Burnley Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Lancashire, Burnley FC run a category 1 academy
- Head of Academy Coaching: Jimmy Hunter
- Under 21 Manager: Andy Farrell
- Under 18 Manager: Tony Philliskirk
Burnley Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Burnley players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Burnley Scholars 2025/26
Inspired by the national team cap tradition, all new scholars will now receive a commemorative cap to celebrate their achievement moving forward.
- Callum Feeney (Goalkeeper)
- Harry Grimshaw (Goalkeeper)
- Freddie Best (Defender)
- Luca Fong (Defender)
- Diandro Fletchman (Defender)
- Croyde Da Costa (Defender)
- Dylan Morison (Midfielder)
- Luca Scanlon (Midfielder)
- James Lewis (Midfielder)
- Destiny Okonkwo (Forward)
- Vishon Masara (Forward)
- Warren Taylor (Forward)
Burnley Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Sam Waller (Goalkeeper) Crewe Alexandra
- Owen Dodgson (Defender) Stockport County
- Joe Bauress (Midfielder) Accrington Stanley
- Logan Pye (Defender) Accrington Stanley
- Tommy McDermott (Midfielder) Shrewsbury Town
- Oluwaseun Adewunmi (Midfielder) Cercle Brugge
- Vernon Masara (Forward) FC United of Manchester
- Michael Mellon (Forward) Oldham Athletic
- Tom Tweedy (Forward) Morecambe; Darlington
- Charlie Casper (Goalkeeper) Grimsby Town; Alfreton Town
- Braidin Derbyshire (Forward) 1874 Northwich
- Felix Chester (Goalkeeper) Burscough
- Lewis Forshaw (Goalkeeper) Worksop
- Connor Edwards (Goalkeeper) Prescot Cables
- Joe Ashton (Defender) Marine FC
- Anwar Murtesa (Defender) Clitheroe
- Marley Leuluai (Midfielder) Marine AFC
Burnley Academy Players in First Team
- Oliver Pimlott (Defender) #54
- George Brierley (Midfielder) #41
Burnley Academy International Players 2025/26
- Archie Lorimer (Forward) Wales U17
- Kian McMahon-Brown (Midfielder) Ireland U17
- Troy Savage (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U19
- Oli Pimlott (Midfielder) Scotland U19
- Seun Adewumi (Midfielder) Austria U21
- Luca Scanlon (Midfielder) Gibraltar U21
Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Burnley Under-18 play in the North 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
Burnley U17 are drawn in Group E against under 17 teams from Blackburn, Manchester United and Stoke City.
- Burnley U17 won at home against Stoke City U17 (6 – 0)
- Burnley U17 lost away against Blackburn U17 (3 – 0)
- Burnley U17 lost away against Manchester United U17 (1 – 0)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Burnley U18 are drawn in Group H against under 18 teams from Derby County, Reading and Tottenham.
- Burnley U18 lost away against Derby County U18 (2 – 1)
- Burnley U18 lost at home against Tottenham U18 (1 – 2)
- Burnley U18 lost away against Reading U18 (5 – 0)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
- Burnley U18 won at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers U18 (2 – 0)
Fourth Round Proper
Burnley U21 have been drawn away against Norwich City U18
- Burnley U18 won away against Norwich City U18 (1 – 5)
- Kian McMahon-Brown (4)
- Braidin Derbyshire
Fifth Round Proper
Burnley U21 have been drawn at home against Charlton Athletic U18
- Burnley U21 won at home against Charlton Athletic U18 (2 – 0)
- Corey King
- James Lewis
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.
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
Burnley U21 are drawn in Group F against under 21 teams from Cardiff City, QPR and Stockport County.
- Burnley U21 won away against Cardiff City U21 (1 – 2)
- Charlie Veevers
- Karmani Ryan
- Burnley U21 won at home against Stockport County U21 (3 – 2)
- Charlie Veevers
- Jack McEvilly
- Ellis Clark
- Burnley U21 lost at home against QPR U21 (1 – 3)
- Benji Wetshi
- Burnley U21 won at home against Cardiff City U21 (3 – 1)
- Joe Bevan
- Jaydon Banel
- Vernon Masara
Round of 16
- Burnley U21 won at home against Brentford U21 (3 – 2)
- Kian McMahon-Brown (3)
Quarter Final
- Burnley U21 won at home against Colchester United U21 (5 – 2)
- Vernon Masara
- Ellis Clark
- Destiny Okonkwo (3)
Semi Final
- Burnley U21 won at home against West Bromwich U21 (2 – 1)
- Ellis Clark
- Vernon Masara
Burnley Reserves Central League Cup Group Stage 2025/26
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
Burnley U21s have been placed in Group A in the 2nd edition of the National League Cup competition.
They will face Brackley Town, Rochdale, Solihull Moors, and Tamworth, with all matches being played away from home.
- Burnley U21 lost away against Rochdale (1 – 2)
- Kian McMahon-Brown
- Burnley U21 lost away against Solihull Moors (0 – 0) (5 – 4 after pens)
- Burnley U21 lost away against Tamworth (4 – 0)
- Burnley U21 lost away against Brackley (2 – 1)
- Joe Bevan
Lancashire FA Senior Cup
Quarter Finals
- Burnley U21 won at home against Barrow (2 – 1)
- Kian McMahon-Brown
- Ellis Clark
Burnley Academy News
4th June 2025
Oli Pimlott has signed his first professional contract with the Clarets.
The 18-year-old has committed to a two-year deal running until the summer of 2027, with the club retaining the option to extend it by an additional year.
14th July 2025
Burnley U21s and U18s have travelled to Poland for a week-long training camp in preparation for the upcoming PL2 and U18 Premier League seasons.
16th July 2025
Winger Zach Johnson has committed his future to the Clarets by signing his first professional contract with the club.
5th August 205
Joe Westley has completed a permanent transfer to Scottish Premiership club Dundee for an undisclosed fee.
3rd September 2025
Goalkeeper Oisin Cooney has joined Andy Farrell’s U21 squad following his move from Finn Harps.
The 18-year-old recently impressed while on trial with the young Clarets, securing a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, with the club holding an option to extend for a further year.
9th October 2025
Noah Adekoya has signed his first professional contract with the Clarets, agreeing to a one-year deal that keeps him at the club until the summer of 2026.
10th October 2025
Academy striker Benji Wetshi has signed a one-year professional deal with Burnley, keeping him at the club until summer 2026.
23rd October 2025
Kian McMahon has been selected for the Republic of Ireland U17 squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
18th November 2025
Academy goalkeeper Charlie Casper made his EFL debut on loan at Grimsby Town on Saturday.
4th December 2025
Burnley U18 have booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with a 2–0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
15th December 2025
Burnley U18s will face Norwich City U18s in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, with the match scheduled for 7pm on Monday 19 January 2026.
23rd December 2025
Goalkeeper Connor Edwards has signed his first professional contract with Burnley running until the summer of 2028.
2nd January 2026
Joe Bevan has completed a permanent move to Dundee United for an undisclosed fee.
The 21-year-old arrived at the Clarets from Albion Rovers in February 2024 and, following a year of development with the U21s, spent the second half of the season on loan at Carlisle United.
6th January 2026
Brad Grant has departed the U21s squad following the expiration of his contract with Burnley.
19th January 2026
Burnley U18s advanced to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with a 5 – 1 win victory away against Norwich City U18s.
The Clarets will host Charlton Athletic in the fifth round of the Cup.
Burnley have completed the signing of Cameron Scott for Andy Farrell’s Under-21s. The 18-year-old former Rangers defender has signed an 18-month deal until the summer of 2027.
5th February 2026
George Brierley has put pen to paper on his first professional deal, committing his future to the club until the summer of 2028.
The 18-year-old has been a regular presence for the U21s this season and has also earned a place in the first-team squad, most notably for the Premier League away fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion.
20th February 2026
Burnley Under-18s have reached the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic.
They will face Blackburn in the last eight, with the tie scheduled to be played by 14 March.