Highlights from the Sheffield United Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in South Yorkshire, Sheffield United FC runs a category 2 academy.
- Under 18 Head Coach: Jim O’Brien
- Under 21 Head Coach: Gary McSheffrey
Sheffield United Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Sheffield United players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Sheffield United Scholars 2025/26
- Ethan Gold (Goalkeeper)
- Thomas Dearden (Defender)
- Keehan Barrett-Underwood (Defender)
- Ben Murray (Midfielder)
- Marley Parr-Pearson (Midfielder)
- Robert Adams (Midfielder)
- Emmett Morrison (Midfielder)
- Matthew Poppleton (Forward)
- Cole Hay (Forward)
- Charlie Bulmer (Forward)
Sheffield United Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Billy Blacker (Midfielder) Tranmere Rovers
- Jili Buyabu (Forward) Forest Green Rovers
- Jamal Baptiste (Defender) Rotherham United
- Owen Hampson (Midfielder) Boston United
- Sam Curtis (Defender) Chesterfield
- Louie Marsh (Forward) Falkirk
- Zain Tahir (Defender) Scunthorpe United
Sheffield United Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Ryan Oné (Forward) #26
Sheffield United Academy International Players 2025/26
- Zachary Benjamin (Forward) England U16
- Sydie Peck (Midfielder) England U21
- Ryan Oné (Forward) Scotland U21
- Andre Brooks (Midfielder) Jamaica First Team
Academy Competitions
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
Sheffield United U18 are drawn in Group D against under 18 teams from Chelsea, Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
- Sheffield United U18 drew away against Chelsea U18 (3 – 3)
- Arlo Coubrough
- Siem Eyob-Abraha (2)
- Sheffield United U18 lost at home against Crystal Palace U18 (1 – 3)
- Sam Colechin
- Sheffield United U18 lost away against Manchester City U18 (4 -1)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Sheffield United U18 have been drawn at home against Ipswich Town U18
- Sheffield United U18 lost at home against Ipswich Town (1 – 3)
- Emmett Morrison
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
Sheffield United U21 are drawn in Group B against under 21 teams from Derby County, Bristol City and Stoke City.
- Sheffield United U21 won at home against Derby U21 (2 – 1)
- Max Asante-Boakye
- Zach Giggs
- Sheffield United U21 won away against Stoke City U21 (1 – 2)
- Sam Aston
- Marshall Francis
- Sheffield United U21 won at home against Bristol City U21 (2 – 1)
- Louie Marsh
- Marshall Francis
- Sheffield United U18 won at home against Stoke City U21 (4 – 2)
- Own Hampson
- Louie Marsh (3)
- Sheffield United U21 won away against Bristol City U21 (1 – 2)
- Marshall Francis (2)
- Sheffield United U21 won away against Derby County U18 (1 – 2)
- Marshall Francis (2)
Round of 16
- Sheffield United U21 lost at home against Bournemouth U21 (1 – 2)
- Aaron Reid
Sheffield United Academy News
13th June 2025
The Under-21s will visit Sheffield FC on Friday 18th July (7:30pm). They’ll also face Boston United on Saturday 2nd August (3pm) at the Jakemans Community Stadium, one week before the new Professional Development League season begins.
The Under-18s have a packed preseason schedule with games against Mansfield (A) on 19th July, Burnley (A) on 26th July, West Brom (H) on 29th July, and Stoke City (A) on 2nd August.
7th July 2025
Eleven players have signed their first professional contracts with Sheffield United in preparation for the 2025/26 Professional Development League season.
- Max Asante-Boakye
- Archie Christie-Crainie
- Coby Hewitson
- Frankie Jones
- Jackson Blaize
- Seth Okyere
- Zach Giggs
- Aaron Reid
- Sam Colechin
- Siem Eyob-Abraha
- Theo Howard
9th July 2025
Striker Jevan Beattie and defender Dovydas Sasnauskas have signed long-term deals with the Blades, becoming the latest academy prospects to commit their futures to the club.
22nd July 2025
18-year-old Mihail Polendakov has agreed terms to join Sheffield United, with the club paying an undisclosed fee to Septemvri Sofia.
30th July 2025
Antwoine Hackford has signed with AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer, agreeing to a two-year deal with the club holding an option to extend the contract by an additional year.
26th September 2025
Under-18 defenders Alfie Hough and Keehan Barrett-Underwood are the latest youngsters to sign their first professional contracts with the club.
Both joined United from Liverpool’s academy in recent years.
3rd October 2025
Blades Academy have secured goalkeeper Liam Hall on a professional contract following his departure from Wrexham.
After impressing during a trial, Hall has signed permanently and will join the Under-21s.
26th November 2025
Sheffield United U18s will host Ipswich Town U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Thursday, December 11 at Bramall Lane with kick-off at 7.00 pm.
11th December 2025
Sheffield United U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a defeat to Ipswich Town U18s.
23rd December 2025
Midfielder Lamine Sidibe has put pen to paper and signed his first professional contract at Sheffield United.
21st January 2026
Defender Sam Colechin has signed a new contract with Blades.