Sunderland Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Tyne and Wear, Sunderland FC runs a category 1 academy.
- Academy Manager: Robin Nicholls
- PDP Coach: Matt Craddock
- Under-21 Head Coach: Graeme Murty
- Under-18 Head Coach: Jordan Moore
- Under-18 Lead Coach: Fin Lynch
Sunderland Academy Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Sunderland players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Sunderland Scholars 2025/26
The 2025 intake includes a mix of homegrown players along with new signings from both the UK and abroad.
- Joseph Cowan (Goalkeeper)
- Finley Robertson (Goalkeeper)
- Charlie Hamilton-Forsyth (Defender)
- Arron Bowman (Defender)
- Tom Proctor (Midfielder)
- Jay Brown (Midfielder)
- Alex Lienard (Midfielder)
- Jay Matadeen (Midfielder)
- Matthew Burns (Midfielder)
- Robert Walton (Midfielder)
- Lewis Campbell (Forward)
- Harry Hunter (Forward)
- James Barker (Forward)
- Caleb Shakespeare (Forward)
- Triziano Wilson (Forward)
Sunderland Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Matty Young (Goalkeeper) Salford City
- Rhys Walsh (Forward) South Shields
- Tom Lavery (Defender) Cliftonville
- Dan Cameron (Goalkeeper) Hebburn Town
- Trey Ogunsuyi (Forward) Falkirk; Shrewsbury Town
- Oliver Bainbridge (Defender) South Shields
- Zak Johnson (Defender) York City
Sunderland Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Jenson Jones (Defender) #51
- Timur Tuterov (Forward) #57
- Jack Whittaker (Midfield) #53
- Harrison Jones (Midfielder) #50
Sunderland Academy International Players 2025/26
- Alex Lienard (Midfielder) New Zealand U17
- Christopher Rigg (Midfielder) England U19
- Ivan Struk (Midfielder) Latvia U19
- Matthew Burns (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U19
- Matthew Young (Goalkeeper) England U21
- Finn Geragusian (Forward) Armenia U21
Sunderland Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
Sunderland 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
Sunderland U17 are drawn in Group F against under 17 teams from Leeds, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
- Sunderland U17 lost at home against Leeds U17 (1 – 2)
- Sunderland U17 lost away against Newcastle United U17 (5 – 3)
- Sunderland U17 lost at home against Middlesbrough U17 (1 – 3)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Sunderland U18 are drawn in Group E against under 18 teams from Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and West Ham.
- Sunderland U18 lost at home against West Ham U18 (1 – 3)
- Lewis Campbell
- Sunderland U18 won away against Ipswich Town U18 (1 – 5)
- Tom Proctor (3)
- Joe Nield
- Charlie Dinsdale
- Sunderland U18 drew at home against Nottingham Forest U18 (1 – 1)
- Marcus Neill
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
Sunderland U18 have been drawn at home against Nottingham Forest U18
- Sunderland U18 won at home against Nottingham Forest U18 (3 – 0)
- Finn Geragusyan
- Marcus Neill
- Charlie Dinsdale
Fourth Round Proper
- Sunderland U18 won at home against West Brom U18 (3 – 3) (4 – 3 on Pens)
- Finn Geragusyan
- James Barker
- Triziano Wilson
Fifth Round Proper
- Sunderland U18 won at home against Brighton U18 (4 – 1)
- Tom Proctor (2)
- Marcus Neill
- Finn Geragusyan
Durham ‘Frank Pattison’ Challenge Cup
The Frank Pattison Challenge Cup began in 1883–84, with Sunderland winning the inaugural title — the first of their 23 triumphs.
In recent years, Sunderland’s Under-21s have also competed, reaching a COVID-shortened final in 2020.
After the preliminary round, 32 teams now enter the first round, with Sunderland’s Under-18s joining the competition for the first time.
First Round Stage
Sunderland U18 will face Dunston UTS away who currently sit 15th in the Northern Premier League East
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
Sunderland U21 are drawn in Group H against under 21 teams from Bromley, Colchester United and Norwich City.
- Sunderland U21 lost away against Bromley U21 (2 – 1)
- Jack Whittaker
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Norwich City U21 (3 – 2)
- Ben Middlemas
- Tom Proctor
- Marcus Neill
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Colchester U21 (2 – 1)
- Ahmed Abdullahi (2)
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Bromley U21 (4 – 0)
- Timur Tutierov
- Harrison Jones
- Jake Waters (2)
- Sunderland U21 drew away against Norwich U21 (1 – 1)
- Jack Whittaker
- Sunderland U21 lost away against Colchester United U21 (4 – 2)
- Tom Proctor
- Jenson Jones
Round of 16
- Sunderland U21 won away against Nottingham Forest U21 (1 – 6)
- Felix Scott
- Jack Whittaker
- Finn Geragusyan
- Tom Proctor
- Justin Hanks (OG)
- Marcus Neill
Quarter Final
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Watford U21 (3 – 1)
- Finn Geragusyan
- Lewis Campbell (2)
Semi Final
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Blackburn Rovers U21 (4 – 2)
- Jack Whittaker (2)
- Harrison Jones (2)
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.
National League Cup Group Stage
Sunderland U21s have been placed in Group D in the 2nd edition of the National League Cup competition.
They will face Boston United, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead and Scunthorpe United, with all matches being played away from home.
The fixtures will take place on:
- Scunthorpe United v Sunderland U21 – Tuesday 12 August
- Boston United v Sunderland U21 – Monday 16 / Tuesday 17 September
- Gateshead v Sunderland U21 – Monday 21 / Tuesday 22 October
- FC Halifax v Sunderland U21 – Tuesday 25 / Wednesday 26 November
- Sunderland U21 won away against Scunthorpe United (3 – 2)
- Ian Poveda
- Jay Matete
- Felix Scott
- Sunderland U21 lost away against Boston United (4 – 0)
- Sunderland U21 lost away against Gateshead (1 – 1) (4 – 3 after Pens)
- Abdoullah Ba
- Sunderland U21 won away against FC Halifax Town (1 – 1) (3 – 5 after Pens)
- Abdoullah Ba
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.
Below are the team standings at the winter break, marking roughly the halfway point of the season.
Premier League 2 Player of the Month
March 2026
- Charlie Dinsdale (Nominee)
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 Premier League International Cup Group Stage
Sunderland will face Athletic Club, Borrusia Dortmund, Anderlecht and Sporting CP in Group D of the initial phase of the tournament.
Manchester United, Leeds United and West Ham are the other UK-based teams in their group.
- Sunderland U21 drew at home against Anderlecht U21 (2 – 2)
- Brian Brobbey
- Timur Tutierov
- Sunderland U21 won at home against Athletic Club U21 (7 – 1)
- Jake Waters (2)
- Jaydon Jones
- Timur Tutierov
- Dan Neil
- Dennis Cirkin
- Ben Middlemas
Sunderland Academy News
4th June 2025
Ben Kindon, Ben Metcalf, Jack Whittaker, and Jaydon Jones have all been offered their first professional contracts with the club.
24th June 2025
Sunderland AFC’s U21s are confirmed to participate in the National League Cup and Premier League International Cup for the 2025/26 season.
7th July 2025
Jack Whittaker and Jaydon Jones have both signed new deals, with central defender Ben Kindon and goalkeeper Ben Metcalf also committing their futures to the Club.
10th July 2025
Ben Middlemas, Timur Tutierov, and Ethan Moore have all signed new contracts with the Club.
20th July 2025
Sunderland AFC have signed 18-year-old goalkeeper Isaac Allan from Lincoln City on a professional contract.
He will join Graeme Murty’s Under-21 squad on Wearside ahead of the 2025-26 season.
14th August 2025
18-year-old Trey Ogunsuyi has committed his future to Sunderland by signing a new long-term contract that runs until 2028.
The Belgian youth international first joined the club’s academy at the age of 10.
23rd October 2025
First-year scholar Alex Lienard has been named captain of New Zealand for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar next month.
10th December 2025
Sunderland U18s booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest.
They will face either West Brom or AFC Bournemouth next.
13th January 2026
Ben Middlemas has completed a permanent move from Sunderland to Swindon Town, subject to EFL approval. The midfielder has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal that runs until the end of the 2027/28 season.
15th January 2026
Sixteen-year-old winger Triziano Wilson has joined the club as a first-year scholar and will link up with Fin Lynch and Jordan Moore’s Under-18 squad.