Brighton and Hove Albion Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in East Sussex, the Brighton & Hove Albion FC runs a category 1 academy.
- Head of Academy: Ian Buckman
- Under-21 Head Coach: Shannon Ruth
- Under-18 Head Coach: Steve Menzies and Tomer Hemed (Interim)
Brighton Scholars 2025/26
- Liam Doyle
- Tobi Akapo
- Jackson Morby
- Cristiano Anah
- Raffaele Oppong
- Jake Evans
- Zac Brennan
- Bode Newnham-Reeve
- Jacob Parsons
Brighton Academy Players Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan
- James Beadle (Goalkeeper) Birmingham City
- Amario Cozier-Duberry (Forward) Bolton Wanders
- Mark O’Mahony (Forward) Reading FC
- Do-young Yoon (Forward) Excelsior Rotterdam
- Caylan Vickers (Forward) Barnsley; Wigan Athletic
- Kamari Doyle (Midfielder) Reading FC
- Charlie Penman (Defender) Aldershot Town
- Jacob Slater (Defender) Harrogate Town
- Thomas Watson (Midfielder) Millwall
- Lorenz Ferdinand (Goalkeeper) Havant & Waterlooville
Brighton Academy products in the First Team 2025/26
- Joe Knight (Midfielder) #49
- Nehemiah Oriola (Forward) #58
- Harry Howell (Midfielder) #53
Brighton Academy International Players 2025/26
Youth players representing their country
- Rory Sykens (Defender) England U16
- Harrison Brown (Midfielder) Wales U16
- Fraser Widdop (Midfielder) England U17
- Freddie Simmonds (Defender) England U17; U18
- Harry Howell (Forward) England U18
- Nils Ramming (Goalkeeper) Sweden U18; U19
- Henry Kasvosve (Midfielder) Wales U19
- Adam Brett (Forward) Wales U19
- Thomas Watson (Midfielder) England U21
- James Beadle (Goalkeeper) England U21
- Jack Hinshelwood (Midfielder) England U21
- Jacob Slater (Defender) Ireland U21
- Mark O’Mahony (Forward) Ireland U21
- Stefanos Tzimas (Forwrad) Greece U21
- Isaiah Alakiu (Defender) Philippines U23
Brighton and Hove Albion Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Brighton 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
Brighton U17 are drawn in Group D against under 17 teams from Charlton, Chelsea and Southampton.
- Brighton U17 lost at home against Southampton U17 (0 – 4)
- Brighton U17 won away against Charlton Athletic U17 (1 – 2)
- Brighton U17 won away against Chelsea U17 (1 – 3)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Brighton U18 are drawn in Group G against under 18 teams from Birmingham City, Manchester United and Middlesbrough.
- Brighton U18 lost away against Manchester United U18 (4 – 0)
- Brighton U18 won at home against Birmingham City U18 (4 – 0)
- Younes Ibrahim (3)
- Billy Ray-Cullinane
- Brighton U18 won at home against Middlesbrough U18 (3 – 2)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Brighton U18 have been drawn away against Tottenham Hotspur U18
- Brighton U18 won away against Tottenham Hotspur U18 (2 – 5)
- Harry Howell (2)
- Adam Brett (2)
- Billy Ray-Cullinane
Fourth Round Proper
Brighton U18 have been drawn away against QPR U!8
- Brighton U18 won away against QPR U18 (0 – 2)
- Henry Kasvosve
- Tyler Silsby
Fifth Round Proper
- Brighton U18 lost away against Sunderland U18 (4 – 1)
- Adam Brett
U21 Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to enhance competition during the Professional Development Phase.
It added a knockout tournament alongside the regular league schedule. For the 2025/26 season, the format features nine groups.
The top team from each group automatically qualifies for the knockout stage, along with the seven best second-placed teams.
U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage
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
- Shane Nti (Nominee)
- Charlie Tasker (Nominee)
September 2025
- Joe Belmont (Nominee)
Premier League International Cup
The participating teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 teams and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads.
Each UK team will host all four overseas clubs in their group. The results will determine the standings in each group, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stages.
U21 Premier League International Cup Group Stage
Brighton will face PSG, Dinamo Zagreb, Benfica and Real Sociedad in Group C of the initial phase of the tournament.
Newcastle United, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are the other UK-based teams in their group.
- Brighton U21 drew at home against Benfica B (1 – 1)
- Miah Oriola
- Brighton U21 lost at home against Real Sociedad U21 (1 – 2)
- Harry Howell
- Brighton U21 drew at home against PSG U21
- Miah Oriola
- Kofi Shaw
National League Cup
The National League Cup is a 32-team midweek competition, comprising of 16 Under-21s teams participating in Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.
National League Cup Group Stage
Brighton & Hove Albion U21s have been placed in Group C in the 2nd edition of the National League Cup competition.
They will face Aldershot Town, Sutton United, Truro City and Woking, with all matches being played away from home.
The fixtures will take place on:
- Aldershot Town v Albion – Tuesday 12 August, 7.00 pm
- Sutton United v Albion – Tuesday 16 September, 7.00 pm
- Truro City v Albion – Tuesday 21 October, 7.00 pm
- Woking v Albion – Tuesday 25 November, 7.00 pm
- Brighton U21 won away against Aldershot Town (2 – 1)
- Shane Nti
- Cameron Hargreaves (OG)
- Brighton U21 won away against Sutton United (1 – 2)
- Shane Nti
- Ben Barclay
- Brighton U21 lost away against Woking (1 – 1)(4 – 2 after Pens)
- Younes Ibrahim
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
Brighton Under-21s have been drawn into Southern Group H, where they will face Barnet, Cambridge United and Luton Town.
The fixtures will take place on:
- Barnet v Albion – Tuesday 30 September, 7.45pm
- Luton Town v Albion – Tuesday 28 October, 7pm
- Cambridge United v Albion – Wednesday 5 November, 7.45pm
- Brighton U21 lost away against Barnet (1 – 1) (5 – 4 on pens)
- Josh Robertson
- Brighton U21 lost away against Luton Town (3 – 1)
- Noel Bigo Atom
- Brighton U21 lost away against Cambridge United (1 – 0)
Sussex Senior Cup
- Brighton U21 won at home against Hassocks FC (1 – 0)
Third Round
Albion U21 against Eastbourne Town First
- Brighton U21 won away against Eastbourne Town First (0 – 1)
- Aidan West
Quarter Final
Brighton U21 will face Bognor Regis
- Brighton U21 won away against Bognor Regis (1 – 4)
- Tyler Silsby (2)
- Aidan West
- Henry Kasvosve
Semi Final
Brighton U21 will play Eastbourne Borough at Culver Road on Wednesday 29 April at 7.30pm
- Brighton U21 won away against Eastbourne Borough (0 – 2)
- Adam Brett
- Aidan West
Brighton and Hove Academy News
4th June 2025
Defender Charlie Tasker has signed a new contract with the club.
5th June 2025
Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed new contracts with Benicio Baker-Boaitey, Joshua Duffus, Cam Peupion and Imari Samuels.
24th June 2025
21-year-old goalkeeper Killian Cahill has signed a two-year contract with Leyton Orient after his contract with Brighton expired.
25th June 2025
Goalkeeper Michael Dike has joined Albion from Treaty United on undisclosed terms. The 18-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the club.
29th June 2025
Goalkeeper Nils Ramming has joined Brighton from Eintracht Frankfurt on undisclosed terms, subject to international clearance.
The 18-year-old has signed a contract running until June 2030.
1st July 2025
Ben Barclay has joined Brighton’s under-21 team as an older player and mentor. The former Albion academy player has signed a one-year deal and will be part of the team for the 2025/26 season.
2nd July 2025
Harry Howell has signed his first professional contract with Brighton.
5th July 2025
Defender Odel Offiah has signed a four-year contract with Preston North End.
15th July 2025
20-year-old Jamie Mullins has signed for Wycombe Wanderers from Brighton, completing his move at Adams Park on Tuesday.
2nd August 2025
Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Kofi Shaw from Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
Shaw joins the Seagulls having developed through the Rovers’ academy system after joining them at the age of 14.
13th August 2025
Forward Joshua Duffus has left Brighton to join AS Saint-Étienne on a free transfer.
1st September 2025
Adrian Mazilu has completed a permanent move to Dinamo Bucharest. The winger originally joined Brighton from Farul Constanța in January 2024 for a reported £2.5 million.
20-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Fisher has signed with Southampton on a free transfer.
10th October 2025
Midfielder Zac Brennan has signed his first professional contract with Brighton & Hove Albion
21st October 2025
Defender Freddie Simmonds has been called up to the England U17 squad for the 2025 World Cup in Qatar.
22nd October 2025
Albion will travel to Eastbourne Town for their third-round tie in the Sussex Senior Cup. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 18 November, with a 7:45pm kick-off.
6th November 2025
Defender Jacob Slater has been named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
Forward Mark O’Mahoney has been named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
7th November 2025
James Beadle has been named in the England U21 squad for November.
18th November 2025
Brighton U21 are through to the quarter-finals of the Sussex Senior Cup following a 1 – 0 win away against Eastbourne Town First.
1st December 2025
Albion are set to take on Bognor Regis Town in the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-finals.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 January, with a 7.45pm kick-off.
16th December 2025
Brighton U18s booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 5-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur U18. They will face Queens Park Rangers in the next round.
22nd December 2025
Brighton U18 are set to travel to MATRADE Loftus Road to face Oxford QPR in their fourth-round tie on Saturday 10 January, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm.
27th January 2026
Brighton U18s advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup with a 2 – 0 win away to QPR U18s.
31st January 2026
Midfielder Joe Knight has completed a permanent move to Stevenage for undisclosed terms.
Knight joined Brighton’s academy at under-12 level and progressed through the ranks before making his Premier League debut in November 2025.
2nd February 2026
Andrew Moran has completed a permanent move to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year-old made three senior appearances for Brighton after progressing through the club’s academy.
6th February 2026
Midfielder Josh Robertson has signed a new contract with the club that runs until June 2028.
8th February 2026
Harry Howell became Brighton’s youngest-ever Premier League starter in their defeat to Palace, aged seventeen years and two hundred and ninety-four days.
24th February 2026
Brighton U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fifth round with a 4-1 defeat away to Sunderland U18s.
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