Port Vale Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Port Vale runs a category 3 academy.
- Academy Director: Will Ryder
- Head of Academy Football: Danny Lloyd
- PDP Lead Coach: Leo Donnellan
Port Vale Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Port Vale youth players who have been retained or released, at the end of the 2024/25 Season.
Extended Scholarship (3rd year)
- Liam Brazier
- Logan Cousins
- Zayn Sadiq
Port Vale Scholars 2025/26
- Charlie Bussell
- Clayton Malbon
- Dougie Blight
- Eddie Lake
- George Barker
- Georgie Jenkins
- Joseph Hunter
- Karl Agnero
- Keaton Moseley
- Miracle Orisakwe Nwoko
- Tomasi Wara
Port Vale Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Liam Brazier (Midfielder) Warrington Town; Stourbridge
- Logan Cousins (Midfielder) Kidsgrove Athletic; Stafford Rangers; Kidsgrove Athletic
- Zayn Sadiq (Defender) Kidsgrove Athletic
- James Plant (Midfielder) Yeovil Town
- Arron Davies (Goalkeeper) Stafford Rangers
- Tomasi Wara (Defender) Stafford Rangers
- Jack Shorrock (Midfielder) Chester
Port Vale Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Arron Davies (Goalkeeper) #29
Port Vale Academy Competitions
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
Port Vale U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Walsall, Cheltenham Town and Cardiff City.
- Port Vale U17 lost away against Cardiff City U17 (6 – 0)
- Port Vale U17 lost at home against Cheltenham Town U17 (2 – 3)
- Port Vale U17 lost away against Walsall U17 (4 – 0)
U18 Youth Alliance League
The Football League Youth Alliance is an English youth football competition made up of two regional divisions, serving as the League Two tier within the U18 Professional Development League system.
U18 Youth Alliance League North Winter Table 2025-26
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
Port Vale U18 are drawn in Group G against under-18 teams: Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra and Coventry City.
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
Fixtures Schedule (Group G)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Pot Vale v Crewe Alexandra
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Bolton Wanderers v Port Vale
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Coventry v Port Vale
- Port Vale U18 lost at home against Crewe Alexandra U18 (1 – 0)
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
- Port Vale U18 lost at home against Grimsby Town U18 (0 – 3)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Port Vale U18 have been drawn away against Burton Albion U18
- Port Vale U18 won away against Burton Albion U18 (0 – 1)
Second Round Proper
Port Vale U18 have been drawn away against Northampton Town U18
- Port Vale U18 won away against Northampton Town U18 (0 – 5)
- Joe Hunter
- Joe Williams
- Tom Scragg (2)
- Ollie Cook
Third Round Proper
Port Vale U18 have been drawn away against Wrexham U18
- Port Vale U18 lost away against Wrexham U18 (5 – 1)
- Eddie Lake
Port Vale Academy News
21st May 2025
Defender Joe Williams has been offered his first professional contract with the club following an exceptional season with the Under-18 team.
23rd October 2025
Logan Cousins and Zayn Sadiq have both been recalled by Port Vale following their successful loan spells at Kidsgrove Athletic FC.
28th October 2025
Port Vale U18s advanced to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 1–0 victory away at Burton Albion.
4th November 2025
Port Vale U18s will travel to face Northampton Town U18 in the FA Youth Cup second round on Tuesday, November 18th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
27th November 2025
Port Vale U18s will travel to face Wrexham U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Wednesday, December 3 at the STōK Cae Ras, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
3rd December 2025
Port Vale U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a 5-1 defeat away to Wrexham U18s.
19th January 2026
Logan Cousins has rejoined Kidsgrove Athletic on a work experience agreement for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
31st March 2026
Midfielder Charlie Bussell has signed his first professional contract with Port Vale.