Bristol City Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
The Bristol City FC runs a category 2 academy based in SW England.
- Senior Professional Development Phase (PDP) Coach: Dennis Baraznowski
Bristol City Academy Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Bristol City players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Bristol City Scholars 2025/26
- Isaac Abbott (Midfielder)
- Billy Amos (Defender)
- Kaylan Appleton (Forward)
- Hugo Dali-Kemmery (Goalkeeper)
- Daniel Ezendu (Midfielder)
- Devonte Ferguson (Forward)
- Pawel Kalkowski (Forward)
- Desmond Kumih-Barimah (Midfielder)
- Josh Murphy (Defender)
- Stan Sainsbury (Defender)
- Illan Wood (Forward)
- Ollie Williams (Defender)
Bristol City Academy Players Loan Watch 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Jed Meerholz (Midfielder) Aldershot Town
- Taine Anderson (Defender) Cheltenham Town
- Jamie Knight-Lebel (Midfielder) Swindon Town
- Adam Murphy (Midfielder) Swindon Town
- Luke Skinner (Forward) Eastleigh; Bath City
- Olly Thomas (Forward) Dunfermline Athletic
- Ben Clark (Goalkeeper) Weymouth
- Ruebin Sheppard (Midfielder) Bath City
- Josh Stokes (Midfielder) Stockport County
- Zack Ali (Defender) Gloucester City
- Thomas Chaplin (Midfielder) Taunton Town; Hungerford Town
- Leo Pecover (Midfielder) Western-super-Mare
- Archie Taylor (Defender) Yate Town
- Joe Duncan (Goalkeeper) Farnborough
- Ephraim Yeboah (Forward) Carlisle United
- Billy Phillips (Forward) Chippenham
Bristol City Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26
- Dan Ezendu (Midfielder) #42
Bristol City Academy International Players 2025/26
- Ali Tucker (Defender) Wales U16
- Cooper Covington (Goalkeeper) England U16
- Adam Murphy (Midfielder) Ireland U21
Academy Competitions For 2025/26
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Cup Group Stage
Bristol City U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient and Luton Town.
- Bristol City U17 won at home against Bristol Rovers U17 (1 – 0)
- Bristol City U17 lost away against Luton Town U17 (3 – 1)
- Bristol City U17 lost away against Leyton Orient U17 (3 – 2)
U18 Professional Development League
The Under-18 Professional Development League is a leading English youth competition for Category Two academies, comprising 20 teams split into North and South regional divisions.
It delivers a high-level development pathway for promising players, combining league competition with a national play-off system.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U18 Premier League Cup
In 2017, the Premier League introduced the U18 Premier League Cup.
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.
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Bristol City U18 are drawn in Group C against under 18 teams from Everton, Southampton and Wolves.
- Bristol City U18 won away against Southampton U18 (0 – 2)
- Victor Akinbo
- Trayvion Jackson
- Bristol City U18 won at home against Wolves U18 (2 – 0)
- Stanley Sainsbury
- Trayvion Jackson
- Bristol City U18 won away against Everton U18 (3 – 4)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Bristol City U18 have been drawn at home against Leeds United U18
- Bristol City U18 lost at home against Leeds United U18 (0 – 1)
Professional Development League
Professional Development League 2—is England’s main youth competition for Category Two academies. It sits just below Premier League 2, providing Under-21 players with a key pathway toward first-team football.
The league is split into regional North and South divisions, with play-offs determining the national champion, and it offers a highly competitive platform for developing top young talent.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
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
Bristol City U21 are drawn in Group B against under 21 teams from Derby County, Sheffield United and Stoke City.
- Bristol City U21 drew at home against Stoke City U21 (1 – 1)
- Louie Derrick
- Bristol City U21 lost away against Derby County U21 (8 – 2)
- Ruebin Sheppard
- Billy Phillips
- Bristol City U21 lost away against Stoke City U21 (3 – 2)
- Luke Skinner (2)
- Bristol City U21 lost away against Sheffield United U21 (2 – 1)
- Jack Hooper
- Bristol City U21 won at home against Derby County U21 (3 – 2)
- Luke Skinner
- Ruebin Sheppard
- Ephraim Yeboah
- Bristol City U21 lost at home against Sheffield United U21 (1 – 2)
- Ephraim Yeboah
Gloucestershire Football Association Senior Challenge Cup
- Bristol City lost at home against Yates Town (1 – 3)
Bristol City Academy News
17th May 2025
Ten young Robins have taken a significant step in their careers by signing their first professional contracts with the club.
Midfielder Zac King-Phillips, forward Jack Griffin, and goalkeepers Isaac Finch and Jack Witchard have each committed to two-year deals, reflecting the club’s strong belief in their potential and long-term development.
Meanwhile, midfielders Thomas Chaplin and Ruebin Sheppard, defenders Max Davies and Jack Hooper, forward Charlie Filer, and goalkeeper Ben Clark have all signed one-year contracts as they begin their professional journeys.
23rd May 2025
Seb Palmer-Houlden has joined Gillingham in Sky Bet League Two on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
9th July 2025
The Under-21s kick off pre-season at Wolves on Saturday, July 19th (1pm), before hosting Oxford United on Tuesday, July 22nd (6pm).
They then face Weston-super-Mare (July 26th, 3pm) and Bath City (August 2nd, 1pm) away, finishing against Luton Town U21s at the Robins HPC on Tuesday, August 5th (1pm).
The Under-18s visit Exeter City on Saturday, June 19th (11am) and Yate Town on Tuesday, July 22nd (7:45pm). They’ll then host Fulham (July 26th, 12:30pm) and West Brom (August 2nd, 11:30am) at the Robins HPC.
18th July 2025
Seventeen-year-old Ollie Dewsbury has signed his first professional contract with Bristol Rovers.
8th October 2025
Freddie Godden has signed his first professional contract with Bristol City, keeping the 17-year-old goalkeeper at the club until the summer of 2026.
A lifelong City fan from Shepton Mallet, Godden joined the Academy in 2019 and has since trained with the first team.
A youthful Bristol City side, featuring players from the Under-21s and Under-18s, faced Southern League Premier Division South side Yate Town at the Failand training ground, but were knocked out of the cup following a 1–3 defeat.
17th October 2025
After a delay in the paperwork, Jed Meerholz has been recalled from his loan spell with Aldershot Town by Bristol City.
During his time with the Shots, Meerholz made 14 appearances and scored once in their 5-1 victory over Solihull Moors.
20th October 2025
Daniel Ezendu has won the League Football Education (LFE) Goal of the Month award for September, thanks to his superbly placed free kick against Brentford.
6th November 2025
Midfielder Adam Murphy has been named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
11th November 2025
Defender Ollie Williams has signed his first scholarship with the Bristol City.
11th December 2025
Bristol City U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a defeat to Leeds United U18s.
7th January 2025
Olly Thomas has committed his future to Bristol City by signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract extension, keeping the forward at the club until the summer of 2028.
22nd January 2026
18 year old midfielder Harry Hogg has signed his first professional contract with Bristol City.
Marley Thelwell has signed his first professional contract with Bristol City.
The Bristol-born right-back joined the club in 2023 from AEK Boco and currently features for the Under-21s, having helped the Under-18s win the PDL National title last season.
3rd February 2026
Daniel Ezendu has signed his first professional contract with Bristol City. Born in Italy and raised in England, the midfielder joined the club in 2017 and currently features for the Under-18s.
11th February 2026
Midfielder Jason Knight has joined Bristol City from Bray Wanderers on a three-and-a-half-year deal, keeping him at the club until June 2029.
The 18-year-old, brother of City captain Jason Knight, will link up with Dennis Baranowski’s Under-21 squad, adding strength to an already talented midfield.
24th March 2026
Calum Hewlett has joined Weston-super-Mare on a permanent from Bristol City
8th April 2026
Nine apprentices will be recognised at the EFL Awards on April 19 in London, celebrating the top young players of the 2025/26 season.
One winner per division will be chosen, with Championship nominees Louis Page (Leicester City), Leo Pecover (Bristol City) and Sheldon Kendall (Millwall).