knockout competition that includes clubs from EFL League One and League Two, along with 16 invited teams from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs that have Category One Academies.
The competition is regionalised from the opening stage through to the quarter-finals, featuring eight groups in the northern section and eight in the southern section.
Each group features one Under-21 Premier League side
Vertu Trophy Group Stage
Arsenal Under-21s have been drawn into Southern Group A, where they will face Cardiff City, Exeter City and Newport County.
- Arsenal U21 won away against Newport County (1 – 2)
- Andre Harriman-Annous
- Charles Sagoe Jr
- Arsenal U21 lost away against Exeter City (4 – 3)
- Charles Sagoe Jr
- Harrison Dudziak
- Osman Kamara
- Arsenal U21 lost away against Cardiff (3 – 1)
- Marcell Washington
Arsenal Academy News
26th June 2025
Academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly has pledged his long-term future to the club in N5. He first joined the Hale End Academy at just eight years old.
2nd July 2025
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has signed for Lausanne-Sport following his departure from Arsenal.
12th July 2025
Marcell Washington signs first professional deal
The young full-back has completed a move to Arsenal from Chelsea after impressing during eight trial appearances for the Under-21s last season.
Washington, a highly rated prospect, is the son of former Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand, who started the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
14th July 2025
Striker Daniel Oyetunde signs his first professional deal with Arsenal.
Full-back Cam’ron Ismail has also signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, having joined the club’s academy from grassroots football at the age of 14.
15th July 2025
Arsenal academy graduate Remy Mitchell has seemingly rejoined the club, having taken part in the academy photocall earlier this week.
18th July 2025
Louis Zecevic-John has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
A dynamic dribbler with a knack for finding the net, he contributed seven goals and seven assists for the Under-18s during the 2024/25 season.
Khari Ranson, who began as a midfielder before switching to goalkeeper has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal
19th July 2025
Demiane Agustien has signed a professional contract with Arsenal. The talented Dutch midfielder spent the past two seasons at Derby County, where he made 16 goal contributions in the Under-18 Premier League.
30th July 2025
MK Dons Academy goalkeeper Remi Lupinski has officially joined Arsenal’s youth ranks, adding depth to the club’s goalkeeping options at academy level.
The 16-year-old shot-stopper has signed a two-year scholarship with the Gunners.
29th August 2025
Young goalkeeper Jack Porter has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
13th September 2025
Arsenal have completed the signing of U16 attacking midfielder Mishel Nduka, who previously played for Charlton Athletic and featured for their U18 side.
15th September 2025
19-year-old Archie Stevens has signed his first professional deal after impressing on trial, featuring in U21 pre-season games against Chelmsford City and Monaco II.
16th October 2025
Brando Bailey-Joseph has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
The talented winger joined the club at just six years old and has spent more than 11 years progressing through the academy, from Hale End to the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
21st October 2025
Goalkeeper Jack Porter has been called up to the England U17 squad for the 2025 World Cup in Qatar.
29th October 2025
Andre Harriman-Annous is the first of Arsenal’s 2024 scholars to feature for the first team, while Max Dowman is the first 2025 scholar to be involved.
8th November 2025
Arsenal youngsters have won the Premier League U16 National Tournament hosted for the 2025/26 season.
26th November 2025
Arsenal U18s will travel to face Mansfield Town U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Monday, December 15 at One Call Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
4th December 2025
Arsenal Football Club have finalised an agreement to sign twin brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle, with the pair scheduled to join the club in August 2027.
The highly regarded 16-year-olds, who grew up in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, will officially link up with Arsenal upon turning 18.
8th December 2025
Academy forward Daniel Oyetunde has returned to Arsenal following the completion of his loan spell at St Albans.
16th December 2025
Arsenal U18s booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-1 win over Mansfield Town U18. They will face Manchester City in the next round.
27th January 2026
Ife Ibrahim has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, marking a major milestone in his journey at the club.
The versatile midfielder joined the Gunners at the age of seven and, 11 years on, has now put pen to paper on his first senior deal.
28th January 2026
Ife Ibrahim and Brando Bailey-Joseph both made their senior debuts for Arsenal in the Championship League match against Kairat Almaty.
2nd February 2026
Osman Kamara has completed a permanent move to Championship club Blackburn Rovers.
The 19-year-old forward joined the club in May 2014 and signed his first professional contract in June 2024.
Evan Mooney has joined the Arsenal academy from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren.
The 18-year-old, a product of St Mirren’s academy, made 23 senior appearances this season and can play as an attacking midfielder or centre-forward.
10th February 2026
Charles Sagoe Jr has completed a loan move to Swedish outfit Kalmar FF, where he will remain until January 2027.
The 21-year-old arrived at our academy from Fulham in July 2015 and signed his first professional contract in July 2022.
20th February 2026
19-year-old forward Daniel Oyetunde has completed a permanent move to USL League One side Fort Wayne.
24th February 2026
Maalik Hashi has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal FC.
The creative midfielder, who joined the club in December 2022 and progressed to the U18s, has now committed to the Gunners at a professional level.
Teshaun Murisa has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
The 17-year-old, who joined the club at age six, has now earned a senior deal after 11 years in the Arsenal academy.
13th April 2026
Arsenal Under-15s lifted the inaugural Premier League Next Gen Beijing Cup after beating Zhejiang 2-0 in the final.