Norwich City Academy

Norwich City FC runs a category 1 academy based in East Anglia. They have an elite youth development program that nurtures young talent.

The Norwich City Academy ground is also called the Lotus Training Centre.

Norwich City is the only Category One academy in East Anglia and also won the FA Youth Cup in 2013.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @NorwichCityAcad.

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category One clubs:

• U18 Premier League – split into North and South divisions; Norwich City’s Under-18s play in the South 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.
• Norfolk Hire Senior Cup – a county knockout competition contested by Norwich City’s Academy alongside sides from across Norfolk.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• 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.
• U21 Premier League Cup – introduced in the 2013/14 season to add a knockout tournament alongside the regular Professional Development Phase league schedule, featuring nine groups with the top team in each group plus the seven best runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
• 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 Head of Football Development Dean Rastrick, Academy Manager Scott Smith, and Under-21 Head Coach Olly Lee.

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

Nikodem Tkaczuk (Goalkeeper), Samuel Augusto (Defender), Lucas Poll (Defender), Jake Glossop (Defender), Jayden Munikwa (Defender), Oliver Oldfield (Defender), Jeremiah Sinclair-Brown (Midfielder)

Hugo Collins (Midfielder), Reece Wilkes (Midfielder), Ben Tree (Forward), Trisziano Wilson (Forward), Kahlil Steele (Forward), Joseph Kipa (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Vincente Reyes (Goalkeeper) – Peterborough United
• Caleb Ansen (Goalkeeper) – Bedford Town
• Harry Brooke (Midfielder) – Hornchurch
• Damari Daley (Forward) – Wroxham; Bury Town
• Tyler Williams (Defender) – Wroxham
• Jack Ruddy (Goalkeeper) – Kirkley & Pakefield
• Henry Bullen (Goalkeeper) – Wroxham
• Charlie Wilson (Defender) – King’s Lynn Town
• La’Sean Sealey (Forward) – King’s Lynn Town
• Luis Lines (Goalkeeper) – Canvey Island
• Ken Aboh (Forward) – Boston United
• Dylan Jones (Forward) – Tranmere Rovers
• AJ Bridge (Midfielder) – Cork City
• Brandon Forbes (Midfielder) – King’s Lynn Town
• Harmony Okwumo (Defender) – King’s Lynn Town

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Errol Mundle-Smith (Forward, #46), Theodore Adelusi (Defender, #48).

International Players 2025/26

• Ajay Tavares (Forward) – England U17
• Vatan Özcan (Defender) – Türkiye U18
• Luis Lines (Goalkeeper) – Wales U19

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Norwich City’s Under-17s were drawn in Group G against Under-17 sides from Ipswich Town, Tottenham and West Ham.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group A against Arsenal, Peterborough and Stoke.

For the Norfolk Hire Senior Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Gorleston FC. In the FA Youth Cup, the Under-18s were drawn at home against Stoke City in the third round proper, before being drawn at home against Burnley in the fourth round proper.

In the U21 Premier League Cup, Norwich City’s Under-21s were drawn in Group H against Bromley, Colchester United and Sunderland.

Season Timeline

June 2025

• Norwich City confirmed the signing of 19-year-old goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell from Stevenage; Mitchell agreed a deal running until 2028, with an option for an additional year, and began his time at the club with the Under-21 squad.

July 2025

• Norwich City Academy defender Harmony Okwumo, 19, signed a new contract with the club running until 2026, with an option for a further year.
• Midfielder Hugo Valencia Gomez signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, committing to the club until 2026, with an option for an additional year.
• Academy defender Finlay Oligbo signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, committing to the club until 2027.
• Defender Oser Okpiabhele signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, agreeing a deal that runs until 2027.
• Academy defender Theo Adelusi signed a new contract with Norwich City, extending his stay until 2028, having joined the Canaries the previous summer following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur.
• Goalkeeper Henry Bullen signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, committing to the club until 2026, with an option for a further year.
• Norwich City signed goalkeeper Luis Lines on a deal until 2027, with an option to extend, joining the Under-21s as part of the club’s development pathway.
• City signed young midfielder Luke Towler on a deal until 2026, with a club option, joining the Under-21s as part of the development pathway.

August 2025

• 18-year-old forward Botan Ameen joined Norwich City from Swindon Town, signing a contract running until the summer of 2028, with the option to extend for a further two years.

September 2025

• Norwich City confirmed the signing of midfielder Zach Baumann from Manchester United, joining the club’s development squad on a deal running until summer 2027, with an option for an additional year.

November 2025

• Ben Tree signed his first professional contract with Norwich City; the Under-18s attacker had been with the club since he was eight years old.
• Takudzwa Gwanzura signed a contract extension at Norwich City until 2028.
• Norwich City’s Under-18s were set to host Stoke City in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Tuesday 9 December at Carrow Road, with kick-off at 7:00pm.

December 2025

• Norwich City’s Under-18s advanced to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Stoke City.
• Norwich City’s Under-18s were drawn to face Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, with the tie set for a 7pm kick-off on Monday 19 January 2026.

January 2026

• Norwich City signed 18-year-old Luke Chukwu from St Patrick’s Athletic, agreeing a deal until 2028 with the option of a further year, joining the club’s academy set-up.
• Norwich City’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the fourth round, following their tie against Burnley.
• Academy player Kahlil Steele signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, a deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2028.

February 2026

• Norwich City agreed for Vinnie Leonard to join from League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk in July 2026; the 17-year-old made his senior debut for Dundalk in February 2024, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player.
• Academy player Reece Wilkes signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, having joined the club the previous summer after a stint at Fleetwood Town, committing until 2028.
• Ajay Tavares sealed a transfer to La Liga outfit FC Barcelona; the 16-year-old featured for the Under-18s that season and also made a first-team appearance in pre-season.

March 2026

• Dylan Jones signed a contract extension keeping him at Carrow Road until 2028.

May 2026

• After 12 years at Norwich City, Scott Smith was promoted to Academy Manager. Smith joined from Luton Town in 2014 and moved up from his role as Head of the Foundation and Youth Development Phases. He succeeds Joe Shulberg, who left in January to become assistant to former Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup at Austrian club Rapid Vienna.

2024/25 Season

The Academy competed in the 2024/25 season under Academy Manager Joe Shulberg.

Scholars 2024/25

Rio Mundle, Sonny Rowland, Victor Madu, Vatan Ozcan, Finlay Corke, Finlay Oligbo, Jack Ruddy, Oser Okpiabhele, Zach Sclare, Foden Northover and Ethan Binnie.

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Vicente Reyes (Goalkeeper) – Cambridge United
• Emmanuel Adegboyega (Defender) – Dundee United
• Lewis Shipley (Defender) – Cheltenham Town
• Ken Aboh (Forward) – Stevenage
• Finley Welch (Midfielder) – Boston United
• Ellis Craven (Goalkeeper) – Boston United
• Daniel Barden (Goalkeeper) – Swindon Town
• Jonathan Tomkinson (Defender) – Ross County
• Brad Hills (Defender) – Stockport County
• Caleb Ansen (Goalkeeper) – Altrincham
• Daniel Ogwuru (Forward) – Buxton
• Alfie Doy (Defender) – Wroxham

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Gabriel Forsyth (Midfielder, #41), Kellen Fisher (Defender, #35), Brad Hills (Defender, #40), Tony Springett (Forward, #42), Lucien Mahovo (Defender, #47), Vicente Reyes (Goalkeeper, #39)

Uriah Djedje (Midfielder, #43), Elliot Myles (Midfielder, #44), Aidan James Bridge (Midfielder, #49), Ken Aboh (Forward, #46).

International Players 2024/25

• Ajay Tavares (Forward) – England U16
• Elliot Myles (Midfielder) – Wales U18
• Gabriel Forsyth (Midfielder) – Scotland U19
• Kellen Fisher (Defender) – England U20, U21
• Emmanuel Adegboyega (Defender) – Northern Ireland U21
• Vicente Reyes (Goalkeeper) – Chile First Team

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Premier League Cup, Norwich City’s Under-17s were drawn in Group B against West Brom, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group A against Brighton, Manchester City and Derby County.

For the U21 Premier League Cup, Norwich City’s Under-21s were drawn in Group A against Bristol City, Bromley and Exeter City.

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 Liverpool, Fulham and Manchester United.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• The Norwich City Under-12s’ Mina Cup kicked off at the Avant Training Centre, featuring teams from across Europe and beyond.
• Leeds United’s Academy won the Mina Cup UK 2024, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Fulham the other UK-based teams in their group.

November 2024

• In the third round of the FA Youth Cup, Norwich City were drawn at home to Brentford.
• The FA Youth Cup third-round match against Brentford was set to be held at Carrow Road on Monday 9 December.
• Finlay Corke signed his first professional contract with Norwich City.

December 2024

• Norwich City’s Under-18s progressed to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against Brentford at Carrow Road.
• In the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, Norwich City were drawn away to AFC Bournemouth.

January 2025

• Norwich City’s Under-18s were set to be hosted by Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium on Wednesday 15 January.
• Goalkeeper Vicente Reyes returned from his loan spell with Cambridge United, having played 23 games for the League One side across all competitions. Ken Aboh returned from his loan spell with Sky Bet League One side Stevenage, where he made three appearances and also featured in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.
• The FA Youth Cup fifth round draw took place.
• Norwich City progressed to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against AFC Bournemouth, setting up a fifth-round clash with either Stoke City or West Bromwich Albion.
• Norwich City’s Under-18s were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup, following their tie against West Bromwich Albion.
• Jaden Warner made a permanent move to Sky Bet League Two club Newport County.

February 2025

• Dylan Jones signed with Norwich City from Plymouth Parkway; the 20-year-old forward, a product of Parkway’s youth system, had played for the club in the Southern League Premier Division South.
• 16-year-old centre-back Takudzwa Gwanzura joined Norwich City from Blackpool, having previously been part of Everton’s setup.

March 2025

• Academy defender Vatan Ozcan signed his first professional contract with Norwich City, securing his future at the club until 2027.
• Academy midfielder Toby Chivers officially signed his first professional contract with Norwich City.
• As part of EFL Youth Development Week, celebrated across all 72 League clubs, Norwich City highlighted its strong track record of developing academy players: last season, academy-developed players accounted for 15.95% of the first team’s total minutes, equating to 7,262 minutes across the campaign; these players made 116 first-team appearances, including 80 starts, with Finley Welch and Aboh making their senior debuts during the season.
• Norwich City launched a new Academy Alumni programme to offer post-release wellbeing support for young players, also helping them explore alternative pathways and fostering a strong network for former academy players.

May 2025

• Ken Aboh and Ellis Craven received the Under-21 Premier League Goal of the Season and Save of the Season awards, respectively, at the Premier League Academy Awards.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Lewis Shipley (joined Barrow AFC), Tom Finch (joined MK Dons), Adian Manning, Ellis Craven, Daniel Ogwuru, Alfie Doy, Alex Roberts, Kingston Simbai (joined