Stoke City Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in the West Midlands, Stoke City FC runs a category 1 academy
- U21 Lead Coach: Liam Lawrence (Interim)
- U18 Lead Coach: Dean Marney
Stoke City Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Stoke City players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Stoke City Scholars 2025/26
- Tristan Achu
- Rocco Bardsley
- Ben Chivers
- Harry Collins
- Lucas Connell
- Anas Dauda
- Max Harrison
- Isreal Kelly
- Lucas Knight
- Angus Llyod
- Josh McWilliams
- Sidney Moore
- David Osamuyimen
- Hayden Ovaere
- Sultan Sotunde
- Deandre Witter
Stoke City Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) Leyton Orient
- Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) Solihull Moors
- Emre Tezgel (Forward) Crewe Alexandra
- Nathan Lowe (Forward) Stockport County
- Wiktor Gromek (Midfielder) GKS Jastrzebie
- Adriel Walker (Forward) Forest Green Rovers
- Jake Griffin (Defender) FC Halifax Town
- Pedro Nzau (Forward) Mickleover
- Freddie Anderson (Defender) Cork City; Barrow
- Favour Fawunmi (Forward) Leyton Orient
- Ruben Curley (Midfielder) Curzon Ashton
Stoke City Academy International Players 2025/26
- Oscar Hatton (Goalkeeper) Wales U16
- Tom Alcock (Defender) Wales U16
- Anas Dauda (Defender) Italy U17
- Jaden Dixon (Defender) England U19
- Tommy Simkin (Goalkeeper) England U21
- Darius Lipsiuc (Midfielder) Ireland U21
Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Stoke City 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
Stoke City U17 are drawn in Group E against under 17 teams from Blackburn, Burnley and Manchester United.
- Stoke City U17 lost away against Burnley U17 (6 – 0)
- Stoke City U17 lost at home against Manchester United U17 (1 – 2)
- Stoke City U17 lost away against Blackburn Rovers U17 (7 – 1)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Stoke City U18 are drawn in Group A against under 18 teams from Norwich, Peterborough and Arsenal.
- Stoke City lost away against Norwich City U18 (2 – 1)
- Daniel Eyaife
- Stoke City U18 won at home against Arsenal U18 ( 6 – 1)
- Lewis Bailey (2)
- Max Harrison
- Elliot Fearn
- Thomas Midwood (2)
- Stoke City U18 lost at home against Peterborough United U18 (0 – 5)
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Stoke City U18 have been drawn away against Norwich City U18
- Stoke City U18 lost away against Norwich City U18 (2 – 1)
- Elliot Fearn
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.
Premier League 2 Player of the Month
October 2025
- Laurence Giani (Nominee)
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
Stoke City U21 are drawn in Group B against under 21 teams from Derby County, Sheffield United and Bristol City.
- Stoke City U21 drew away against Bristol City U21 (1 – 1)
- Favour Fawunmi
- Stoke City U21 lost at home against Sheffield United U21 (1 – 2)
- Oghosaiwi Enabulele
- Stoke City U21 drew away against Derby County U21 (2 – 2)
- Raphael Otegbayo
- Oghosaiwi Enabulele
- Stoke City U21 won at home against Bristol City U21 (3 – 2)
- Ephraim Yeboah
- Favour Fawunmi (2)
- Stoke City U21 lost away against Sheffield United U21 (4 – 2)
- Kieron Willox
- Sai Sachdev (OG)
Central League Cup
2025/26 Central League Cup Fixtures have been announced.
15 teams have entered the competition, divided into four groups:
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the quarterfinals.
Stoke City Central League Cup Group Stage
Stoke City Reserves are drawn in Group A against Reserve teams from Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.
- Stoke City Reserves lost away against Rotherham Reserves (1 – 0)
- Stoke City Reserves lost at home against Wigan Athletic Reserves (1 – 4)
- Stoke City Reserves drew away against Bolton Wanderers Reserves (0 – 0)
Staffordshire Senior Cup
Potters to face non-league side Stafford Town away in first round of the county competition
- Stoke City lost away against Stafford Town (3 – 2)
Stoke City are out of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
Stoke City Academy News
5th May 2025
Nineteen-year-old academy graduate Emre Tezgel, who featured in 17 matches for City during the 2024/25 season, has been offered a new contract.
Stoke City has exercised the option to extend the contracts of Under-21 defenders Josh Bickerton and Jake Griffin for a second year.
Additionally, defender Syd Agina and winger Josh Maskall have been offered their first professional contracts.
4th July 2025
Stoke City Under-21s captain Jake Griffin has signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027.
Italy Under-17 international Laurence Giani has signed his first professional contract with Stoke City, committing his future to the club long-term.
1st August 2025
18-year-old midfielder Souleymane Sidibé has completed a move to Dutch Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee.
A product of the Potters’ Academy, Sidibé made 21 first-team appearances during his time at the club.
15th August 2025
Seventeen-year-old forward Osei has joined City’s under-21 side following a spell with Crystal Palace.
The midfielder made 24 appearances for the Eagles’ under-18s last season and has now signed a three-year contract with the Potters.
Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Caleb Clothier has joined City’s under-21s, signing for the Potters after spending the past four years in Switzerland with FC Zürich.
The young shot-stopper will now link up with City’s under-21 squad.
25th August 2025
Stoke City have completed the signing of England Under-19 goalkeeper True Grant from Manchester City on a three-year contract.
18th September 2025
18-year-old Stoke City U21 midfielder Gabriel Kelly has signed a contract extension that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
6th November 2025
Midfielder Darius Lipsiuc has been named in the Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming matches against England and Andorra.
26th November 2025
Stoke City U18s will travel to face Norwich City U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round on Tuesday, December 9th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm.
9th December 2025
Stoke City U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a 2-1 defeat away to Norwich City U18s.
3rd February 2026
Young Potters have signed forward Tyler Martin on an 18-month deal.
The 18-year-old arrives after time at Liverpool since the age of 13 and impressed during his trial, scoring twice in three PL2 substitute appearances.
Stoke City Under-21s defender Jaden Dixon has joined Arsenal on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 18-year-old arrived at the club three years ago from Tottenham Hotspur and went on to make six first-team appearances during the 2024/25 season.
27th March 2026
Under-18s captain Pedro Nzau has been named the latest recipient of the Broxap Outstanding Academy Achievement Award.