Liverpool Academy

Liverpool FC runs a category 1 academy based in Merseyside. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Academy’s training base at Kirkby is set for a major redevelopment, as first reported in September 2025.

Academy Competitions

Across the season, the Academy competes in a range of competitions for Category One clubs:

• U18 Premier League – split into North and South divisions; Liverpool’s Under-18s play in the North League.
• U17 & U18 Premier League Cup – introduced by the Premier League in 2017 (originally as the U16 Premier League Cup, renamed the U17 Premier League Cup in 2020); 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.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• UEFA Youth League – the leading academy-age club competition in Europe, mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League group stage; Liverpool’s Under-19s compete when eligible.
• Vertu Trophy (EFL Trophy) – a midweek knockout competition featuring clubs from EFL League One and League Two alongside 16 invited Category One academies, regionalised into northern and southern sections through to the quarter-finals.
• Premier League International Cup – four groups of eight, each combining four UK-based Under-21 sides with four invited overseas development squads; the top two in each group advance to the knockout stage.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Director Alex Inglethorpe, with Rob Page as Under-21 Head Coach and Simon Wiles as Under-18 Head Coach.

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

Lucas Clarke, Lenix Conde, Lamore Forrester, Ellis Hickman, Finn Inglethorpe, Harry Moran, Haydn Murray-Holme, Harvey Owen, Cameron Williams and Aiden Yeguo.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Harvey Davies (Goalkeeper) – Crawley Town
• James McConnell (Midfielder) – Ajax
• Owen Beck (Defender) – Derby County
• Isaac Mabaya (Defender) – Wigan Athletic
• Harvey Elliott (Midfielder) – Aston Villa
• James Norris (Defender) – Shelbourne
• Calum Scanlon (Defender) – Cardiff City
• James Balagizi (Midfielder) – Forest Green Rovers
• Luke Chambers (Defender) – Charlton Athletic
• Lewis Koumas (Forward) – Hull City

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Rio Ngumoha (Forward, #73), Ben Doak (Forward, #50), Trey Nyoni (Midfielder, #42), Trent Kone-Doherty (Forward, #51), Calvin Ramsey (Defender, #47).

International Players 2025/26

• Shadrach Ekiugbo (DF) – England U16
• Vincent Joseph (FW) – England U16
• Joshua Abe (FW) – England U16
• Erik Farkas (MF) – England U17
• Max Hawkins (FW) – Wales U17
• Rio Ngumoha (FW) – England U19
• Trey Nyoni (MF) – England U19
• Jayden Danns (FW) – England U20
• Amara Nallo (DF) – England U20
• Trent Kone-Doherty (FW) – Ireland U21

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Liverpool’s Under-17s were drawn in Group C against Under-17 sides from Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group B against Leicester City, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

In the FA Youth Cup third round, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Charlton Athletic.

For the UEFA Youth League group stage, the Under-19s were drawn at home against Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven, and away against Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt and Internazionale. Following the group stage, they were drawn away against MŠK Žilina in the round of 32.

Also in the Vertu Trophy, the Under-21s were drawn into Northern Group H alongside Burton Albion, Chesterfield and Crewe Alexandra, with fixtures scheduled for 2 September, 7 October and 11 November.

Midfielder Kieran Morrison was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for March 2026.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Contract offers were extended to Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, Keyrol Figueroa, Kyle Kelly, Michael Laffey, Wellity Lucky, Terence Miles and Ranel Young.
• Dominic Corness agreed to join Welsh champions The New Saints FC once his Liverpool contract concluded at the end of the month.
• Trey Nyoni signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool on his 18th birthday, following a breakthrough season.

July 2025

• 18-year-old Kareem Ahmed signed his first professional deal with Liverpool FC.
• Winger Joe Bradshaw signed his first professional contract with Liverpool.
• Liverpool completed the signing of 17-year-old striker Will Wright from Salford City, joining the Under-21s under new boss Rob Page.

September 2025

• Liverpool FC’s Academy in Kirkby was confirmed to be set for major redevelopment.

October 2025

• Academy forwards Joshua Abe and Vincent Joseph earned call-ups to the England Under-16 squad for the Football Federations Cup in Antalya, Türkiye.

November 2025

• Forward Trent Kone-Doherty was named in the Ireland Under-21 squad for upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
• Defender Amara Nallo received a call-up to the England Under-20 squad ahead of a match against Japan at Doncaster Rovers.

December 2025

• Liverpool’s Under-18s were set to host Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Liverpool’s Under-19s completed the UEFA Youth League group stage, finishing 16th, and were drawn to face MŠK Žilina away in the round of 32, provisionally scheduled for 3–4 February 2026.
• Liverpool’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in the third round against Charlton Athletic.

January 2026

• James Norris completed a permanent move from Liverpool to Shelbourne, having progressed through the Academy from Under-9 level and made two senior appearances for the club.

February 2026

• Liverpool’s Under-19s were knocked out of the UEFA Youth League in the round of 32 against MŠK Žilina.

2024/25 Season

The 2024/25 season saw the Academy reach the Under-18 Premier League Cup semi-finals and the UEFA Youth League round of 32, under Academy Director Alex Inglethorpe and Under-21 Head Coach Barry Lewtas.

Scholars 2024/25

DJ Bernard (Goalkeeper), Bailey Hall (Goalkeeper), DJ Esdaille (Defender), Ryan Cowley (Midfielder), Joe Upton (Midfielder), Tyler Martin (Midfielder), Scofield Lonmeni (Midfielder), Joe Bradshaw (Forward), Ollie O’Connor (Forward) and Prince Kobe Cisse (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Calvin Ramsay (Defender) – Wigan Athletic; Kilmarnock
• Luke Chambers (Defender) – Wigan Athletic
• Luca Stephenson (Defender) – Dundee United
• Lewis Koumas (Forward) – Stoke City
• Fabian Mrozek (Goalkeeper) – Brommapojkarna; Forest Green Rovers
• Owen Beck (Defender) – Blackburn Rovers
• Calum Scanlon (Defender) – Millwall
• Stefan Bajcetic (Defender) – Red Bull Salzburg
• Marcelo Pitaluga (Goalkeeper) – Livingston
• Kaide Gordon (Forward) – Norwich City; Portsmouth
• Ben Doak (Forward) – Middlesbrough
• Dominic Corness (Midfielder) – Gillingham
• Jayden Danns (Forward) – Sunderland

Academy Products in the First Team 2024/25

James McConnell (Midfielder, #53), Amara Nallo (Defender, #65), Rio Ngumoha (Forward, #73), Jayden Danns (Forward, #76), James Norris (Defender, #77), Jarrell Quansah (Defender, #78)

Tyler Morton (Midfielder, #80), Conor Bradley (Defender, #84), Harvey Davies (Goalkeeper, #95), Trey Nyoni (Midfielder, #98).

International Players 2024/25

• Shadrach Ekiugbo (Defender) – England U15
• Joshua Abe (Forward) – England U15
• Max Hawkins (Forward) – Wales U16
• Erik Farkas (Forward) – England U16
• Keehan Barret-Underwood (Defender) – USA U17
• Harry Moran (Defender) – Northern Ireland U17
• Prince Cisse (Forward) – Wales U17
• Rio Ngumoha (Forward) – England U17
• Josh Sonni-Lambie (Forward) – England U18
• Carter Pinnington (Defender) – England U18
• Amara Nallo (Defender) – England U18; U19
• Trent Kone-Doherty (Forward) – Republic of Ireland U19
• Keyrol Figueroa (Forward) – USA U20
• Trey Nyoni (Midfielder) – England U18; U20
• Luke Chambers (Defender) – England U20
• Kaide Gordon (Forward) – England U20
• Calum Scanlon (Defender) – England U20
• James McConnell (Midfielder) – England U20
• Jarrell Quansah (Defender) – England U21
• Tyler Morton (Midfielder) – England U21
• Calvin Ramsay (Defender) – Scotland U21

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Liverpool’s Under-17s were drawn in Group G against Under-17 sides from Stoke City, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

For the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group G against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Birmingham City, before progressing through the group stage to the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals, where their campaign ended.

In the UEFA Youth League, the Under-19s were drawn against Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Girona in the initial phase. Having advanced from the group stage, they were drawn away against VfB Stuttgart in the round of 32.

For thePremier League 2, the Under-21s reached the round of 16, where they were drawn against Manchester City.

Finally in the Premier League International Cup, the Under-21s were drawn against Hertha BSC, FC Nordsjaelland, PSV and AC Sparta Praha, alongside fellow UK sides Fulham, Manchester United and Norwich City.

Season Timeline

November 2024

• Liverpool were drawn away to Preston North End in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.

December 2024

• Liverpool’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end with a defeat away to Preston North End in the third round.
• Liverpool’s Under-19s were set to play VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Youth League knockout round, in Germany on 11 or 12 February, having finished in the top 22 of the league phase from six games.

January 2025

• Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest-ever starter, surpassing Harvey Elliott, who had made his first start aged 16 years, five months and 22 days; his historic debut came in an FA Cup third round match against Accrington Stanley.
• Midfielder Tom Hill completed a permanent transfer to Harrogate Town.

February 2025

• 17-year-old striker Josh Sonni-Lambie, discovered playing grassroots football in London and who joined the Academy at Under-14 level, signed his first professional contract with Liverpool FC.
• Jayden Danns remained at Kirkby throughout a loan spell after Sunderland detected an injury during his medical, continuing his rehabilitation there.

March 2025

• Josh Sonnie-Lambie made his full international debut, marking the occasion by scoring in a match against France in Portugal.
• Clae Ewing, who joined the Reds from Bury at Under-12 level and has primarily played left-back for the Under-18s, signed his first professional contract with Liverpool FC.

April 2025

• Liverpool’s Under-21s were scheduled to face Manchester City’s Under-21s in the Premier League 2 round of 16.
• Liverpool’s Under-21s were knocked out of the Premier League 2 knockout stage following defeat away to Manchester City’s Under-21s.

Released Academy Players

Dominic Corness (joined The New Saints FC), Louis Enahoro-Marcus (joined Leeds United), Harry Evers (joined Sheffield Wednesday U21), Lee Jonas, Jakub Ojrzynski (joined Örebro SK), Jacob Poytress, Reece Trueman.