West Bromwich Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in the West Midlands, West Bromwich FC runs a category 1 academy
- Academy Manager: Richard Stevens
- Senior Professional Development Phase Coach: Deon Burton
- Lead U18 Professional Development Phase Coach: Chay Thompson
West Bromwich Albion Retained List 2025
View the complete list of West Bromwich Albion players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
WBA Scholars 2025/26
Thirteen young players have signed scholarship agreements with Albion for the 2025/26 season.
- Maxwell Moses (Goalkeeper)
- George Shaw (Defender)
- Antonio Perkins (Defender)
- Joel Asomugha (Defender)
- Alfie Round (Defender)
- Theo Jackson (Defender)
- Reece Bastafield (Midfielder)
- Danyal Iqbal (Midfielder)
- Shane Gompe (Midfielder)
- Harry French (Midfielder)
- Umar Sankoh (Midfielder)
- Remar McNeil (Forward)
- Justin Seven-Seven (Forward)
West Bromwich Albion Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Eseosa Sule (Forward) Motherwell
- Ben Cisse (Goalkeeper) Rushall Olympic
- Harry Whitwell (Midfielder) Forest Green Rovers
- Akeel Higgins (Forward) Exeter City
- Cole Deeming (Midfielder) Truro City; Cheltenham Town
- Evan Humphries (Defender) Oxford City
- Jamal Mohammed (Defender) Gloucester City
- Daniel Chimeziri (Forward) Rushall Olympic
West Bromwich Albion Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Alex Williams (Defender) #41
- Harry Whitwell (Midfielder) #34
- Cole Deeming (Midfielder) #33
West Bromwich Albion Academy International Players 2025/26
Young players representing their country.
- Cyril Lartey (Defender) England U16
- Jack Lines (Goalkeeper) Wales U17
- Oliver Bostock (Midfielder) Wales U19
- Ben Cisse (Goalkeeper) England U20
- Alex Williams (Defender) Wales U21
Academy Competitions
U18 Premier League
The league divides teams into North and South groups for the U18s, calling it the U18 Premier League.
West Bromwich Under-18 play in the South 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
West Bromwich U17 are drawn in Group H against under 17 teams from Reading, Swansea and Wolves.
- West Bromwich U17 won away against Reading U17 (4 – 6)
- West Bromwich U17 won at home against Swansea U17 (3 – 0)
- West Bromwich U17 won at home against Wolves U17 (2 – 0)
U18 Premier League Cup Group Stage
West Brom U18 are drawn in Group F against under 18 teams from Blackburn Rovers, Leeds and Fulham.
- West Bromwich U18 won against Leeds United U18 (4 – 2)
- Adam Letlat
- Harry French (2)
- Ryan Colesby
- West Bromwich U18 lost away against Fulham U18 (4 – 1)
- Justin Seven-Seven
- West Bromwich Albion U18 won at home against Blackburn Rovers (1- 0)
- Ryan Colesby
Quarter Final
West Brom U18 have been drawn at home against Manchester United U18
FA Youth Cup
Third Round Proper
West Bromwich Albion U18 have been drawn at home against AFC Bournemouth U18
- West Brom U18 won at home against AFC Bournemouth U18 (4 – 3)
- Ryan Colesby
- Adam Okorodudu
- Harry French
- Adam Letlat
Fourth Round Proper
West Bromwich Albion U18 have been drawn away against Sunderland AFC U18
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.
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
West Brom U21 are drawn in Group E against under 21 teams from Exeter City, Brentford and Luton Town.
- West Bromwich U21 drew at home against Exeter U21 (0 – 0)
- West Bromwich U21 won away against Luton Reserves (1 – 5)
- Deago Nelson
- Michael Parker
- Noah Dupont
- Charlie Blackshields
- Jaiden Francis-Caesar
- West Bromwich U21 won at home against Brentford B (1 – 0)
- Souleyman Mandey
- West Bromwich U21 lost away against Brentford B (5 – 1)
- Noah Dupont
- West Bromwich U21 won away against Exeter City U21 (1 – 2)
- Souleyman Mandey (2)
- West Bromwich U21 won at home against Luton Town Reserves (4 – 3)
- Deago Nelson
- Torin Ntege
- Michael Parker
- Souleyman Mandey
Round of 16
- West Bromwich U21 won away against QPR U21 (1 – 0)
- Remar McNeil
Quarter Final
- West Bromwich U21 won away against AFC Bournemouth U21 (4 – 5)
- George Shaw
- Eseosa Sule
- Noah Dupont
Semi Final
- West Bromwich U21 lost away against Burnley U21 (2 -1)
- Jack Bray
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.
U21 Premier League International Cup Group Stage
Crystal Palace will face Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Nordsjaelland, Juventus and Valencia in Group B of the initial phase of the tournament.
Fulham, Leicester City and Crystal Palace are the other UK-based teams in their group.
- West Bromwich Albion U21 lost at home against FC NordsjaellandU21 (0 – 3)
- West Bromwich Albion U21 lost at home against Juventus U21 (4 – 2)
- Jack Bray (2)
- Crous (OG)
- Rio Parmer
- West Bromwich Albion U21 lost at home against Mönchengladbach U21 (2 – 3)
- Jaiden Francis-Caesar
- Souleyman Mandey
- West Bromwich Albion lost at home against Valencia Mestalla (1 – 2)
- Jaiden Francis-Caesar
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
West Bromwich Albion U21s have been placed in Group B in the 2nd edition of the National League Cup competition.
They will face Wealdstone, Forest Green, Boreham Wood and Braintree, with all matches being played away from home.
- West Bromwich U21 lost away against Forest Green (3 – 1)
- Oliver Bostock
- West Bromwich U21 lost away against Boreham Wood (3 – 1)
- Torin Ntege
- West Bromwich U21 won away against Braintree (2 – 3)
- Souleyman Mandey
- Jamal Mohammed
- Miller McDonald
- West Bromwich U21 lost away against Wealdstone (2 – 0)
Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup
First Round
West Bromwich Albion U21 has been drawn away against Coventry United on 11th November
- West Bromwich Albion U21 won away against Coventry United (0 – 0) (2 – 3 on Pens)
Second Round
West Bromwich Albion U21 has been drawn away against Bedworth United on 13th December
West Bromwich Albion News
20th May 2025
Ten academy graduates have been offered new contract deals by Albion, reflecting the club’s ongoing commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.
Among them are attackers Reyes Cleary, Akeel Higgins, Layton Love, and Eseosa Sule – all of whom have already made appearances for the first team.
They are joined by goalkeeper Louis Brady, defenders Michael Parker and Alex Williams, midfielder Souleyman Mandey, and forwards Dan Chimeziri and Divine Onyemachi, who have each been given the opportunity to extend their stay with the club.
16th June 2025
Academy defender Alfie Maughan has signed his first professional contract with WBA.
2nd July 2025
Albion have secured the signing of young forward Jack Bray from Sky Bet League Two club Harrogate Town.
The 18-year-old will link up with the Baggies’ Under-21 squad, having signed a three-year contract at The Hawthorns running until 2028.
3rd July 2025
The Baggies have strengthened their squad with several new deals. Eseosa Sule, Michael Parker, and Souleyman Mandey have signed two-year contracts until June 2027.
Akeel Higgins and Alex Williams have agreed one-year deals with an option for a further 12 months, while former Peterborough United forward Torin Ntege has also joined on similar terms.
Striker Layton Love has signed a six-month contract as he continues his recovery from a serious injury sustained last season.
8th August 2025
Albion’s 19-year-old prospect Harry Whitwell has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
29th August 2025
22-year-old centre-back Caleb Taylor has departed West Brom to join Millwall on a long-term permanent contract.
1st December 2025
Albion Under-21s have been matched with Bedworth United in the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
The fixture is set to take place at Bedworth’s Oval Stadium on Tuesday, January 13, kicking off at 7.45pm.
17th December 2025
West Bromwich Albion U18s booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-3 win over AFC Bournemouth U18. They will face Sunderland AFC in the next round.
18th December 2025
West Bromwich Albion’s Under-18s will host Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup, with the tie taking place on Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
16th April 2026
Four of Albion’s academy scholars have signed their first professional contracts with the club.
Charlie Blackshields, Ryan Colesby, Adam Letlat and Abdul Abudu all impressed during a strong season with the Under-18s, playing key roles in the side’s run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals while also contributing to the Baggies’ Premier League 2 campaign.
Their first professional deals — two-year contracts running until June 2028 — are a deserved reward for their efforts.