Sunderland Academy 2024-25

Highlights from the Sunderland Academy 2024–25 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.

Based in Tyne and Wear, Sunderland FC runs a category 1 academy.

Sunderland Scholars 2024/25

The club has announced the new group of scholars for the Professional Development Phase for the 2024-25 season.

These players join the club ahead of the new season, ready to compete in the Under-18 Premier League.

  1. Ivan Struk (Midfielder)
  2. Marcus Neill (Forward)
  3. Joe Nield (Forward)
  4. Liam Hunt (Midfielder)
  5. Bayley Hester (Defender)
  6. Felix Scott (Forward)
  7. Dinsdale (Midfielder)
  8. Finlay Holcroft (Defender)
  9. Finn Geragusian (Forward)
  10. George Bell (Defender)
  11. Archie Lightfoot (Midfielder)

Sunderland Academy Players On Loan 2024/25

Youth players on loan.

  1. Oliver Bainbridge (Defender) Kilmarnock
  2. Mathew Young (Goalkeeper) Salford
  3. Caden Kelly (Midfielder) Darlington FC
  4. Ben Tamworth (Defender) Tamworth
  5. Ben Crompton (Defender) Tamworth
  6. Ben Middlemas (Midfielder) South Shields
  7. Zak Johnson (Defender) Notts County
  8. Dan Cameron (Goalkeeper) Hebburn Town

Sunderland Academy Products in 1st Team 2024/25

  1. Christopher Rigg (Midfielder) #11
  2. Harrison Jones (Midfielder) #50
  3. Zak Johnson (Defender) #41
  4. Tom Watson (Forward) #40
  5. Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi (Forward) #47
  6. Thomas Lavery (Defender) #49
  7. Oliver Bainbridge (Defender) #51
  8. Ben Middlemas (Midfielder) #55

Sunderland Academy International Players 2024/25

  1. Charlie Forsythe (Defender) England U16
  2. Alex Lienard (Defender) New Zealand U17
  3. Marcus Neill (Forward) Australia U18
  4. Christopher Rigg (Midfielder) England U18, U19
  5. Matthew Young (Goalkeeper) England U19; U20
  6. Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi (Forward) Belgium U19
  7. Finn Geragusian (Midfielder) Armenia U19
  8. Rhys Walsh (Forward) Northern Ireland U19; U21
  9. Jobe Bellingham (Midfielder) England U20
  10. Timur Tutierov (Forward) Ukraine U20

Sunderland Academy Competitions For 2024/25

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

Sunderland U17 are drawn in Group E against under-17 teams from Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Leeds United.

  1. Won away against Leeds United U17 (1 – 0)
  2. Lost away Newcastle U17 (2 – 1)

U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage

Sunderland U18 are drawn in Group C against under-18 teams from Reading, Blackburn and West Brom.

  1. Won at home against West Brom U18 (3 – 1)
  2. Won away against Reading U18 (2 – 0)
  3. Lost at home against Blackburn U18 (3 – 2)

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 2024/25 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.

Sunderland U21 are drawn in Group D against under 21 teams from Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and Wolves

U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage

  1. Lost at home against Sheffield United U21 (1 – 0)
  2. Won away against Huddersfield Town U21 (3 – 2)
    • Tom Watson
    • Aaron Connolly (2)
  3. Won at home against Wolves U21 (2 – 0)
    • Marshall Burke
    • Abdoullah Ba
  4. Lost away against Sheffield United U21 (2 – 1)
    • Harrison Jones
  5. Drew away against Wolves U21 (2 – 2)
    • Finn Geragusian (2)
  6. Won at home against Huddersfield Town U21 (7 – 0)
    • Ahmed Abdullahi (3)
    • Jayden Jones
    • Anthony Gregory
    • Jack Whittaker
    • Ben Middlemas

U21 Premier League Cup Round of 16

  1. Lost away against Burnley U21 (1 – 0)

National League Cup

The National League Cup is a 32-team midweek competition, comprising of 16 Under-21s teams participating in Premier League 2 and 16 National League club first teams.

Sunderland U21s have been placed in Group C of the new National League Cup competition.

They will face Boston United, Gateshead, FC Halifax Town and Tamworth with all matches being played away from home.

National League Cup Group Stage

  1. Lost against Boston United (1 – 0)
  2. Won against Tamworth (5 – 1)
    • Jayden Jones (2)
    • Thomas Lavery
    • Trey Samuel Ogunsuyi
    • Ben Crompton
  3. Lost against Gateshead (2 – 2) Pens (5 – 4)
    • Adil Aouchiche
    • Trey Samuel Ogunsuyi
  4. Lost against FC Halifax (2 – 1)
    • Trey Samuel Ogunsuyi

Premier League 2

Starting from the 2023 season, all 26 Category 1 teams compete in a single league using the Swiss-style format.

Entry into or removal from this league depends on meeting the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) accreditation criteria.

Premier League Cup Round of 16

  1. Lost away against West Ham U21 (3 – 1)
    • Luke Anthony Bell

Premier League International Cup

The participating teams are split into four groups of eight, each comprising four UK-based Under-21 teams and four invited overseas clubs represented by their development squads.

Each UK team will host all four overseas clubs in their group. The results will determine the standings in each group, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stages.

Sunderland U21 will face Athletic Club, Benfica, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Lyon in the initial phase of the tournament.

Blackburn, Middlesbrough and West Ham are the other UK-based teams in their group.

Sunderland U21 Premier League International Cup Group Stage

  1. Drew against Athletic Club U21 (2 – 2)
    • Harrison Jones
    • Tom Watson
  2. Lost against Mönchengladbach U21 (3 – 0)
  3. Won against Lyon Reserves (2 – 0)
    • Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi (2)

Sunderland Academy News

1st November 2024

Daniel Cameron and Harrison Jones have been nominated for the PL2 Player of the Month award for October 2024.

15th November 2024

In the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup, Sunderland have been drawn away to Derby County.

24th November 2024

Sunderland are through to the quarter finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.

17th December 2024

The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Sunderland after a first-round loss 4 – 1 away to Derby.

19th December 2024

Le Bris praises SAFC’s player development pathway, with at least three Academy graduates included in every match squad this season.

10th January 2025

Oli Bainbridge has returned to Sunderland from his loan spell at Kilmarnock FC where he made nine appearances.

17th March 2025

This week, the EFL celebrates Youth Development across all 72 League clubs. Sunderland has a strong track record of developing academy players.

Players like Jordan Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, and Tommy Watson showcase Sunderland’s Academy as a hub for developing top talent.

Many graduates have gone on to represent both the Club and the national team.

1st April 2025

Tommy Watson has reached an agreement to leave Sunderland and join Brighton on undisclosed terms. The 18-year-old has signed a contract until June 2029 and will officially join Albion when the summer transfer window opens.

16th April 2025

Chris Rigg has been shortlisted by the LFE for the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season awards for 2025.

This award honours exceptional young professionals at EFL clubs who have distinguished themselves both on and off the pitch throughout the 2024/25 season.

22nd April 2025

In the Premier League 2 Round of 16, Sunderland U21s will take on West Ham U21s. The match is scheduled for April 26th.

26th April 2025

Sunderland U21s have been eliminated from the Premier League 2 knockout stage after a 3 – 1 defeat away to West Ham U21, with Luke Anthony Bell scoring their only goal.

2nd May 2025

The End of Season Awards Night was held at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening to honour the achievements, commitment, and spirit of the Club’s young players from the Under-9s to Under-16s.

6th May 2025

The Jones brothers enjoyed a proud moment at the End of Season Awards, with Jaydon claiming the U18 Player of the Year title and Harrison securing the U21 equivalent.

Liam Ogunsuyi was named Junior Player of the Season after an impressive campaign at the Academy of Light.

2nd June 2025

Marcus Neill recently earned his first start for Australia Under-18s in the UEFA Friendship Cup match against Argentina Under-18s.

U21 Players Released

  1. Ben Crompton
  2. Cuba Mitchell
  3. Caden Kelly
  4. Kelechi Chibueze

Second Year Scholars Released

  1.  Aaron Chungh
  2. Daniel Parker